I was thinking on Venom and originally he was supposed to be the anti-Spider-Man, and one of his top villains. Because in a way he was the dark side of Spider-Man. A villain who was not responsible or cared for others, he only cared for his own needs.

Later on Carnage comes along and has a similar symbiote costume. I think right there, having another symbiote by default diluted the Venom concept.

Then to make him a killer already, before he got the symbiote, and making this version even stronger then Venom and Spider-Man, as shown in past comics.

I think overall Carnage, took over and replaced Venom as a top Spider-Man villain. And if anything it diluted the Venom concept.

At least other symbiotes that were made did not last. Remember the 6 villains version, Hybrid or even Toxin? All further imitations on the same basic concept.

Comic book history can be funny, not in the laugh out loud funny. But in the: That’s pathetic storytelling writing.

Way back in Amazing Spider-Man #400 Aunt May told Peter she knew he was Spider-Man. And that she’d have been a fool not to have figured it out.

But then she died. Only to return, because the one who died was another woman completely, who only looked like Aunt May. And Norman Osborn hired this actress and gave her the information about Peter being Spider-Man.

(Read that last paragraph again. I’m not joking. That’s how it was explained away.) And YES the obvious question is: What kind of fool would not know his own family members and could be tricked like that.

A case of Pure Stupid writing. No other way around it. To explain away Aunt May dying and her knowing Peter’s identity.

Then in Amazing Spider-Man (volume 2) #35, #38 Aunt May discovers Peter unconscious all bloody from a battle, in his Spider-Man costume. And learned once again Peter was Spider-Man.
So what happens?

She gets shot, almost dies and thanks to the help of the Devil as in Marvel’s version with Mephisto, she gets better. And forgets Peter Parker is Spider-Man again.

So as it stands currently, Aunt May does not know Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

Even though it’s been shown twice, she can handle the truth.

And once again the “magic reset button” is hit. Characters return to status quo, and cannot grow. While we witness more examples of the comic book mantra of “the illusion of change”.

Where what seems permanent and real, can be in the next issue be wiped out and made undone, with no consequences and things returning to a state of decades ago.

Example like this show in a bad way, storytelling that is not funny, but rather pathetic.

I was scanning my comics and came across the 90’s Spider-Man Clone Saga. You know the one with the Scarlet Spider / Ben Reilly who replaces Peter. The killer clone Kaine, Scrier, Judas Traveller and all the rest.

Looking back, I wonder if you think this was a good moment for Spidey history?

I know back then, I was angry and pissed off. Even worried the Peter we knew would be a clone. Since those were the story hints, and it came true.

And this guy we just met, turns out to be the real Peter Parker. I admit it was frustrating times then.

But looking back on it now, I have no emotional ties to that series.

I thought there were a ton of plot holes, and things left unexplained. And perhaps, it’s best left that way. No reason to bring it up again.

And I never liked the idea of Norman Osborn returning. It also cheapened the whole Gwen Stacy storyline to do this. Yet, if that’s what was needed to get rid of Ben Reilly, then that’s what had to happen.

(And speaking of plot holes, I’ll just mention one. And not the list I jotted down a long while ago that I have somewhere.

But if Norman Osborn has a healing factor that repaired his heart. Why can’t it repair his skin and he has a huge scar? That whole thing of having a scar does not add up.)

Overall, I didn’t like the clone saga because Peter should not have a brother / clone running around their. It changes the dynamic of the book too much, knowing there is another Peter out there. And another guy with the same powers as him and doing basically the same hero work. I guess the word I’m looking for is diluted. And that’s what having a clone out there does for Peter. And worse is that in terms of his social life, this brother / clone changes his whole family situation.

And the thought of a clone who kills people with Peter’s DNA, that of Kaine is not a good thing. If he didn’t have Peter’s DNA, I could like Kaine. But on that principal alone, I did not like him.

When all is said though, outside of MC2 and Spider-Girl which doesn’t count in terms of mainstream continuity. All elements, characters, villains have been swept under the rug and forgotten.

Maybe I should be upset,but I’m actually okay with that. And for those clone saga fans, don’t worry. I’m sure some writer years from now will dig up these characters and use them again.

Every era of Spidey books introduces a bunch of new characters, usually villains. But only a rare few have sticking power and last. The rest are forgotten or barely heard from again. Ever notice that?

It makes me think on a new topic of: Why do some Spidey villains go on to greatness and become members of Spidey’s villain gallery. While others, popular for a time, just fade out. Make rare if any appearances, and are forgotten. And can not be considered part of Spidey’s rogues gallery, cause they never really lasted.

Hi All,

It was Free Comic Book Day at your local comic book shop, so I hope you went and picked up some good stuff. Among Spidey fare we had Marvel Adventures. It seems kind of weird seeing Spidey / Iron Man / Hulk on the cover as a sort of team it looks like. And looking at Marvel Adventures covers, I thing this trio would make for a good team book. Am I the only one thinking this?

Though written for a younger audience perhaps, I thought this was a good showing by Marvel with some great art and story. And hey it’s free, so I hope you got it.

A great hardcover book I recently got is Spider-Man: The Icon by Steve Saffel. And though I’ve not read any other books by him, he did a great job. I could tell: He either is a big Spidey fan, or he did a lot of research on the subject. Though, I figure it’s a combination of both.

You know how sometimes you read a book, and you could tell the author really didn’t know the subject and that he was probably just writing it for a paycheck?

Not here. I could tell Steve knows his stuff and he got those little details there, that makes me know this guy is a big fan.

It covers everything from his origins, the comic books, the media, the action figures. It really is an encyclopedia of Spider-Man history. So if you haven’t seen it, it is worth checking out.

Spider-Man The Icon by Steve Saffel, great book! I give it 4 out of 4 stars.

Rob