MARVEL MANGAVERSE: SPIDER-MAN #1
"Spider Scroll"
Mildly Recommended (5/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer/Artist: Kaare Andrews
Colors: Dave McCaig & Rusty Beach
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Brian Smith
Price: $2.25 US/3.50 CAN |
Andrews does a good job of merging Spider-Man elements with the martial-arts sensibilities and spirituality of manga and anime storytelling, but the end result seems too focused on the latter aspect. The appeal of Peter Parker is that he is down-to-earth. The reader is meant to become Peter, but that's not possible with this version of the character. His upbringing and philosophies are quite alien to me, and the art, though striking, is occasionally difficult to follow.
Young Peter Parker is the last of the Spider Clan, thanks to the malevolent Venom's murder of his sensei, Ben. Peter is bent on revenge, but his elderly aunt May insists he leave the ways of the clan behind and stay safe. In an effort to achieve both goals, Peter dons a mask and the symbol of his clan to face off against Venom and his legion of assassins.
Andrews's art has come a long way since Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm & Logan. Readers shouldn't expect his sharp, photo-realistic style that we've seen on a number of Marvel covers in recent months either. His work here is tailored to the theme of the skip-week event, and it boasts a haunted, epic look. It also reminds me a bit of the sleek but angular look of Rob Haynes's art from Daredevil: Ninja. Unfortunately, like that work, the action here is rather difficult to follow as well.
I really enjoyed the conceptual design of the title character though. Andrews captures his youth and energy wonderfully, and the costume design actually looks like it made up mostly of everyday clothing, not spandex or something. Venom looks sharp, but due to crowded panels, the deep colors and the blending reds, it's hard to get a clear picture of him.
Because Andrews pretty much reproduces the same plot elements in a different context, it's clear where Peter Parker's story is going. And that predictability detracts from the story. The Venom/Kingpin rivalry is intriguing, but due to space constraints, the writer/artist never has the chance to delve into it in any depth. And that holds true for all of the elements of this story.
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