FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #6 REVIEW

[Mario J. Ramos]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0306/FDNHSM006_cov_col.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/marvel/0306/FDNHSM006_cov_col_t.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6"></a> Reviewer: Mario J. Ramos, mjramos86@hotmail.com
Story Title: Masks Part 1 of 2

Spider-Man VS El Muerto!

Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Roger Cruz
Inkers: Oclair Albert and Victor Olabaza
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Michael O’Connor
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com/)

Though I like dramatic superheroes stories, when I come back from school or work and I sit down and smell the perfume of a nice, fresh comic, I expect only one thing for the next 15 to 30 minutes: to have fun. I love fun comics. Intelligently fun comics that is, not crash-bang-no-content-boom-sexy-babe-poom-boom dumb comics. Fortunately, when you see Peter David’s name on the cover, you can expect the former. Pairing him with Spider-Man can only make things better. One thing bugged me on that same cover. Why is Spider-Man wearing the “iron suit”? I got the impression that this series, even if it is set in continuity, is about fun Spider-Man stories that are set aside from the main storylines. Anyway, if I remember correctly, that’s how Marvel announced it, which only makes the fact that the first four issues were part of The Other crossover, a very not-so brilliant way to kick off a new series. The issue doesn’t mention the current storyline in Amazing Spider-Man, so why annihilate potential new readers that get turned off when they don’t recognize the classic Spider-Man costume? It doesn’t make sense as a marketing move, and it brings nothing to the story.

Peter David brings back Spider-Man to the first place he went when he got his powers: the wrestling ring. This time, though, the money is for charity, as the event is organized by J. Jonah Jameson, in yet another attempt at humiliating Spider-Man, putting him against “El Muerto” a luchadore (Mexican wrestler), in a “mascara contra mascara” (mask versus mask) match. Like I said, intelligent fun. David uses real Mexican wrestling concepts to create an unique, fun and intriguing tale. Also, David uses his usual sense of humour to make the story work. It just wouldn’t work in a Sins Past-style story. David introduces into Peter’s life a character from his past, in the form of the new gym teacher, and other...curious…plot points, such as a possible boyfriend for Aunt May (I’ll let you guess) and…Jameson thought Spider-Man was his son? What? Like I said…curious…just enough to make you come back for the next issue.

Roger Cruz’s art fits the tone of the story well. Still, I’m not a big fan of this type of art. Most characters feel a bit off, especially Peter Parker, Mary Jane, Aunt May and Jarvis. Jarvis has the looks of a 50 year old but the face of 25 year old. Aside from the characters, Cruz does a good job, notably in the dynamic action scenes in the ring.

In conclusion, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6 is a fun book. If you stayed away from it during The Other, you can come back now. It’s worth your 2.99$.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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'Buy Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6 online now from X-WORLD and save!’ (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=18612)

[BadMotives]

It was more the 3 bucks during the Other and even before that if you loved Spider-Man character. If you only have a marginal interest in Spider-man, then this title is STILL worth it because of PAD! PAD promised us new characters and he is certainly delivering on that promise. El Muerto.. you really have to feel for the guy. Made a bad choice though. Pete's not a jamboni!

[BlingstonHughes]

so why annihilate potential new readers that get turned off when they don’t recognize the classic Spider-Man costume? It doesn’t make sense as a marketing move, and it brings nothing to the story.

It makes perfect sense as a marketing move. Get this new costume into the public eye, make it the new status quo, then "shock" everyone when Spidey goes back to the "classic" costume. Also, it seems like another reason they did this was to alleviate the negative feedback. Joey Q seems to have this thing where, if people don't like what he's doing, he's gonna make sure it's on every cover and in your face. Tired of Wolverine? Put him on another team. While you're at it, give him a new series. Want to keep the Avengers? Destroy them, and make a new team while you're at it. Enjoy Morrison's work on X-Men? Let's kill all mutants and have it negatively impact any mutant-related titles.

However, notice that Spidey costume didn't really do anything Starkanian. It could just as easily have been the old one, from a narrative perspective.

David introduces into Peter’s life a character from his past, in the form of the new gym teacher

This felt like many steps backwards in the character development of this character. The convenience of amnesia just made this very ridiculous.

Jameson thought Spider-Man was his son? What?

This was a thread left off from MK Spidey. Jameson was harassing Pete, so Pete rigged some photos to make it appear as though John was actually Spidey. It was a neat idea, seeing as how it got Jameson off Spidey's back, but David just kinda wrote his way out of that to introduce some wrestling villain...seems like a waste of a potential good story.

If you stayed away from it during The Other, you can come back now. It’s worth your 2.99$.

I wouldn't say all that. It's a decent read, but definitely not worth 3 bucks. That's a bit steep for a story that is supposed to be out of continuity.

[Angelophile]

I enjoyed this book, but boy was it retcontastic. Addressing the JJJ thinking Spiderman was John thing was fine, but the return of Flash retconned to a character he was in the mid sixties and had developed from ever since left me sighing with frustration. I thought Flash was brain damaged and not in a coma anyway, and returning him to a forty year old status quo seems disrespectful of the real changes and development the character went through.

[Mario J. Ramos]

It makes perfect sense as a marketing move. Get this new costume into the public eye, make it the new status quo, then "shock" everyone when Spidey goes back to the "classic" costume. Also, it seems like another reason they did this was to alleviate the negative feedback. Joey Q seems to have this thing where, if people don't like what he's doing, he's gonna make sure it's on every cover and in your face. Tired of Wolverine? Put him on another team. While you're at it, give him a new series. Want to keep the Avengers? Destroy them, and make a new team while you're at it. Enjoy Morrison's work on X-Men? Let's kill all mutants and have it negatively impact any mutant-related titles.


I meant if a new reader comes into a store and check for an accessible Spider-Man title. He'll probably not go near a comic where Spider-Man is not wearing his classic costume.


However, notice that Spidey costume didn't really do anything Starkanian. It could just as easily have been the old one, from a narrative perspective.


That's why I said "it brings nothing to the story".


This felt like many steps backwards in the character development of this character. The convenience of amnesia just made this very ridiculous.


This was a thread left off from MK Spidey. Jameson was harassing Pete, so Pete rigged some photos to make it appear as though John was actually Spidey. It was a neat idea, seeing as how it got Jameson off Spidey's back, but David just kinda wrote his way out of that to introduce some wrestling villain...seems like a waste of a potential good story.


I haven't been following Spider-Man lately, so I wasn't aware of those plots.

[p0int5iv3]

Loved the comic, it's a great relief from all the seriousness that is going to be Civil War