Spider-Man learns how to have fun again.
Never let it be said that Dan Slott hasn't pushed Peter Parker in new and unexpected directions over the years. That said, sometimes it feels like the core of Spider-Man's appeal is lost in the current status quo where Peter is a globetrotting businessman who funds the Avengers in his spare time. Where's the everyman hero who's perpetually down on his luck? Those who crave a more traditional take on Spidey, but one that still reflects the current goings-on in the Marvel Universe, could do far worse than checking out Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1.
This new series doesn't ignore the fact that Peter has moved on up in the world, but it seeks to ground him all the same by returning the hero to a New York setting and focusing on his battles with ordinary criminals and rocky romantic life. And in the process, writer Chip Zdarsky focuses less on Peter as a solo player and more on his relationships with both new characters and returning favorites. Zdarsky dispenses with a lot of the usual tropes here, at one point even going meta and poking fun at Peter's habit of rattling off his tragic origin story at every opportunity. Instead, Peter shines through his interactions with others, whether it's his brotherly bond with the Human Torch or the fledgling spark of new romance in his life.
Through it all, Zdarsky gives the book a light, irreverent tone that should appeal to all Spider-Man fans. The book immediately reads like a welcome, even necessary counterpoint to the increasingly dark tone of Amazing Spider-Man. The lightness is apparent even in the visuals. Adam Kubert really captures the dynamic energy of Spider-Man's escapades and the sweeping scope of the Manhattan environment. It's also quite a treat to see Kubert's art paired with Jordie Bellaire's vivid colors. Bellaire gives this issue a very sun--drenched, inviting feel, one that further enhances the lighthearted nature of Zdarsky's script.
This book is fun and it looks great, but it isn't the most remarkable Spider-Man comic in terms of plot. Zdarsky attempts to weave a new mystery involving an encrypted Stark phone and the sudden return of a major character in Peter's life, but none of this does much to help the series stand out in that regard. The backup story (a much darker alternative to the main story thanks to Goran Parlov's moody visuals) is somewhat more successful in that regard, but in both cases the characterization stands out far more than the actual story. This isn't quite the total package Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows is, which manages to combine classic Peter Parker drama with riskier storytelling choices. But hopefully hat will change with time.
The Verdict
The newest incarnation of Spectacular Spider-Man is nothing if not a fun read. The book banks on the rock-solid relationships between Peter Parker and his supporting cast, throwing in a few new faces for good measure. And it looks great, to boot, thanks both to Adam Kubert's wide-open art and Jordie Bellaire's striking colors. That said, this first issue doesn't exactly build a compelling conflict right out of the gate. That's one area both Amazing Spider-Man and Renew Your Vows have it beat.
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