A spidey poll

bobaprime85 · Post by **bobaprime85** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:47 pm

No, not that Spidey (although I'm sure he'll get his own poll sooner or later and I hope he doesn't belt me for starting another Spider-Man topic so soon after he started his ). I'm referring to the one in the four-colour world, and specifically the recent 'Sins Past' storyarc. Who read it and what did you think? I'm desperately curious, given the hullabaloo it's been causing.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:58 pm

I've only read the first 3 parts (I'm having trouble with my comic shop and need to find a new supplier). On the whole I was enjoying it. I miss Romita's art and the arc does seem to be missing a bit of the humour. However, I like JMS' reverence for stories gone by. It's important to always reference what went before, and tying things to Gwen was cool (though I'm not sure how tidy the flashbacks fit).

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:23 pm

Ah, read the whole thing now. Exciting stuff, shame they dicked around with the mythos a bit.

But like I say, exciting.

So, tell me more of this hullabaloo.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:06 pm

What sort of hullaballoo is it causing? I haven't seen.

I LOVE JMS. I think "Coming Home" and the rest of his early stories on the book were the greatest Spidey stories in years. Although the book seems to me to have lost a little punch since MJ came back. Why oh why can nobody write her well? It's not like she's not an interesting character. It's just that nobody ever makes her likable, not even Stracynski or Jenkins. Only the Ultimate MJ have I ever loved. And when Erik Larsen wrote it for like, five issues. Anyway...

"Sins Past" seemed like a good way to taint the sacred cow of Gwen Stacy. So many writers have Pete agonizing over what happened with her. Especially considering that she was annoying and shallow when she was in the book, and he's married now, and MJ still takes a back seat to her sometimes. Also...

"Sins Past" was a brilliant way to introduce a new Green Goblin. Hopefully now they will rectify their mistake and kill off Norman Osborne, since he shouldn't be alive anyway. I was sad that there was no girl GG. If I weree the writer, I would have made the girl the new GG and the guy the one who turned good. But anyway...

Gwen getting seduced by Norman was kind of weird. I could believe it if he drugged her, raped her, etc... but as a one-time deal it seemed odd. Maybe if the relationship had been going on for a long time. Was JMS trying to imply that she and Peter never did the deed? I didn't get that. Also, I miss Romita, an artist who is so good and on time, month after month, that i took him for granted and now regret it.

JMS has done some really good things, but I have my quibbles as well. It would be nice to see both he and Jenkins take a break, since they seem to be running a little low. And speaking of Jenkins, what was up with the organic webbing thing? I hate organic webbing. I love it when Spidey runs out of web fluid.

But who would replace them? I like Bendis on Ultimate; I wonder if he would do a good old Spidey. And given the amount of sheer hell he put Buffy through, Joss Whedon would probably be good at torturing Pete.

This was long. As you can tell, I am a spidey freak. Don't even get me started on Kirsten Dunst.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:43 pm

sprunkner wrote:
I LOVE JMS. I think "Coming Home" and the rest of his early stories on the book were the greatest Spidey stories in years.

The whole Morlun thing was great! Then the Shrathra and Ezekiel showdowns were ******* brilliant.

sprunkner wrote: Although the book seems to me to have lost a little punch since MJ came back. Why oh why can nobody write her well?

Yeah, it was a downer when she returned.

Why can't Peter ever have other girlfriends? Whats with that?

Anyway, I think the easy thing for any writer to do would be to keep MJ on the sidelines, so I respect JMS for attempting something more.

sprunkner wrote: "Sins Past" seemed like a good way to taint the sacred cow of Gwen Stacy.

True, but thats the part that predictably will upset people.

I too thought she was shallow. And you know that early issue when she takes the piss out of Pete with Harry and Flash? That ****** me right off.

sprunkner wrote: "Sins Past" was a brilliant way to introduce a new Green Goblin. Hopefully now they will rectify their mistake and kill off Norman Osborne, since he shouldn't be alive anyway.

Now having a new Green Goblin is a great idea, a villain of the real classic sort. However, JMS writes other great villains and seems to kill 'em off early - I think that'll prevent any of them becoming classic characters.

As for Norman, before I read Sins Past I was under the impression that he died after being impaled after the Gwen thing! I thought all the goblin stuff since was Harry. Now I know differently I think thats a bit crap - sometimes villains should just stay dead IMO.

sprunkner wrote: Gwen getting seduced by Norman was kind of weird. I could believe it if he drugged her, raped her, etc... but as a one-time deal it seemed odd. Maybe if the relationship had been going on for a long time. Was JMS trying to imply that she and Peter never did the deed? I didn't get that.

Yep, I think it was clearly inferred that Peter and Gwen never did the deed. I too am not convinced that she'd give her cherry to Norman instead. And as I said in an earlier post, I'm not sure all this fits in the continuity very well.

Also, MJ keeping the secret is a bit off. I'd like to have seen Peter dump her there and then. Oh well.

Anyway, I loved lots of stuff about this story. And the reveal shot of the new green goblin on his glider was one of the comic moments of the year for me.

But bring Romita back and lighten the tone a bit. I think with Ezekiel's death JMS has to start from scratch and it won't be easy.

sprunkner wrote: Don't even get me started on Kirsten Dunst.

Do tell!

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:57 pm

Dude, what is so attractive about Peter pining after a whiny, demanding man-eater who has never given him more than a few looks? In the movies she never seemed to cut him any slack or give him much of a chance. Yes, the Spidey life does that, but... any girl who was actually in love with Peter as MJ is supposed to be would try harder to find out why he acts like that.

And Ms. Dunst, as far as I'm concerned, just does not look like MJ. MJ in the main continuity (which seems to be what the movies followed) was a model. Kirsten Dunst is many things, but she does not have a glamorously attractive look. It's more of a charming, cute-girl-next-door look. Which would work for the Ultimate MJ, who, as I said before, is way more likable.

I told you not to get me started.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:12 pm

Dunst doesn't look like MJ thats true.

Even my girlfriend knows that. She thinks Chloe from Emmerdale is a closer match!

Not that I'd expect you to know what Emmerdale is.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:50 am

Emmerdale... Emmerdale... Emmerdale.... no.

I was thinking Natalie Portman, or Keira Knightley, or possibly Juliet Landau (Drusilla).

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 5:40 pm

sprunkner wrote:Emmerdale... Emmerdale... Emmerdale.... no.

http://www.british-babes.co.uk/gallery/ ... llery.html

'Ere she is... picture on the bottom right is a good match for MJ perhaps.

TransFans.co.uk

A spidey poll

Soooooo......'Sins Past'?