I’m busy serving the Tower, up in Maine for a store appearance today at Casablanca Comics from 3-6. Did an appearance yesterday on a local news magazine show called “207” and had a reasonably good time doing that. Certainly better than the last TV stint I did where the interviewers invited viewers to call in and try and stump me with “Star Trek” trivia questions.
In any event, FNSM #17 brings back the Sandman while Dark Tower is, of course, the New Big Thing. Whad’ja think?
PAD
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I thought FNSM was good, but not great. I don’t think its anything you can help though, Peter. The title just feels like you have your hinds tied with what you can and cannot do. I think it works better than Senesational, nonetheless, mainly due to influx of your unique brand of humor. Btw, any chance of making Deb Whitman a recurring character?
I must confess I’m not familiar with Dark Tower, but I enjoyed the hybrid fantasy/western feel of it and am intrigued to see where it will go.
Three things I loved:
1) Between this and the Vulture’s arc, I love the humanizing of Spidey’s villains. They’ve been given realistic motivations and desires to be who they are and do what they’re doing.
2) Ramifications from the Spidey/Hobgob 2211 storyline rearing an ugly head.
3) Cool cover.
However… No “what’s happened previously” page? Mostly I needed it for knowing the how’s and why’s of the black costume being back in use. I realize that Marvel would like me to pick up Amazing and Sensational, but my budget will only allow me to pick up FN Spidey.
I did not like it, but that was because there were spoilers in FNSM. I admit these spoilers are no surprise but still, I did not like it when I learned that.
– Spider-man lived at the end of Civil War #7
– Some tragedy occured
– He is wearing a black costume
While none of these should be any surprise or plot point. I kept wondering should I read more in detail and find more spoilers for civil war? Should I hide it in a desk drawer and get back to it in 2 weeks? Or just read it with only one eye to get the story but skip anything that might ruin Civil War.
For me personally, I would have prefered to have read it after Civil War 7 was out. While there were no Major spoilers and everyone could guess Spider-man would live, it was not enjoyable because of the printing order vs Civil War.
Well, I didn’t read FNSM (not a big Spidey fan) but I liked Dark Tower. I had reservations about it because it just feels like it’s a story that would read better as prose than as a monthly graphic novel, but the art certainly helped cement everything together, and it did ‘feel’ like the books felt, so it was good. I’ll try the next issue, but I suspect I’ll drop it to pick it up as a trade instead (I’m finding myself doing that with many books now).
By the way, I was never a big fan of DC’s Fallen Angel, but I bought the first collection of IDW’s run and am very much hooked. Any word on when the next collection is out? I’m dying to know what happens next, but my local shop ran out of back issues.
Thanks,
Ken
I was very impressed with Dark Tower. While I have not read the book series, I have read a lot of Stephen King, and you did a great job with keeping a tone of writing consistent to his. The art was gorgeousI found myself just staring over and over at the panels.
It was great to see my much beloved black costume back in Spider-Man. While the story was strong, I feel the art is weak. The artist’s cartoony style just doesn’t mesh well with the serious undertones that creep into your writing. I find this really forgettable art, that doesn’t help the story. I would love to see somebody the likes of the current X-Factor artist, do this book. But overall, both stories were well-told.
FNSM #7: I liked it, and I agree with the comment that the focus on some actual motivation for his rogues gallery is a great way to breath some new life into them. I imagine some will try and complain about the meta-issue of the return of the black suit and certain villains as a tie-in to the upcoming movie being somehow thrust upon PAD, but frankly, if it wasn’t the movie, it’d be something else, as we’re talking about Spidey here, who’s always involved in some kind of cross-promotion or another. And that’s not a bad thing, when well-done. I hope we can avoid seeing it done less than well in the upcoming issues of Sensational and Amazing, but a medium or medium-rare offering might occur there.
As for the spoilers concerning Civil War, that issue should be lain at someone else’s feet, as all PAD’s done is, you know, put his work out on time like someone with his obvious thoughtfulness for fans should. And let’s be honest, in terms of character death, Spidey’s already died and been brought back once in the last couple of years; you don’t want him to become the Kenny of the Marvelverse, do you? (Although, seeing Iron Man go “Oh My God, You Killed Spidey!” followed by Cap going “You Bášŧárd!” would be teh hawesome…)
As seen on the newschopper – WTF News? (What The F**k) Your idea or Todd’s? Either way funny gag.
There’s a Spider-man movie with the black costume and Sandman coming out this year! Quick! Someone put these things into a comic!
Shameless cash-in.
Oh, and I read Dark Tower and liked it; haven’t read the books at all, but my roommate’s a fan, so he asked me to pick the issue up for him. Judging from oter things I’ve read by King, I think his voice and humor are a perfect match for PAD’s style. Well paced and an easy learning curve for those unfamiliar with the books. The text “lesson transcript” at the end should be highlighted as required reading for those interested in continuing with the series, though it was a much better choice to put it at the end and let readers come to it, rather than scaring them off by putting it up front.
I’ve noticed a few people talking about the depth of the Spidey villains lately. (Not just here, at work, too.) That’s one of the things about Spidey and the X-books that always appealed to me, these people had actual reasons for the things they did. They weren’t just Ðìçk Dastardley twirling his mustache as he tied the leggy blond to the railroad tracks. I mean, even Venom has more than “We’re the bad guy, we’re gonna kick your butt because you’re the GOOD guy.”
Turned on a buddy of mine at work to the Dark Towers with the art preview thingy that the comics shops were giving out. Actually don’t think I should’ve done it, though. No, the art was great, he was much appreciative, but that much drool in a TV studio CAN’T be a good thing. Can’t possibly.
Someone tried to stump you with Trek trivia once? On air? I’m assuming live? Eeeesh. Were you at least on the show to talk some kind of Trek, or did they just pull this out of the air? No wonder people hate live TV.
I started reading FNSM when it began, but dropped it because it didn’t always seem to matter to the “big picture.” I’ve picked up a couple of issues since, mostly because of what I’ve read here. I’ll try anything with your name on it!
WadeTripp must be kidding…they can’t be spoilers to anyone who reads comics, or comic magazines…or web sites…
I’m also suprised at how many people seem to not have read the Dark Tower books. I found an edition of The Gunslinger in a book store in the mid 80s, and became hooked…I never thought he would finish it!
That said, I loved The Dark Tower! You and Robin Furth have done an excellent job of capturing the narrative tone of the books, and the art is superb! Robin’s story at the end was great as well.
Three questions:
How does the writing break down? How do you and Robin put it together?
Will every issue have more backstory by Robin, and will it mostly serve to flesh out Roland’s earlier years?
Chronologically, where will Roland be at the end of the series?
Thanks!
Haven’t read Dark Tower yet…..but it’s REALLY orange. Is the Orange button stuck on his keyboard?? Looking forward to the read, but not the orange.
I really liked this issue, one of the things I’ve loved most about FNS these days is that of all three Spidey books, it’s the one that deals mostly with the ramifications of Peter unmasking and the consequences of that on his regular life. (something I really feel should have been dealt with better in Amazing and Sensational, honestly, just having a bunch of bad guys attacking Spider-Man is not half as interesting to me as seeing the real changes in Peter’s life from him revealing his identity.)
That and the return of Spider-Man’s supporting cast. I’ve been reading Spider-Man since I was nine a ten years old and I’m thirty now and over the years there are a few things that make Spider-Man one of the best comic book heroes out there.
His Supporting cast
His sense of Humor
The fact that he’s married
Peter being the most human hero out there.
And yes, I do find his marriage one of the key points to me being able to empathize with him.
I have to admit that I read one thing on the letter page that worried me. Please tell me that there is no way, no how that Betty would ever again become a love interest. Pretty please.
I love Betty, I love her growth as a character and I love the way you’ve used her so far. But… and this is a big but, one of the reasons why Betty is such a great char, is because there is little or no romantic tension between her and Peter left. So far the only female char that didn’t become less interesting when turned into a love interest is MJ, and I don’t want Betty to lose everything she’s grown to be as Peter’s friend and big sister, by having that turned into something else.
Of course, that’s just in case Quesada went through with his stupidity of wanting to destroy one of the best parts about Peter Parker, namely that he’s married.
I couldn’t help like the moments with the guards and the cops, where in both cases, it shows that at least some people seem to realize what a hero Peter is.
The problem with these “tragedy” teasers is that side-book continuity spoils it. You know Spidey lives because you read about the “Back in Black” solicitations months ago. Having said that, I fell for the Ben Reilly image inducer HL & S. I really wanted it to be Ben R- that would have been cool, but I guess we’re done with clones. Over all I liked the portrayal of Marko. As for DT. fabulous. Your words along with Lee’s/Isanoves art make it stunning. Plus I like the back-story about Gilead. Was a fan of DT since Drawing of the Three. Got a bit lost on Wolves of the Calla tho.
The Gunslinger Born script was amazing work… fits very well for this tower junkie…
Come post and see what everyone else thinks at thedarktower.net if ya wanna… it would make the forum guys there super happy to get a post from ya since the comic’s out.
Thanks again.
D
I did not like it, but that was because there were spoilers in FNSM.
As Jason said, this was not PAD’s fault.
This is one of those times where a book probably should’ve been delayed due to what happens in the Big Event book (ie, Civil War).
WadeTripp must be kidding…they can’t be spoilers to anyone who reads comics, or comic magazines…or web sites…
Given that Marvel’s been putting “Back in Black 2/2007” logos on the covers of their comics lately, I think the return of the black costume wasn’t even vaguely meant to be a surprise…
I’m ášš’t manager at Big Planet Comics in Washington DC and a huge DT junkie (although I have my issues with the final book, issues which might possibly be eased if the comics are going where I think and hope they might be) and I adored it. Your script absolutely nailed it.
My manger is a cynical curmudgeon and has never read the books, and even he liked it! So between us, we’re definitely going to do our best to push it and assure skittish non-King-readers that it’s perfectly accessible.
I liked most of the latest FNSM very much and am curious how things will develop. I am one of the fans who were completely confused about what happened before with Ben and I am hoping you will make things more clear in future.
On the other hand, this is the first issue with “Spidey is back in black” I have read so far and I am dreading even more what I will find in Amazing Spider-Man. I was hoping this won`t develop into the cliche of killing the family off so that the bitter, enraged lone hero goes after whoever was responsible. I know, it wasn`t mentioned that May and Mary Jane were killed but they were not around either.
I save my rant for later after I had a chance to read what JMS had in mind but I have a very bad feeling about this.
I have read all the Dark Tower and related books and let me say, I could not tell what was King and you. Seemless between the two stories…incredible all around. A book on par with Sandman in it’s transcendence of the comic book genre
I think the return of the black costume wasn’t even vaguely meant to be a surprise…
I’m guessing it’ll last for about… oh… 4 months.
As soon as Marvel said the “Back in Black” was coming, it was unfortunately far too predictable as to WHY they were doing it, and likely very few guesses needed as to HOW they were going to do it.
I know this is completely irrelevant to this thread, but my wife went into labour 9 days early, still at home right now. Got a TV crew here from life network in Canada for Lifestory. Could be fun.
Now, back to regularly scheduled silliness
I’m guessing it’ll last for about… oh… 4 months.
Yeah…maybe I should go back to the CBG boards and taunt the people who thought the “Iron Spidey” costume was going to be the new permanent look for the character. (As someone who started reading comics in 1985, the black costume took root deep in my psyche early on, so I’m glad to see it again for however long it lasts.)
I love FNSM. I love seeing classic villains and the return of the supporting class and subplots. FNSM is the best Spider-book since DeFalco was writing it.
Further irrelevance. It’s a boy. Charles Horst Panning arrived 10:08 a.m. EST. Mom and baby are fine. I stayed vertical.
Just got the Dark Tower today! I haven’t read any of the material in the back of the book yet, but I’ve read the main story. First of all, I gotta say PAD: the ton of the book fits great with the Dark Tower books. I’m a huge fan of the books and this was just a great adapation of that part of the book! It was great seeing it come to life. And I gotta say this too: Jae Lee & co’s artwork was just jaw dropping! Really great. Love it.
I gotta read the stuff in the back of the book soon. Looks interesting. I have seen the map in the back of the book and that looks cool. Gotta take a closer look at it.
Anyway, just want to say: you’ve made this Dark Tower fan happy, PAD (and co). I definitly have to get the next issues!
DF2506
” Also want that Dark Tower guidebook in April! “
Manny, two things–
1. Congratulations! Glad to hear it!
2. Don’t let either the mother or the kid hear that you labeled them “further irrelevance.” MIGHT make things difficult for you.
I read most of the The Gunslinger Born in line at the Midtown Comics signing, and it was pretty dámņ good. Although I’ve heard great things about Stephen King, and although I’ve enjoyed some of the movies based on his works (The Shawshank Redemption is one of my all-time favorite films), I had never jumped on the bandwagon book-wise, since the time I have to read is limited, and I already have a huge backlog of books to read, but reading this comic, I was intrigued by the main character, and by the fictional culture that King has weaved out sci-fi, fantasy and westerns. Most of the made-up sci-fi/fantasy jargon was easy to grasp, and Jae’s artwork was simply beautiful. Jae is one of the few artists who gained stardom in the 90’s whose artwork has either remained solid or gotten even better.
I read FNSM a day or two later, and it was good. Flash Thompson’s scumbag actions are believable, and Nauck’s art is pretty good. I’m interested to see where this one goes.
Sean, did I really call them “further irrelevance”? D’ohh! I guess sleep deprivation will do that. Thanks.
Since the black costume is my favorite, I loved it. I wish he would stay in black.
I thought the issue was fine. In fact, while I really need to drop some books for financial reasons, PAD made it impossible to jump off the runaway freight train.
I especially loved how Flash was shown to be mildly observant. (Wonder if he would be fooled by Clark’s glasses — oh, never mind.) Nice touch.
I am on record not understanding (or particularly liking) the death of whomever that was in the alley. That said, I want to find out what really happened. PAD has promised it was not as it appeared (which, I admit, I should have guessed).
Bottom line, not every chapter will the grand finale to a fireworks display. That would get old really fast. For an issue that had to be careful not to give anything away, it was masterfully done. It advanced PAD’s story without “harming” the stupid Civil War story. (Don’t get me started — Not a big fan of how JMS has written some characters or how the Civil War has gone so far. I am sticking with it to the end, but it would have to be a huge save to keep me on even the few issues he has left at Amazing.)
Till next time, your conservative, Bush supporting comic reader,
Iowa Jim
Manny, belated congratulations (I avoid these threads to avoid spoilers–I get my comics every 2 or 3 months at a time).
Manny, I won’t tell if you don’t.
Y’know, Iowa Jim made an interesting question pop in my head. (Curse you, Jim! You made me think! Smoke alarm’s STILL going off!)
Anyway, just how many costumes DOES Spider-Man have? I’m not talking about styles. I mean, does he have more than one of the red-and-blues, the black, and now the red-and-gold? Or does he have to do laundry every time he comes back from web-slinging? Has that ever been addressed in an issue? And what happens when, as is inevitable, one of these heroes’ costumes gets all ripped up? Do they sew it up or just take another off the rack?
Tell ya what, Sean, I can’t tell what I can’t remember. I can’t remember sleep either, but once Battlestar Galactica is over, I’m gonna take a refresher course.
And what happens when, as is inevitable, one of these heroes’ costumes gets all ripped up
I remember an old Superman comic where he opened his closet and there were something like 20 blue Clark Kent suit and jackets. Readers wrote in complaining about how you’d have to be the dullest man in the universe to have 20 suits the exact same color but the quick thinking folks at DC claimed that he had treated all of his clothes with a chemical that kept them from burning up when he traveled at superspeed and that chemical turned clothes blue. So there you are.
“Friendly Neighborhood” is fast becoming my favorite Spidey title. I feel the weakest part of PAD’s run to date was the “alternate Uncle Ben” story arc and – I should have known better. It was laying the seeds for something that looks interesting.
The book is fun and all the characters are in character. Great job!
Over at The-Trades, the issue got an “A” grade:
Link Here
“Readers wrote in complaining about how you’d have to be the dullest man in the universe to have 20 suits the exact same color but the quick thinking folks at DC claimed that he had treated all of his clothes with a chemical that kept them from burning up when he traveled at superspeed and that chemical turned clothes blue.”
I dunno. Supposedly Albert Einstein had a closetful of identical suits so he didn’t have to expend brain power deciding what to wear. I wouldn’t exactly call him dull.
PAD
“I remember an old Superman comic where he opened his closet and there were something like 20 blue Clark Kent suit and jackets. Readers wrote in complaining about how you’d have to be the dullest man in the universe to have 20 suits the exact same color but the quick thinking folks at DC claimed that he had treated all of his clothes with a chemical that kept them from burning up when he traveled at superspeed and that chemical turned clothes blue. So there you are.”
While that’s a nice little Golden/Silver age comic response, giving it some thought…isn’t part of the Clark Kent disguise intended to make him dull? The point being that someone with Superman’s powers would never hide behind, in fact COULD never hide behind the Clark Kent identity.
Posted by: Sean Scullion at February 11, 2007 10:24 PM
Anyway, just how many costumes DOES Spider-Man have?
I’ve not read anything that has explicitly addressed that issue (which doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t been explicitly addressed — I haven’t read every single Spider-Man comic ever produced). It has been strongly implied, however, that Spider-Man generally has only one costume. On more than one occasion Peter Parker has been depicted sewing up his battle-ravaged costume. Moreover, in the ’80s there was a storyline where his costume was lost or destroyed, forcing him to wear a version of his costume that I believe he bought in some store in Germany. It actually had the words “Die Spinne” or something like that on the back.
>The point being that someone with Superman’s powers would never hide behind, in fact COULD never hide behind the Clark Kent identity.
That was the whole trick to Byrne’s take on Luthor where his staff figure out the Clark-Superman thing, but Lex is simply incapable of accepting the idea of someone as powerful as Superman hiding behind such a wimpy facade.
Posted by: The StarWolf at February 12, 2007 09:55 AM
That was the whole trick to Byrne’s take on Luthor where his staff figure out the Clark-Superman thing, but Lex is simply incapable of accepting the idea of someone as powerful as Superman hiding behind such a wimpy facade.
In the ’70s, it was revealed that when the rocket carrying Kal-El crashed on Earth, its “window” shattered into round pieces due to its unique Kryptonian properties. Young Clark decided to use the round pieces of glass-like stuff to create eyeglasses so he could pass himself off as a mild-mannered geek. It turned out that those lenses gave Clark the power to hypnotize anyone who looked at him, causing them to see him as the wimpy mild-mannered milquetoast he was trying to portray.
I kid you not.
I’m guessing the Crisis did away with that bit.
Einstein accomplished nothing in the last 30 years of his life, most people do not understand the consequences of his work (non-linear time, as E=mc² establishes, confirms the fatalism of Greek tragedy, Slaughterhouse Five, and Watchmen — not the divergent realities of Back to the Future, which depends on linear time), and when readers of Einstein’s early articles tracked him down, they found him working as a clerk in a patent office. I’m guessing Einstein’s demand for stimulation was very low and, unless you found the back of his sweater intriguing, was for the most part pretty dull company.
Supposedly Albert Einstein had a closetful of identical suits so he didn’t have to expend brain power deciding what to wear.
That’s my argument for wearing nothing but black shirts when my students bug me about it. The truth is, they make me look good. Ðámņ good.
In the ’70s, it was revealed that when the rocket carrying Kal-El crashed on Earth, its “window” shattered into round pieces due to its unique Kryptonian properties. Young Clark decided to use the round pieces of glass-like stuff to create eyeglasses so he could pass himself off as a mild-mannered geek. It turned out that those lenses gave Clark the power to hypnotize anyone who looked at him, causing them to see him as the wimpy mild-mannered milquetoast he was trying to portray.
Oh God, I remember that story. How did it explain why photos of Clark made him look skinny? Another example of making things worse by trying to make them better. Just accept that these people live in the same Universe as the folks around Sailor Moon, Mightor, He-Man and all the other superheroes who look pretty much like their alter egos.
I mean, if you waste too much time thinking about it, the jig would have been up the first time someone slapped Clark on the back for a job well done and shattered all the bones in their wrist.
But hey, I bought the whole “Capatin America has his shield on his back under his shirt” routine. Yeah, try that sometime.
Hey, remember how Iron Man’s costume used to be “metal mesh” that folded up like cloth and fit into a briefcase until it was “polarized” into armor?
Yeah, it’s best not to think to much about these things. Takes the fun out of ’em…
Wow, you’re going to school without any pants? I guess some teachers will do anything to keep students from sitting in their chair when they aren’t in the room.
I rather liked the Iron Man polarized armor solution to the problem (said problem being how exactly you carry around a suit of armor without anyone knowing it. In reality you would have as much luck as The Amazing Steam Engine Dude in keeping that identity quiet.)
Nova had something like that too, as I recall–when he took off his helmet it turned to cloth. Nice.
If I were doing the Iron Man movie (which is looking pretty darn encouraging at this point–the movie I mean, not my doing it) I’d have a scen I remember from the book where Tony Stark is tossed out of an airplane and is able to open his suitcase and don the armor on the way down.
Hey PAD, any chance you’ll be doing the novelization of the Iron Man movie? FF2? Spidey 3? A letter to Penthouse about the Giant Sized Man Thing?
Hey, PAD, any chance you’ll actually write the screenplay to some upcoming Marvel movie? Because the first FF movie kinda sucked. I bet if you had written the dámņ thing it would’ve kicked ášš.
That just gives a whole new meaning to “Things That Know Fear Burn At Its Touch.”
Hey, PAD, any chance you’ll actually write the screenplay to some upcoming Marvel movie?
Apparently the marketing whizzes in Hollywood would rather do anything rather than look to the folks who are writing great comic book style stories every month. It’s such a no-brainer. Granted, not every screenplay would be a hit (I seem to recall an X-Men screenplay by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway that was pretty sub par) but PAD at his worst would have done a better job on Fantastic 4. Hëll, even if they had just hired him for a day to go over the dialogue it would have kicked it up a solid notch.
Mind you, I didn’t hate FF #1 but it had so much missed potential. Looking at the teaser for FF2 and the preproduction pictures of the new Doc Doom I am again filled with hope and ready to be let down once again.