The cover to The Amazing Spiderman 700
Okay, so we’re going to try doing an Amazing Spiderman 700 review without spoilers. So if you haven’t read this issue yet, and haven’t heard what happens, you’re safe. You’re also living under a rock, but that’s another story altogether. But anyways, here we are. Amazing Spiderman 700, the theoretically last issue in a 50 year old run. And I say theoretically because I buy the permanence of that about as much as I buy the permanence of what happens at the end of this issue and as much as anything else in the comic universe, which is to say, I don’t. No one stays dead except Bucky. And Bucky is alive.
Is Amazing Spiderman 700 Worth The Buy?
So, since we’re trying to avoid spoilers (and since most of you already know what happens despite that, and since it’s already been rehashed by every comic blog and fanboy in the universe) I’d like to review ASM 700 for what it means. 50 years is a long time for a comic series to run. What does #700 say about where the series made it when it all ended?
Do you know why Venom was such a popular and menacing villain? Don’t worry, I’m going somewhere with this, and yes, it’s related to #700. Venom was popular because he was personal. He wasn’t just a Spiderman villain, he was also a Peter Parker villain. Much like the Green Goblin, but even more personal, because in many ways he was Spiderman. He was the black costume, Spiderman’s costume, he shot webs, was strong, could climb walls. He was that thing that goes bump in the night, and his creation and his fights with Spiderman were epic. What’s more, his creation was part of the start of the McFarlane issues, a truly “amazing” run. And why is this all relevant? Because the people behind ASM 700 compared this issue with #300 in terms of scope and importance.
Look, ASM #700 was a good issue. It was an interesting story, the writing and art were well done, and it was enjoyable. But I’m going to call out a few things about it right now. First off is the price tag. $8. That’s a lot for a single issue. A whole lot. Particularly a regular issue. And yeah, I know, it’s #700, it’s a milestone, and something important happens in it. But you know what Marvel? If that’s the case, don’t make me pay a ton extra beyond your super high price for the variant cover. Give me a hologram, or holo-foil, or at the very least some nice glossy card stock. Paying $8 just because an issue has a few bonus stories that don’t actually effect anything and one big even that even rookie fanboys can see will probably be retconned in a few years just feels dirty.
And that brings us to the next big problem. There was nothing really new introduced in this issue. Do you know why #300 was so big guys? It’s because it was a revolutionary issue. New villains, new art, new storytelling, new everything. What do we have in this issue? A major event that’s of questionable popularity with fans, and will likely be changed back after a year or two once the writers run out of ideas that relate to it. There just wasn’t anything here that we haven’t seen before (in fact, we just saw the same event played out in the ultimate universe a year ago). Again, it wasn’t a bad issue. It just didn’t re-invent the wheel either.
And the final issue we have with this final issue is just that. It’s the final issue. With the release of Amazing Spiderman 700, Amazing Spiderman is coming to an end. Technically, this happened before during the whole Heroes Reborn era when we got all the major titles reset, but eventually everything just got put back to where it was supposed to be with the numbering intact. So what reason do we have to believe that won’t be the case this time? And why shouldn’t it be the case this time? Again, it’s all gimmicks we’ve seen before, and it’s all stuff that we have no reason to believe will be lasting.
When all is said and done, this is a pretty okay milestone issue. It’s a good read, and I’d recommend checking it out. But don’t wait on this becoming that epic key issue that’s worth ten times what you paid for it in a few years. In fact, I’d be amazed if this didn’t end up in the cheap bins at shows alongside other great reads that were just printed in way too high quantities (looking at you X-Men #1).
Overall Grade: B+
For Another Take on an Amazing Spiderman 700 Review Check Out:
The Amazing Spider-Man 700 Review NDSU The Spectrum
Nerdvana blog The Amazing Spider-Man 700 Review. NDSU The Spectrum. The Amazing Spider-Man 700 marks the end of Marvel’s flagship series and the beginning of its replacement The Superior Spider-Man. Reviewing this issue properly without talking about the ending is would be impossible and if you have been keeping up Comic review Superior Spider-Man 1 Hope not lostNerdvana blog Tue January 8th 2013 at 1 30PM PST Comic Book Resources. Comic review Superior Spider-Man No. 1Tulsa World blog Flickering Myth blog Unleash The Fanboy. all 81 news articles.…
Amazing Spider-Man 700 An Enthralling Imperfect End Spoilers ComicsAlliance
Newsarama. ‘Amazing Spider-Man 700 An Enthralling Imperfect End Spoilers ComicsAlliance. Hey remember that time Wolverine the Hulk and Ghost Rider became permanent members of the Fantastic Four Or when Superboy the Eradicator Cyborg Superman and Steel replaced the forever-dead Clark Kent Or how Jean-Paul Valley remains Best Shots Extra AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 700-10 out of 10Newsarama. Comic Review The Amazing Spider-Man 700Geeks of Doom. Review Amazing Spider-Man 700 Avenging Spider-Man 15.1Comicmix.com. Unleash The Fanboy -Superherohype.com -Examiner.com. all 570 news articles.…
Comic Review The Amazing Spider-Man 700 Geeks of Doom
The Amazing Spider-Man 700 Written by Dan Slott JM DeMatteis Jen Van Meter Pencils by Humberto Ramos Giuseppe Camuncol and Stephanie Buscema Inks by Victor Olazaba and Sal Buscema Colors by Edgar.…
Bill A.
I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.
Follow Me:
