New Issues - October 2003

(2008 Cover Date Issues - Most current first)

August 20, 2008

	Amazing Spider-Man #568 $3.99
	Title: "New Ways To Die" - Part One - "Back With Vengeance" Writer: Dan Slott Artist: John Romita JR Inker: Klaus Janson Cover: John Romita JR	Character Watch Harry Osborn, Menace, Betty Brant, Dexter Bennett, Joe Robertson, Ben Urich, Mister Negative, Aunt May, Eddie Brock, Thunderbolts. Rating - 7.5 Quality: 3.5 Significance: 4.0 Cover (of 5): 4.0 (although too many variants)

Story
A "double-sized" issue kicks off the long-waited "New Ways To Die" storyline right here, and it begins with Spider-Man battling the new goblin in town: Menace. The battles rages on for several pages before Menace creates an explosion and brings down a building full of sweat-shop workers. Peter takes a pic of the workers as they rush out from under the falling debris. Peter who has recently been blacklisted by DB owner Dexter Bennett, now attempts to sell the photos. He is directed to the offices of the relatively new newspaper "Front Line", published by former Daily Bugle writer Ben Urich. Elsewhere Bennett gives Betty Brant a job to do that involves uncovering some dirt on billionaire Martin Li (better known as Mister Negative). Li is one of Bill Hollister's biggest campaign supporters, and Bennett makes no covering up of the fact that his paper is a "Crowne Paper". Betty arrives at the FEAST center with reports that terminally ill people in Li's shelters are miraculously being healed. In just a matter of moments she discovers that none other than Eddie Brock is a member of the center. Brock has been recently dying of cancer, but is still somehow alive. Are the rumors of these magical healings really true? Well, Martin Li comes over to Eddie and places his hand on his shoulder. What results is either some super-healing power taking effect, or Li has a real big icy-blue cold-pack concealed under his sleeve. The issue ends with Peter arriving back home to his apartment with some unexpected visitors. This issue also includes a confusing little backup feature on how Eddie Brock really became cancer-free.

Art
Gorgeous.
Best Page: The almost-double-page splash page of Spider-Man fighting Menace.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Norman Osborn and Mayoral hopeful Randall Crowne have some sort of connections.
Norman Osborn and his Thunderbolts are awaiting Peter at his apartment on the final two-page spread.

Good
Norman Osborn's role and characterization.
Peter working for Front Line.

Bad
Too many Characters spread too thin.
Backup feature.

August 13, 2008

Spider-Man makes an appearance in Secret Invasion #5.
Spider-Man makes an out of continuity appearance in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #42.

	Amazing Spider-Man #567 $2.99
	Title: "Kraven's First Hunt" - Part Three - "Legacy" Writer: Marc Guggenheim Artist: Phil Jiminez Inker: Andy Lanning Cover: Phil Jiminez	Character Watch Kraven IV, Vin Gonzales, Vermin, Harry Osborn, Carlie Cooper, Lily Hollister. Rating - 7.0 Quality: 3.5 Significance: 3.5 Cover (of 5): 2.5 (too dark but excellent background detail)

Story
Peter Parker, outfitted in one of Matt Murdock's Daredevil costumes, was ready to pass-out from his battle with Vermin at the end of last issue. At the same time, Peter's roommate Vin Gonzales was kidnapped by yet another Kraven, this time a female version of the great hunter. Vin was ordered to don the Spider-Man costume by Kravenette when she mistook him for the real Spider-Man, and then she took him to some underground tunnels to have some hunting "fun". This last of a three part story begins with Spider-Man coming to (did anyone really think he was gonna black-out from battling Vermin?). Spider-Man then webs up Vermin, and gets the whereabouts of Spider-Man from him. Moments later, Spider-Man (the real one) arrives just in time as Lady Kraven is just about to give Vin a killing blow. The ferocious new Kraven is very strong, agile, and knows how to fight. It takes the combined might of Spider-Man and Vin to eventually knock out her, after several pages of battling. Unfortunately, to their surprise, Kravenette comes to, but this time she has to face the newly arrived Vermin and his hordes of rats. Spider-Man and Vin leave the underground tunnels, and Vin is taken to a hospital for his injuries. Nice last couple pages showing just where this new Kraven came from. Next issue is the long-awaited "New Ways To Die" with the return of Venom!

Art
Gorgeous.
Best Page: The last spoiler-related page.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Lady Kraven turns out to be Ana Tatiana Kravinoff, the daughter of the original Kraven.
Lady Kraven's mother, Sasha Aleksandra Nikolaevich, appears with her on the final page.
Kraven has defeated and tied up Vermin.

Good
The character of Vin Gonzales.
Peter in a Daredevil costume.

Bad
Another Kraven.
The new Kraven is only 12 years old?

August 6, 2008

Spider-Man appears in Amazing Spider-Man Family #1.
Spider-Man makes a guest appearance in Avengers/ Invaders #4.
Spider-Man appears in King-Size Spider-Man Summer Special #1.
Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson appear in Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Season 2 #1.
Spider-Man makes a guest appearance in the re-telling of Venom's origin in Venom: Dark Origin #1.

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