Amazing Spider-Man 529 New Costume

[manwithnoname]

I'm withholding judgement on the new Spidey costume. Right now, I'm not too fond of it -- but, I'm waiting to see how JMS integrates the costume into future stories.

Spidey's original costume is iconic; it's hard to improve on something that already works. I don't know how much input JMS has/had in the design phase, but I'm hoping for some more tweaking of the costume. The color scheme is unappealing, first of all.

I'm open to a new costume, don't get me wrong. Some folks didn't like Spidey's black costume, I loved it.

I did like the protection it gave Spidey: heat-resistant kevlar micro-fiber that can resist small caliber bullets. This is very practical, and it's not a big stretch to have this in a costume.

[Bloodshot]

I agree. Witholding judgement till we see where JMS is going to take this.

From what I've read, the costume and Peter's relationship with Tony Stark will come to a head in the upcoming Civil War series. Makes me think about some quotes from JMS on the Lurkers Guide. He talks about (and I'm paraphrasing) if you're going to have a gun fired in Act Three, then you better make sure a gun is introduced in Act One.

Maybe issue 529 is Act One.

[manwithnoname]

Great observation. He did this with Morlun.

I pretty sure Peter's sense of obligation to Tony is one he's going to regret. I think the suit's purpose may be more than just a protective suit for Peter, I could be wrong.

The upcoming Civil War event sounds really interesting.

[Karachi Vyce]

Why withhold judgment here? It's an ugly costume, and I'd like to know who thought it was a good idea. I only take solace in the fact that it'll be changed back within six months, since the costume change is pretty much just another callow publicity stunt by Marvel.

If they have to change the costume, just use the costume previously used by Ben Reilly, the one that's used by Spider-Girl. Who designed that? DeFalco? Regardless, if you're going to change it, change it to that. It's close enough to the original and actually manages to look swank.

[Night Marshal]

I kinda like it, if nothing else it makes you respect the other costume more. And the colours aren't that bad there just differant I think it good for Spiderman to change this look from time to time it some ways it is starting to get a little tired.

[manwithnoname]

Night Marshal proves a great point a lot of people don't get: No matter much someone dislikes what DC or Marvel does with a character, someone always likes it.

And, this is not a bad thing or a good thing.

People have different tastes, likes and dislikes, this is why both companies publish a butt load of comics; if you don't like one then try something else.

[Karachi Vyce]

.........yes, there's always someone who will enjoy it.

There were people who actually enjoyed the Spider-Clone saga.

It doesn't change the fact that THOUSANDS stopped reading Spider-Man over the course of it, though.

You really don't need to be objective here.

[manwithnoname]

i stopped reading comics months before they published the clone saga. month after month of reading bad stories not just from Marvel but DC and Image, especially image. i went for years without reading ANY comic, i just stuck to reading fiction and nonfiction prose. it was easy to do because the freshness of poor stories was acute.
a couple of times a year I would pick up one or two comics to see if it got better. jenkins' inhumans, smith's daredevil and JMS' spidey is what brought me back, honestly.

[Harrdy]

If you are frustrated by the comic industry, do yourself a favor and read "Watchmen" (by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Barry Marx). Or of course Supreme Power (by J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank) and/or Rising Stars (by J. Michael Straczynski, Keu Cha, Brent Anderson). I like a good heroes tale, and the "different" approach ("why do they do what they do" and "where do they go" instead of "what can they do" and "who would win") is very nice, for me... really saved the comic book for me.

PeAcE

[manwithnoname]

I read every comic book JMS writes. Watchmen is definitely awesome; I read the trade years ago, and I now own the Absolute edition also. I HAD to buy the Rising Stars hardcover limited-slipcased edition, even though I have the first trade and single comics for the rest of the series.

I'm not frustrated with the comic industry. I get frustrated with fans. Too many fans think if they don't like a story then their opinion is fact. It's an opinion. The owner of my local comic book store loves watching bad b-movies. I'm talking about really, really bad b-movies. I think it's a waste of time, honestly.

[ManInTheMiddle]

Too many fans think if they don't like a story then their opinion is fact. It's an opinion.

......Do tell...

[frulad]

I have been to about a half-dozen shops and everyone is sold out of this issue!

ARGH!

[David Panzer]

If you are frustrated by the comic industry, do yourself a favor and read "Watchmen" (by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Barry Marx). Or of course Supreme Power (by J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank) and/or Rising Stars (by J. Michael Straczynski, Keu Cha, Brent Anderson). I like a good heroes tale, and the "different" approach ("why do they do what they do" and "where do they go" instead of "what can they do" and "who would win") is very nice, for me... really saved the comic book for me.

PeAcE

Watchmen had the opposite effect on me. When I read it, it killed my interest in superheroes. It wasn't until my roomie in college told me about some new comic called "Rising Stars" that I went back to the realm of super-hero comics, with a keener eye than before Watchmen.

I'm beginning to get into Astro City as well. You might like it. The first story dealt with the character "Samaritan" who is like a Superman archetype, and how he's so busy doing good things that he's never really enjoyed being able to fly.

[Harrdy]

Funny, how different persons are, isn't it? I really liked the idea of going through with the backstory. Most of the time it is like: "WoHoo! I can fly", or: "WoHoo! I can run really fast", or something like that. But what about being so fast nobody can see you does to your live, that is seldom touched. (Nearly) Every Comic book stays with the "he stays human" approach, but Watchmen was different there. I really could understand the motives of every character in the book, and it was interresting and inspiring to see the story unfold. And the end... well, it was just right (IMHO).

The only character which really was sad (for me) was Rohrschach. But there was really no other way for him, was there? Maybe if somebody would have reached out, not for money or fame (as it happened) but for the person. Anyway, his profile was very, very interresting. Another example that you loose something if you hate.

Astro City you say? Will try to get a hold of it... over the atlantic ocean there are no comic book trees *g*
What I mean it is sometimes hard to get a hold of some niche products, only the big ones (Marvel, DC) are available easy... at least in the shops I know.

add: Thank god for Amazon *g* Ordered two titles of Astro City... "Astro City: Life in the Big City" and "Kurt Busiek's Astro City: The Tarnished Angel (Kurt Busiek's Astro City)"

PeAcE

[manwithnoname]

I have been to about a half-dozen shops and everyone is sold out of this issue!

ARGH!

Marvel is coming out with a second printing, I think.