Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Humberto RamosTo face off against an amped-up HOBGOBLIN, you need an amped-up SPIDER-MAN! What’s the story behind Spidey’s NEW SUIT? What is it and what can it do? Meanwhile, MACH 5 (from THE THUNDERBOLTS) faces off against one of Spidey’s deadliest foes! All this, and a secret side mission for THE BLACK CAT. Plus an additional 8 page story: We showed you who was behind the HOBGOBLIN’S mask last issue. But what were they up to BEFORE their startling return? Here’s where you find out!
I have to admit, I gave up on this book a little while ago. While I was still very much entertained by the Brand New Day-era Spider-Man, it got to the point that I simply could not afford a thrice monthly comic book. However, things change, living conditions get better and sometimes those changes intersect perfectly with major new eras beginning on flagship comic books. And so it was that the beginning of Dan Slott’s Big Time era brought me back to everyone’s favorite Wall Crawler…and I gotta say, it is damn good to be back. Click below for my thoughts on the third issue of this NEW brand new day for Spider-Man.
After last issue’s cliffhanger and a surprise intervention by the essence of a very popular modern pop star, Spidey manages to escape the clutches Phil Urich, the brand new Hobgoblin, just in time for Hobby to steal a very powerful, experimental technology being developed by Horizon Labs. Following this we have one of the more hilarious scenarios developed for Peter Parker to hide his alter-ego from those that must not find it out. We then witness the first meeting of the Kingpin and the new Goblin in town, a failed attempt at love on the part of Urich, and the recruitment of the Black Cat to track down good ol’ laughy pants the Hobgoblin. However, the highlighted moment of the issue, as indicated by the cover and all the pre-release buzz around it, had to be the debut of a new costume for Spider-Man, which essentially brings us to the end of the main story. While Slott has said on multiple occasions that this new look is NOT permanent and that the old school red and blues will still be the primary costume, he ALSO mentioned that this will not be the ONLY new look Spidey develops to tackle specific jobs that he comes to face. Truth to tell, I’m not quite sold on that concept just yet. I mean, this plot reeks of Iron Man even more than the when Peter dressed in Tony Stark designed “Iron-Spider” armor and doesn’t, at least on the surface seem all together Spider-Man-y to me. That said, I can definitely get behind the design (although I do expect an explanation as to why it’s orange on the cover and green in the comic, but I assume that’s coming) and the idea of Spidey flying around in what basically equates to an invisibility suit can be used to tell some legitimately new stories, despite the concept behind it being unconventional.
I think where the storytelling truly shines though, is Slott’s character work. Sure, he was one of I don’t even know how many members of the Spidey braintrust that piloted this book for over two years, but his time as a member of that group truly gave him a tight grasp on these characters, their personalities, weaknesses and flaws that he has begun really drawing out their humanity and making them three dimensional now that he has the playpen to himself. And honestly? His Hobgoblin is legitimately creepy. I don’t know much about Urich’s adventures as the third Green Goblin, but I can only imagine that given his traumatic experience in the fantastic Loners mini-series could have lead the character down this path, and I look forward to seeing where Slott goes with it.
On the art side, I have always loved Humberto Ramos. His style is definitely an acquired taste that takes some getting used to if you aren’t used to it, but ultimately his visually stylized pencils flow excellently from panel to panel. The way he contorts his characters conveys a sense of movement that few artists have really been able to master. Yeah, people will say he’s “too cartoony” (and he is, a little bit), but thing about the jovial, almost childlike nature of the character being written and then find me an argument that proves a cartoony style isn’t a perfect fit. I’ll tell you now, you’ll have trouble finding one.
Overall, Slott and Ramos are crafting an amazingly fun, undeniably innovative, creepy and compelling narrative that equates to a great new start for one of the most universally known super-heroes in the world. I couldn’t be happier sticking with this one for a good while.
Final Verdict: 9.1 – Buy
