The best thing I read last week was Spider-Man 2099 #1.
Written by Peter David
Lines by Will Sliney
Color Art by Antonio Fabela and
Letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna
For those that aren’t aware Peter David actually created the first non-white(Irish/Spanish), non-Peter Parker, Spider-Man back when the Marvel 2099 universe was thought up and hit the shelves back in the ancient days of 1992. David presented the weird with a wholly new Spider-Man: Miguel O’Hara, with a new origin, variations on spider powers, and of course his own bucket of problems. Over the run of 42 issues Spider-Man 2099 quickly became my favorite book of the 2099 universe and a stand out highlight if great books from the 90’s. Before I started using my full name as handle I could be found, and still can be actually, on many a forum, blog, gaming network or chat room under the name Bach2099 which I used as an homage to this character. After the cancellation of all the 2099 books I bid him farewell and never expected to see him again.
Then along came Superior Spider-Man. And as a fun way to mess with his pet, the fantastic Dan Slott tossed in some time jumping and brought Miguel O’Hara into the world of Spider-Ock, to save his grandfather from dying in the past and therefore negating Spider-Man 2099’s future, and to be just one more thorn in Spider-Ock’s side. Slott writing my favorite version of Spider-Man that isn’t Parker was a huge surprise in a series I was already loving. And thanks to the boys at Marvel, they made it even better by stranding Miguel O’Hara in the current Amazing Spider-Man universe/timeline.
So it breaks down like this. In the first issue on the first page you get all the history you really need as well as the return of/intro to Layla: Miguel’s assistant. By page 2 we have a new villain, page 4 a new love interest and residence, by page 6 he’s in the costume and flying through the steel canyons of Manhattan. The first issue is a full contained first adventure that opens lots of doors and gets all the wrong people asking questions, read it and you’ll understand.
Break neck pacing to toss you in and get you interested, great line work making us feel like we are in Peter Parker’s New York but never letting us forget it’s a totally different ride. I just enjoyed the hell out of it and think any Spidey fan out there couldn’t go wrong putting their dollars down on this title. I hope for a long run this time but even if it’s just another 40 issues of Peter David getting to refresh Spider-Man 2099, I’ll be a happy man. You better go shocking get this book people!
BONUS!
A close 2nd place that I thought was worth mentioning this week went to Grayson #1. In all honesty I was not looking forward to this book. I thought the spy idea sounded ridiculous and basically a waste of my favorite DC character. I have every issue of Nightwing. I was lucky enough to grab Nightwing #1 with the spectacular Scott McDaniel cover off the rack back in 1995 and was hooked from the get go! Then the present day bastards go and off my favorite DC character and now have him living in hiding. I was not thrilled about any of this. I actually dropped my DC titles on my pull list at my LCS down to just 1 book, the Snyder/Capullo Batman. That was the only book I was getting from DC.
Then I took a shot on Grayson #1, which my LCS was kind enough to pull for me with the unbearably cool Jock cover. Spectacular line and color work by Mikel Janin and Jeromy Cox respetively, a whole new beautiful world for Dick as long as DC can keep the art consistent. And a story to kill for, really it’s great. I’m a huge fan of Tim Seeley’s other comic work but wasn’t sure how he and Tom King were going to tackle this new world so I was skeptical to say the least. They nailed it. The issue is fun, it’s action packed, it drops a whole lot of story on you in a really short time. And the really important thing, Seeley gets Nightwing, sorry Grayson, you can tell he’s a fan. With 1 line delivered by ***SPOILER ALERT*** special guest the Midnighter we find out exactly what Seely thinks of Dick and it’s pretty much perfect. If you were ever a fan of the original boy wonder go give this first issue a spin. You’ll thank me.
