(2008 Cover Date Issues - Most current first)

June 25, 2008

The Green Goblin makes an appearance in Thunderbolts #121.
Spider-Man makes a couple of flashback appearances in New Avengers #42.

Story
It's been a long time since Eddie Brock (better known as Venom) was introduced way back in Ultimate Spider-Man #33-38. Since then, Venom has returned in the Ultimate Spider-Man video game that is suppose to be included in Ultimate Spider-Man's continuity, even though not everyone has had the opportunity to "read" that "issue". This long-awaited issue opens up with Eddie Brock sitting down calmly on a park bench a la Forrest Gump. A little old lady sits besides him, and he begins to tell her his life concerning how he became Venom. The entire comic is comprised of similar little chats of Eddie with various other park-goers, broken-up with little flashbacks. The flashbacks includes Venom stalking Spider-Man while Spider-Man was battling the Rhino, a run-in he had with Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, and a battle with Spider-Man with Spider-Man in a museum. Spider-Man is saved by Silver Sable at the end of the issue, when Venom and Spider-Man takes their fight outside the museum. The issue ends, once again in the same quiet park, but just not as innocent as the opening scene.

Art
Very Good.
Best Page: The last spoiler-filled page.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Eddie/ Venom apparently eats/ consumes the people he has been talking to on the bench throughout the issue.

June 18, 2008

Spider-Man makes an out of continuity appearances in Marvel Adventures The Avengers #25.

Story
Last issue, we learned much about the life of the Bookie, a man who takes bets from super-villains in the "bar with no name". Unfortunately for the Bookie, many of the villains saw right through his staged fight between the Basher and Screwball (dressed up as Spider-Man). The real Spider-Man goes looking for some answers and arrives at the "bar with no name". This issue opens with Spider-Man battling with about a dozen of these villains in what should be a lopsided match. The bartender calms everyone down before Spider-Man gets some info from him concerning the whereabouts of the Bookie. After an unfunny New Jersey joke, Spider-Man makes his way to see the Bookie's father. The Bookie's father easily gets on Spider-Man's nerves, but he finally gets the location of where the Bookie is. Unfortunately for Spider-Man, the Bookie's father tags along with Spider-Man, as they make their way to Coney Island where the Enforcers are having some fun with the Bookie. After the amusement park has closed, the Enforcers are torturing the Bookie for taking advantage of them earlier, and Spider-Man eventually gets involved. So it's Spider-Man, the Enforcers, the Bookie, and the Bookie's father all creating mayhem in an amusement park where the electricity is still strangely in use after hours/ season. This painfully goes on for the second half of the comic without much payoff - Pun intended.

This issue felt like major filler. While still somewhat entertaining, possibly the "worst" issue of "Brand New Day" thus far. The best part of the issue to me was how the character of Ox was handled/ fleshed out near the end of the issue, which is honestly not really saying much. Too much Bookie, and way too much of the Bookie's father. Maybe we will get a summer special down the line which features the Bookie's grandfather, who turns out to be Jimmy the Greek, the famous Las Vegas Bookie.

Art
Very Good.
Best Page: The splash page with Spider-Man battling various super villains in the "bar with no name".

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Mister Negative appears to have healing abilities at the Feast Center where Aunt May volunteers.
It turns out that the Bookie's father was taking bets on the Coney Island "affair" all along.

June 11, 2008

Spider-Man appears in Spider-Man: With Great Responsibility #4.
Spider-Man makes a very brief cameo appearance in the Eternals (2008) #1.
Spider-Man makes a brief guest appearance in the third story of Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? #1.

Story
Another new story, after another new creative team change finds Peter Parker looking for a new job after being fired from last issue. Peter is discovering how it feels to be blacklisted by his former boss Dexter Bennett, as he is being turned down after every interview he has. Elsewhere, at the "Bar with no name" (a watering hole for super villains), the Bookie begins to take wagers when a "C-List" villain by the name of the Basher begins to publicly challenge Spider-Man to a fight. Peter later sees the challenge on the internet, and plans on seeing the "event" as Peter Parker and not Spider-Man. After the character of the Bookie takes up way too much "page-time", we change scenes to where the Basher is waiting for Spider-Man to show up. Peter Parker is in the crowd, and here comes Spider-Man to give the Basher a kick in the face. How is this possible? Peter does not wait to find out, and changes into the real Spider-Man. Spider-Man chases after the "Other" Spider-Man for about five pages before he...or she reveals him or herself. Go read the spoilers if you wanna find out who he...or she is!

Not much here really in this issue. "The Other" Spider-Man reveal is not that interesting, and the five pages devoted to the chase sequence appeared padded. The remainder of the issue felt like a "This Is Your Life" episode featuring the Bookie, a somewhat one-dimensional character who is not very interesting. The highlights of this issue are Peter's interaction with his supporting cast and his frustrating job search. Next issue is next week.

Art
Very Good.
Best Page: The two-thirds page of the "Other Spider-Man" kicking the Basher in the face.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
The Bookie set up the "Other Spider-Man" and the Basher's "battle".
The villains begins to turn on the Bookie as it becomes apparent that the "battle" was set up.
The "Other Spider-Man" is revealed to be Screwball, the female villain introduced three issues ago.
Spider-Man shows up at the "Bar with no name", in the midst of many villains, on the last page.

Story
Last issue, Normie Osborn hit Peter Parker with a major bombshell: he has found the "real" Mayday Parker in a suspended animation tank. Normie says the girl we've all known as Spider-Girl is a fake created by his grandfather, the original Green Goblin! Could we have another Clone Saga on our hands?

Meanwhile, Spider-Girl must battle her classmate (and former friend) Sara Hinkle, a mutant who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Girl #8. Sara is now a costumed character known as Nucleus and has joined a team of militant mutants Spider-Girl encountered in issue #20. That team includes Impact and Pirouette.

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Art
Good and professional as usual.

Best page:  The homage to John Romita Sr.'s classic work on the legendary Amazing Spider-Man #40.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Mayday still hasn't learned about her double at Osborn Industries, as her father hasn't told her yet.
Peter Parker is caught up in an explosion very similar to the one that transformed Norman Osborn into the Green Goblin!

June 4, 2008

Spider-Man appears in Spider-Man Family #9.
Spider-Man appears in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #40.
Ultimate Spider-Man makes a guest appearance in Ultimate Origins #1.
Spider-Man makes a last page cameo appearance in Avengers/ Invaders #2.

Story
Peter Parker the paparazzi photographer has been given the task of shooting "bad boy" actor Bobby Carr, and his latest assignment with the actor has him at Carr's private estate, where Carr and his "mystery girlfriend" are cozying up together. The readers discovered that the "mystery girl" turned out to be Mary Jane Watson from last issue's last page shocker, but Peter has yet to discover the same. This issue opens with a partial origin of the villain in this storyline: Paper Doll. All we learn about how Piper became "Paper Doll" is that she somehow got into her father's dimensional compressor, and her parents are thankful that she is alive. We also see where she gets her obsession with Bobby Carr, as she locks herself in her room, and watches movies that feature him in them. In the present, Paper Doll is stalking Bobby Carr and his "mystery girlfriend" at his private estate. While Peter is about to focus his camera on the "mystery girl", he notices Paper Doll whooshing by him and towards the house. Paper Doll gets as far as reaching Bobby Carr's bed, where she surprises him and Mary Jane by disguising herself as a bed sheet. Spider-Man crashes through the door, but not until Mary Jane rushes herself into a panic emergency room filled with video cameras that monitor the entire estate. As Spider-Man battles Paper Doll, Mary Jane helps and directs Spider-Man throughout the home. Paper Doll is taken down, but not after Peter uses his brain and finds her weakness. Back at the offices of the DB, Peter destroys the memory card that contains shots of the "mystery girl", right in front of publisher Dexter Bennett. The issue ends with a strange meeting in an airport between two mysterious women.

Possibly the most enjoyable storyline after "Brand New Day" started about four months ago. Paper Doll is the most interesting new character introduced so far. The visuals of the character have potential to be very striking due to her powers. I am also left wanting to know more about her origins. The only irritating thing about this storyline is the circumstances surrounding the fact that Peter never saw that Mary Jane was Bobby Car's "mystery girlfriend" through the camera of otherwise. Next week: The "Other" Spider-Man!

Art
Good.
Best Page: The two-thirds page of Paper Doll walking towards the Carr Estate.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Joe Robertson quits his job at the DB over the "paparazzi nonsense".
Paper Doll's lung capacity is greatly diminished, so she cannot take in too much oxygen.
Spider-Man defeats Paper Doll by taking her into a swimming pool thereby depriving her of oxygen.
Dexter Bennett fires Peter after breaking the memory card.
Peter moves into a new apartment with a new roommate: Police officer Vin Gonzales.
Mary Jane "bumps" into a fan of hers at the airport: Sara Ehret (Jackpot?).

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