I really want to like this book, given its roots in the world of photojournalism and the competitve spirit in the profession. It's so easy to catch glimpses of my own world in that of Jeffrey Haight and The Daily Bugle, but on top of the grounded premise lies some awkward and even crde storytelling. For every moment in the script that grabs my attention with its inventiveness, there's another moment that leaves me scratching my head and rolling my eyes. Vaughan seems to blend a more realistic storytelling approach with the simpler elements of Spider-Man stories of yesteryear, and the mix just doesn't seem to take.
Once, Jeffrey Haight dedicated his life to his art, and then he scrambled after his ultimate goal of the front page of The Daily Bugle. Now, he finds himself obsessed with Peter Parker and discovering how the young freelancer manages to so consistently snag Spider-Man pics that knock him off page one. Meanwhile, Dr. Octopus, jailed after his most recent encounter with Spidey, sees an opportunities to manipulate someone to aid him, and Haight gets another exclusive chance at the front page when another green-clad villain tries to pull off a diamond heist.
I continue to be disappointed with Staz Johnson's take on Spider-Man. It's not that his art is poor. In fact, it's strong at times, especially when it comes to bringing Haight to life; those scenes remind me of Darick (Wolverine, Born) Robertson's work. But some artists just don't seem to do Spidey all that well. I didn't care for Luke Ross's take on the character years ago, nor Tom Lyle's, just to name two artists who once rendered the character's adventures on a regular basis at one time.
It's easy to relate to Haight in this story. After all, he's really the victim. He does everything in his power to get the ultimate news shot, and he loses out every time, basically because no one knows his competition is cheating. After all, Peter Parker has the benefit of being in his shots as well, so he can direct the action to a certain degree to his benefit. Unfortunately, Vaughan always seems to paint Haight in the most unflattering light, so it's impossible to get on his side. He's sleazy and egotistical all at once, and there doesn't seem to be much more depth to him.
There's a moment in this story in which Peter Parker makesup a lame excuse to get away from Mary Jane in order to change into his Spidey togs, and there's a reference to another character that may be Gwen Stacy. I'm at a loss. Is this a new story featuring a new look for Doc Ock, or is this set in Marvel's past, a five-issue retcon that doesn't really need to be a retcon at all?
One of my favorite moments in this script is Vaughan's decision to point out that it's Octavius's mind, not just his metallic tentacles, that make him a dangerous man. He's an engineering and physics genius, and we get a hint of him applying those skills here. His psychological tinkering strikes me as a rather new element, though, but Haight's character is so simple and transparent, it's easy to see how someone could pull his strings.
