Posted by TheMadSpin at 1cust118.tnt2.grapevine.tx.da.uu.net on May 31, 2002 at 09:26:41:
(The Board changed soon after I put it there so here it is again...this is my first repost ever!)
I'm on my way to pick up my copy of Amazing Spider-Man number 41 today... provided that Marvel didn't lie to me.
I also ordered copies of Amazing 39 and 40 from Mile High Comics since they were on sale for 2.40 each... that's the best price I've found for them. I still can't find 37-38, but I'm on the lookout.
I also ordered Spider-Man 35 and 36 in my new attempt to replace my Maximum Carnage 14 part crossover. I picked up Web of Spider-Man 101-102 to add to this and I wrangled a Near Mint of Spider-Man Unlimited #1 3 days ago for 2 bucks at a local comic shop because the guy knows me.
I finally bought and read Spider-Man 50 with the first fight between Kraven's son and Spidey and picked up #51 for good measure.
I didn't like the clone Saga, but it was the only one I needed to finish Power and Responsibility.
I also found a local place called Talon here in Denton that sells their newer comics for 4 for the price of 3. They also don't up their prices after a few months. I picked up a couple of the first arc J. Michael Straczenski books for the cover price even though everywhere else they are either impossible to find or jacked up to 5 bucks already.
I have also been really impressed with the current stuff being done with Hulk, so I picked up Incredible #30 to see if the arc impressed me. I'm going to get 31-33 today and then Dotcomics picks it up from there.
I also got Origin #6 and while I was disapointed by the delay and drop in quality, it was still better than a lot of stuff I've read in my day... and the art was still incredible.
I topped off my spree by getting Peter Parker: Spider-Man 42-44 (they made up the buy 3 get one free deal including Hulk). 42-43 were tongue in cheek and some times a bit cheesy, but I had fun reading them. 44 had a really wild take on the art thanks to the vision of Ramos, but by the end I really started to dig the style. It's not something I would want to see all the time, but it wasn't as corny as Mahfood. Hell if I can deal with the manga whacked out styling on Hulk lately then I can deal with the angular style of Ramos.
The story is also dark, and to punctuate the darkness there is a nice rain storm to keep the mood dark. The wacky thing and this is a spoiler perhaps, is that Norman blames his son Harry's death on a drug overdose. While that's true to an extent it makes you think it's heroin or cocaine the way it's put in context, when in reality it was a drug that was designed to augment his power. He was poisoned more than drugged up.
Oh, last but not least(can't believe I forgot this) I have Ultimate Spidey 21-22 now thanks to a late birthday gift from a friend. 22 did not disapoint me, but I wish we could have seen more of the Goblin.
Kraven's story kind of surprised me, but in a good way. I imagine(spoiler again) losing his show will inspire him to find a strength augmenting formula.
Bendis is great. I don't know how long he can keep Ultimate Spidey fresh, but as long as he can I hope he milks it.
Anyway, I'm open for tons more discussion if anyone has anything to say about comics.