Web of Spider-Man #1

[iamrman]

Writer: Louise Simonson

Pencils: Greg LaRocque

Inks: Jim Mooney

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A third Spider-Man title on my read list and of course it is from a different period in time than the other books. I can only apologise for how confusing these posts will become.

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As if the alien costume wasn’t bad enough, Spidey is also attacked by these losers.

The sound of church bells gives Spidey a cunning plan.

The Vulturions haven’t learned their lesson, so they will be back in the very next issue.

I’m sure that’s the last we will see of the alien costume.

Comments

[steverodgers5]

I remember really liking Web of Spider-Man. For a little while at least, it seemed like it was striving to be the home of some more offbeat Spidey tales. But then it just got subsumed by the Marvel machine after it started crossing over with the other titles and lost whatver kind of identity it was trying for,

Having said that, this issue hasn't aged too well. Especially that last line. LOL!

[blues32]

I've never seen this issue. Not all of it, at least. How in the hell did the symboite survive? It turned to dust and smoke here.

[zachbeacon]

Web always seemed like the most superfluous Spider-Man comic. It starts with a follow-up to a story that I think most of us thought was resolved - a story that really only matters due to later retcons - and then just becomes aimless for a while. Sure Web had some good stories but you're lucky to get a few issues before a new creative team goes in an entirey new direction. Who can forget the Smithville Thunderbolt and Xanja?

(I only had to look up one of those names so I guess *I* didn’t forget the Smithville Thunderbolt. I do still think it is odd that #25 is a completely unremarkable alien invasion story by Stan's baby brother; I guess 25th issues weren't considered as important as multiples of 50 at the time)

Even the books that came before (Team-Up) and after (Sensational) had more of an identity.

[iamrman]

Yeah, the creative teams in the early issues are all over the place.

[zachbeacon]

Well even Spectacular had a rough start even though it arguably become a better comic than Amazing. I don't think Web ever really found a consistent voice.

Which is funny considering the series still had contributions from writers like Conway and [Redacted]; both guys who helped make Spectacular what it became.

Or maybe I just dislike the work of the writer I most associate with Web ... though he didn't get much time to himself before the book was swallowed into endless 90s crossovers that blurred the lines between the books...though some parts of the Clone Saga are still easier to read than others.

Actually, aside from this story bringing the symbiote back, I think "Who is F.A.C.A.D.E.?" might be Web's most memorable contribution to Spider-Man and it's only because it has become a joke.

[iamrman]

I keep trying to read the Clone Saga, but I can't make it past the dirst few issues. I know there is good stuff, but it's just a matter of wading through the crap.

[zachbeacon]

It doesn't help that most of the better parts are in the back half when they were letting Ben just be Spider-Man.

The actual Clone Saga plot-relevant arcs tended more toward "everything you think you know is wrong" and that gets old fast. Also the constant twists lose impact when they either don't stick* or have become common knowledge in the time since.

*(There was a whole period between the 70s CS and the 90s CS where they decided there were no clones and the Jackal just genetically modified Joyce Delaney and Anthony Serba.)

It is very weird to see the current state of Ben and Kaine as a 90s fan, though.

[iamrman]

The parts that annoy me the most about the early Clone Saga is Ben constantly angsting about not being a real boy and Judas Traveller. Just in general.

The 'no clones' retcon came from the Evolutionary War crossover, I believe. Then it turned out the High Evolutionary was lying. Or something.

[zachbeacon]

IDK, "God exists and he enjoys fucking with Spider-Man specifically" seem pretty on brand but the "crazy mutant with illusion powers" retcon seems pretty hastily thrown together. No idea why Orchis would put that guy in a position of power.

(The Scrier reveal REALLY ticked me off at the time for being stupid and is even worse in hindsight because it helped kick off the "Norman Osborn is secretly responsible for everything bad in Peter Parker's life" trend that plagued Spider-Man comics for over a decade following the CS)

The retcon of the High Evolutionary retcon makes a lot of sense if you consider that the HE is a petty asshole who's mad that some incel creep stole his life's work.

(I don't know why whatshername from Spider-Boy thought things would work out for her)

[scorntx]

(Huh. Forgot about the whole thing with Judas being in Orchis.
Which I'm guessing was because Orlando thought he was interesting.
What a load of nothing that was.)