Spider-Man #15: "The Mutant Factor"

[stolisomancer.insanejournal.com]

I found myself thinking of this old comic (oh, good god, this was eighteen years ago) for no good reason earlier today, and went ahead and dug it up.

As far as I know this is one of the first comics to be both written and drawn by Erik Larsen. "The Mutant Factor" appeared in the adjectiveless Spider-Man book, which at the time was a showcase for Todd McFarlane. Larsen's story was a fill-in between arcs for McFarlane; he'd go on to do a six-issue Sinister Six story that features guest appearances from pretty much every character Larsen's ever liked.

The set-up's pretty simple. Peter and Mary Jane are talking about whether or not they should have kids, but Peter's a bit concerned about the potential risks. After all, Sue Richards nearly died every time she's gotten pregnant. With that in mind, Peter goes to ask Hank McCoy for more information.






I pretty much posted this for the silent panel at the end of the second page. Larsen's art has its ups and downs, and his writing's a bit rough in this issue (the fight scenes are pretty awful, and every woman wears a thong in Larsen Country), but he really nails the characters.

Comments

[lady_mondegreen.insanejournal.com]

That last scan. Limbs are just flying every which way. This is just hurting my brain.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Well, to be fair, both Spidey and the Beast are well-known for their exceptional agility, so it's far from unusual for them to be twisting around like that.

[lady_mondegreen.insanejournal.com]

It's unusual here in that it's physically impossible. The pelvis and the quadriceps muscles connected to the pelvis do not work that way, even with mutant spider DNA.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but McFarlane often showed Spidey in poses like that one, so if one presumes that is IS physically possible for him, it makes sense that it'd be physically possible for the Beast.

[shanejayell.insanejournal.com]

"Here we come to save the day!"

I love Hank.
:)

[blakeyrat.insanejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C570byQCLpI

Thanks for posting this.

[wrongheaded.insanejournal.com]

That last exchange is pretty cute. =)

Also, Peter: adopt! Orphans need homes too...

Re: Thanks for posting this.

[ar_feiniel_.insanejournal.com]

I was thinking that too. But then again, adoption can be expensive unless you know someone who wants to give you their kid, and I don't think Pete and MJ have the funds.

:(

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Wait - 'Masterblaster'? Two 'Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome' references in one night? Unheard of! I need clarification. Who is this Masterblaster?

[stolisomancer.insanejournal.com]

Some dude with rayguns who they take out in two pages. I think he's a one-shot for the story.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Aw, man, disappointing! You'd think he'd at least have a midget in his backpack. Bad show, writers.

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

He runs Bartertown.

[lieut_kettch.insanejournal.com]

WHO RUN BARTERTOWN?

[mania21.insanejournal.com]

"every woman wears a thong in Larsen Country"

Not to mention being built in such a way as to ensure EXTREMELEY sore backs one day.

[magus_69.insanejournal.com]

Peter and Hank should hang out more often.

[liarashadowsong.insanejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I like the art - that last panel has limbs everywhere, and the lady in the foreground of the second panel of the second page has some weird-looking proportions for sure - but it's far from the worst art I've seen in professionally-drawn comics. And the writing! It's really quite wonderful an end result for the dialogue, in my opinion. (But if you say the fight scenes are awful, I'll take you at your word and be grateful one wasn't included.)