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lunchlander's review
3.0
After a couple volumes that were weaker, it was good to be reminded why I've generally been buying all the Essential Amazing Spider-Man. Denny O'Neil's run has its weird quirks, and his villains aren't notably stronger than Marv Wolfman (he has the dubious honor of creating Hydro-Man), but he gets Peter Parker and Spidey, he does some fun stuff with the Frightful Four, Namor and takes the Deb Whitman character into territory where she's at least mildly interesting instead of actively annoying.
It doesn't hurt that he's got John Romita Jr. on art, in his early work looking very much like his dad, but already showing the chops that have made him such an A-list artist today.
This book really shines, though, when one of my favorite Spider-Man writers of all time, Roger Stern, takes over. There's a fun Vulture story, a borderline goofy but still entertaining new Foolkiller, the reintroduction of a much more interesting version of the Black Cat and, of course, the classic "Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut."
Looking forward to the next volume, because I've read some but not all of Stern's early run, and I don't own most of it, so I'm looking forward to revisiting some of my favorite comics that I haven't read in probably two decades.
It doesn't hurt that he's got John Romita Jr. on art, in his early work looking very much like his dad, but already showing the chops that have made him such an A-list artist today.
This book really shines, though, when one of my favorite Spider-Man writers of all time, Roger Stern, takes over. There's a fun Vulture story, a borderline goofy but still entertaining new Foolkiller, the reintroduction of a much more interesting version of the Black Cat and, of course, the classic "Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut."
Looking forward to the next volume, because I've read some but not all of Stern's early run, and I don't own most of it, so I'm looking forward to revisiting some of my favorite comics that I haven't read in probably two decades.
coolnameguy's review
2.0
Meh. That's honestly the best descriptor I have. Just, meh. So many one-shot villains, such dull characters and dialogue, even sub-standard art for the most part.
horrorfanlucas's review
3.5
I've got to be honest, the early issues of this book are not my thing. O'Neil is probably my least favorite Spidey run writer so far, but once Stern came in at issue 224 the series hit such a high peak that I still loved this book!
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