Yesterday marked the installment of the new swinging-singles life for Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #546. On recommendation from new series writer Dan Slott (that guy finds anything written about him on the Internet), I decided to give it a try, no matter how stupid I thought it was for Joe Quesada & Co. to erase the Peter Parker-Mary Jane Watson marriage from existence (note: I didn’t read One More Day, but the idea itself was inexcusably bad).
So, how was it?
Taking the comic by itself, without the stigma of One More Day, it was easily one of the best Spider-Man comics I’ve read in years (that doesn’t say a whole lot). Slott is very slick with plotting, time and again smacking readers in the face with surprising imagery and events (these would’ve been more effective if Marvel PR hadn’t spoiled so many with previews). There’s also a strong emphasis on fun, which is something that’s been glaringly missing from Spider-Man books for much of the past decade (Ultimate incarnate excluded). Slott channels the joy of a nerd blessed with superpowers quite well.
There are problems, though. As good as Slott is at plotting and pacing, his dialogue is weak in a few places. And I still can’t stand Steve McNiven’s art. He needlessly traces everything with a thick black line, making every element on the page appear detached and two-dimensional. Also, the goofy albino villain and the three terrible back-up stories (Joe Q thought it was a good idea to retcon Spider-Man’s marriage, but they held onto the ridiculous MJ as superheroine thread???) just drag the issue down.
Now, the big problem: Try as hard as I could, there’s just no way to read this book without it being tainted by One More Day. For one, the new Peter Parker is no longer a dedicated husband and hard worker. He’s a fairly brash, hedonistic, impulsive brat with little work ethic and compassion. He’s hard to root for.
As hard as it is to emotionally invest in Peter, it’s even harder to invest in the story. Harry’s back? J. Jonah Jameson has a heart attack? That might have been a big deal even months ago, but all the recent editorial hijinks have taken the weight out of Spider-Man’s continuity. Any big event that happens in this book doesn’t resonate, because we as readers know that, more likely than not, soon enough it could be “forgotten” with some Marvel-issued whiteout.
Take a look at this quote from Spider-Man editor Steve Wacker’s recent interview at Newsarama:
Believe it or not, no disrespect is intended to any of the great stories that people are afraid they’re losing and I think the character and the stories are strong enough to survive anything we may do on our time with the book. The Death Of Jean DeWolff doesn’t stop being an incredibly compelling story; Kraven’s Last Hunt isn’t any less groundbreaking (and my own personal favorite); Revenge Of The Sinister Six isn’t any less exciting. Heck, in a few years, someone could come along and play fast and loose with what we’re doing too.
That last sentence is the important part. The underlying meaning is, “This doesn’t matter.”
