Revelations

Through reading these and other recent Spider-Man books (25 issues worth) one thing comes to mind: even through bad stories, Spider-Man is still the man. It may be controversial but I like the idea of Ezekiel, Morlun, the Spider totem, all of it. Spider-Man has to be changed up every once in awhile and this is a much better way to do it then killing people off, or a new costume. As Straczynski's run goes on he shows a new side to Spider-Man/Peter Parker, MJ, Aunt May, even Uncle Ben. Spider-Man is firmly in the Marvel Universe in this series, with random comings and goings from other heroes. On the other hand, Peter Parker is firmly in the real world during this run. Peter Parker in college has been tried before, but Peter Parker (as an adult of course) in high school? Well, that's different and incredibly entertaining. The new villains are memorable and the older cast reminds you why you loved them to begin with.

I was in New York in 9/11. I was in the WTC on September 8th; I was buying a book from the book store that used to be in the mall. I, like millions of other Americans, feel very close to the events that took place that day. I tear up whenever I hear Tori Amos' "I Can't See New York." And I cried when I read this piece. I am a big fan of Straczynski. I love Babylon 5, I think "Rising Stars" is brilliant, and I think his work on Spiderman is breathing fresh life into an old book about a teenager who in the wrong hands would have aged without grace. I think the "Happy Birthday" TPB is very, very good. But this is better. The single word, "God..." over a stunning rendering wide shot of the tragedy by John Romita, Jr. catches in your throat, and the rest of Peter's interior monologue is equally appropriate. Captain America's sadness, Magneto's willingness to help, and the respect paid to the firefighters are among the many highpoints of this unique issue. Now, everyone has talked about how good this issue is, and I've just echoed that, but I would also like to point out how note-perfect the rest of the TPB is. The actual arc of this book is about how Aunt May finally finds out that her Peter is the reviled Spiderman, and how she comes to terms with that. There are some comically beautiful moments, like when Peter is trying to figure out why Aunt May sounds so upset (he thinks maybe she's dying), and when Aunt May says she is relieved to find out that Peter isn't gay. JMS also needs some props for writing Aunt May so well. There's a very touching scene, where Peter admits that he could have saved Uncle Ben, and Aunt May forgives him. This scene was sort of in the movie (#2), but it works so much better in this book. In the movie, Aunt May gets mad, but you get the feeling that she's wrong -- she shouldn't be mad at him because scrawny Peter, as she knows him, couldn't conceivably stop a full grown man (a criminal!). In the book, she knows he is a superhero and she knows he could have, SHOULD have, done something, but because she is a wise and loving person, a traditional grand dame from the greatest generation, she gives him the forgiveness he has always wanted but has never been able to ask for. In short, any self-respecting Spidey fan should own this book.

If this work had been produced first, Ultimate Spider-Man never would have been thought of because Spidey never would have lost his glow.The work that Straczynski and Romita Jr. are doing on this book is fantastic. This trade begins with a look at the 9/11 incedent from the pointof view of a super hero that could do nothing to stop it and who is left to help the NYPD and FDNY with the aftermath. A truly heart wrenching beginning.If that weren't enough, the book then continues the stroy line from the previous trade (Coming Home). If you haven't read that, get it now and don't read this review any further or I'll spoil the first Straczynski story line for you.Aunt May has discovered Peter's Spider-Man costume and wants to know what's going on here. Peter and Aunt May have a heart to heart the likes of which haven't been seen in any other Spidey book. This leads to some new "Revelations" not only about Peter, but also about Aunt May and Uncle Ben. A must read for any fan of the one-true Spider-Man (ie. not Ultimate Spidey, which is a fun read, but in my mind an alternate reality).The follow-up trade "Until the Stars Turn Cold" is another excellent book.Here's hoping the Amazing Spider-Man continues to spin excellent stories for years to come.

I do not buy into the notion that "Revelations" was published so that Marvel could exploit their 9/11 issue of "The Amazing Spider-Man." This trade papaerback collection of issues #36-39 follows up on "Coming Home," so there is continuity at work. Besides, given that the current cost of #36 is rougthly the equivalent of what you would have to pay to pick up the previous 35 issues of the comic, there is little to complain about for those who somehow neglected to pick up the issue in the first place.As it says at the beginning of #36, "We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you the following Special Bulletin." The reaction of Spider-Man, Captain America, and the other Marvel superheroes to the attack on the World Trade Center is out of time and space for the Marvel Universe. The event has to be acknowledged on one level, and it is the emotional response to these events that the comic is about, but on another level it cannot be dealt with. J. Michael Straczysnki and John Romita, Jr. touch upon the issue of where were these superheroes and why did they not do something about this horrible event, but there is not much they can really do about it. Spider-Man is not going to go across the ocean and beat up terrorists the way Superman took on the Axis during World War II. This is not going to happen. For one reason Marvel has no more interest in overshadowing the troops in the field than they do the NYC firefighters and police honored for their sacrifices in this issue. Beyond that such real events expose the Achilles heel of all superheroes: every time Superman is Clark Kent, there are people dying that he could have saved. Issue #36 is thoughtful, extremely so by comic book standards, but the comic book moves on.Even without the 9/11 tribute, "Revelations" remains a great collection because of the other three issues. At the end of issue #35, Aunt May came into Peter Parker's apartment and found him bruised, beaten, and bandaged, in a deep sleep, his tattered Spider-Man costume at his meet. Issue #37, "Interlude," finds Aunt May wandering the streets, trying to absorb the shock of the revelation, while Peter Parker becomes involved in the life of one of his students, offering a telling counterpoint to the relationship he has with his Aunt. Issue #38, "The Conversation," has Aunt May confronting Peter about his big secret, and there is little time wasted denying the truth. They actually talk about the things these characters should be talking about. This is not a deat bed declaration like it was in Volume 1, much as I liked the way Aunt May finally confronted Peter with the truth atop the Empire State Building on the day she died. This is a key part of an ongoing attempt by this writer and artist to rework the elements of the Spider-Man mythos that have become overworked commonplaces. Now, instead of worrying about hiding his secret identity from Aunt May, Peter gets to worry about her knowing the truth.Issue #39, "Meanwhile," combines Aun

J. Michael Stracynski and John Romita, Jr.'s tribute to 9/11 alone makes this worth the purchase. The story and the art are great.