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Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 Brings the Spider-Family to Marvel NOW!

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

This November, the Parker family is webslinging and wallcrawling their way into comic shops in the highly anticipated Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1! Legendary Spidey scribe Gerry Conway teams with blockbuster artist Ryan Stegman to bring you the ongoing adventures of Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson and their daughter Annie May!

Life is good for Peter and Mary Jane. Working hard, making ends meet – and oh yeah, keeping the streets of New York City safe with their spider powers! You know, normal family stuff. Be there when being Spider-Man becomes a family affair as Peter, MJ and even Annie swing into action November 9^th!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 (SEP160946)
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art & Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
TOP SECRET ARTIST VARIANT by JOHN ROMITA SR. (AUG168911)
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT (SEP160947)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (SEP160949)
Hip-Hop Variant by SAM SPRATT (SEP160948)
Divided We Stand Variant Also Available (SEP160950)
FOC – 10/17/16, On-Sale – 11/09/16

amazing_spider-man_renew_your_vows_1_cover

John Romita Sr.’s Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 Variant

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

This November, the Parker family is wallcrawling and webslinging their way into hearts and minds in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1! Legendary Spidey scribe Gerry Conway returns to pen the adventures of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man alongside blockbuster artist Ryan Stegman – and Marvel is celebrating by revisiting one of the most iconic Marvel covers of all time! As this family of spiders swing headlong into Marvel NOW!, relive the wedding of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson with a variant cover by comics legend John Romita Sr. (AUG168911)! Masterfully recolored by Richard Isanove – this iconic classic comes to life once again!

Be there when being Spider-Man becomes a family affair as Peter, MJ and Annie swing into action.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 (SEP160946)
TOP SECRET ARTIST VARIANT by JOHN ROMITA SR. (AUG168911)
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Art & Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
FOC – 10/17/16, On-Sale – 11/09/16

amazing_spider-man_renew_your_vows_1_top_secret_artist_variant

Around the Tubes

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

It’s a new week! What did folks think of the Golden Globes results last night? Discuss om the comments below!

While you talk, here’s some comic news and reviews and reviews from around the web.

Around the Tubes

9 News – Thief steals 4,000 comic books from man with cerebral palsy – What a scumbag.

NBC News – First Black Woman to Open Philly Comic Shop Talks Diversity – Great read, and road trip!

ComiChron – Comichron’s Top 300 Bestselling Comics of the 21st Century: Star Wars #1 is #1, huge 44 titles from 2015 make list – Some interesting info.

ComiChron – Secret Wars, Private Eye top December comic charts in strong finish to 2015 – And more interesting info!

Black Nerd Problems – It’s Time to Talk About the Worst Magical Girl Anime Of All Time – Sounds interesting.

Around the Tubes Reviews

The Herts Advertiser – Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows

Talking Comics – Archie #5

Black Nerd Problems – Bitch Planet #6

Black Nerd Problems – Jumbe #1

The Herts Advertiser – Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Deadpool

Black Nerd Problems – Princeless: Make Yourself #0

Black Nerd Problems – Rat Queens #14

Talking Comics – Sheriff of Babylon #2

Black Nerd Problems – The Ultimates #3

Talking Comics – Uncanny X-Men #1

CBR – The Vision #3

Around the Tubes

Review: Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #5

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Mr. H

Amazing_Spider-Man_Renew_Your_Vows_Vol_1_5

“The Final Vow”

Here it is. The Final battle. The ultimate conclusion of The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows. Before we get started, I must say that I absolutely dig the cover of this issue. The three members of the Parker family with their backs against the wall, united against the ultimate threat: Regent (Well for the purpose of this story, the ultimate threat but to me not really. I guess I’ll just go with it) I’m just so darned happy to see a Spider-Man that is back where he belongs: with his family. Truth be told, I haven’t been extremely impressed with this mini series as a whole, but Dan Slott has really swung me around as of last month. Enough introduction, true readers, here we go…

Where we last left off last month, Spidey was defeated by the über villain Regent, and entombed in a glass prison to have his powers siphoned off and to never be seen again. Well that ain’t gonna happen on account that the Parker women (his wife MJ and his super powered offspring Annie May) have set out to rescue Peter and kick some Regent tush in the process. (Easier said than done ladies, this bad guy did just wipe out half of the Marvel pantheon of Super-heroes. Nothing tougher than a couple gals from Queens i guess!)

Meanwhile Regent is back at his HQ, finishing off the last of former Avenger Hawkeye (Who is just awesome in his Nick Fury role, eyepatch and all) and his resistance forces. Things are looking grim when Hawkeye takes his final shot with an arrow that has tech designed to stop Regents powers. He cocks the bow back, fires and.. Regent catches and snaps the arrow! Hawkeye is in a state of bewilderment and wonders how this is possible and Regent simply says “My Spider-Sense, was tingling.” (That line gave me chills) Now it appears it is truly hopeless for our heroes as Hawkeye believes if this is true, then Peter must be dead.

Wait, the action doesn’t stop there as we now join back with the “Spider-Girls” (MJ and Annie May) who are presently kicking butt on Regent’s scientists and henchmen. For me it was a joy to watch Annie May, (a character we long thought dead and never to return) kick major butt just like her pop. I could tell Slott really enjoyed writing her this issue, and we got the whole apple doesn’t fall far from the tree thing in full motion here. Adam Kubert does a fantastic job of bringing her to life and captures Annie’s personality and it’s a joy to see. Also hearing MJ and her daughter banter back and forth about code names made me chuckle quite a bit. When MJ puts on the armor and says she’s already got a codename: Mom. That was just perfect. Things go south when Regent realizes that the gals are interfering and then he takes the fight directly to them. All this occurs while Spidey is in his suspended state and has to witness the death of his family. In true Spider-Man fashion, he realizes this does not have to be and he fights. He fights harder than he’s ever fought before, because his wife and daughter are on the line. Like we’ve seen in many moments in Spider-Man lore, the one power that cannot be siphoned is his will. The indomitable will to never ever give up. That is one of the reasons Spider-Man to me is one of the greatest heroes ever. So he shows it once again and through sheer desire breaks free of his prison and decides to end this battle once and for all and with his family by his side.

Overall: Now I don’t want to ruin the conclusion to this story, if you’re a true Spider-Man fan you will love it. In a series that has skewed from who the character is at points, it closes with what makes him great and true. (In my opinion it is the second best moment of Slott’s historic run following only behind, Peter’s relinquishing of the Spider-Man mantle to Dr. Octopus in Amazing Spider-Man #700) I won’t say this was a perfect story, it certainly was not. It was as good as it needed to be. We got to see Annie again and get some closure to that storyline that has been dangling for decades now. We got to see Peter back with MJ which writers should know is where he belongs. Family and responsibility are the cornerstones of Spider-Man and I never got why writers have shied away from it. I hope we see more of this Spider-Man in the future, it was a reward for us long, long time readers. Most importantly, we got to see a Spider-Man who sticks to his morals and his fortitude to save the day. Comic books come and go and creative changes are a plenty, but great moments are eternal. I’m happy to say Mr. Slott, you’ve given us another one. Thank you.

Story: Dan Slott Art: Adam Kubert
Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Alex

Top Pick: Ninjak #7 (Valiant): Over the past few months I have been devouring anything that Valiant has been producing, and pretty much all of it has been as good as I hoped it would be. I quite enjoyed the last issue’s (slightly) slow build up, and I can’t wait for this issue.

Batman #44 (DC Comics): Although I think it’s only a matter of time before Bruce Wayne dons the cape and cowl again, I’m looking forward to seeing Jock take on the Dark Knight. The only thing stopping this issue from being my top pick this week? The $4.99 price tag.

Unity #22 (Valiant): I’m actually looking forward to this for a slightly different reason; I haven’t been reading Unity – yet – because the comic has been in the middle of a story arc. This issue marks the finale of that arc, so I’ll be able to pick it up in trade form, and begin reading Unity with issue #23. Oh yes. More Valiant.

Brett

Top Pick: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Shattered Empire #1 (Marvel) – It begins here! Bridging the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, this series takes us past the destruction of the second Death Star into a world with a shattered Empire. Courtesy of writer Greg Rucka!

Bitch Planet #5 (Image Comics) – After a hiatus that was too long, this series that tackles social issues in the form of a prison exploitation story is back. Hopefully the break has not diminished it’s excellence, but it’s near the top of my “to read” pile for the week.

Rebels #6 (Dark Horse) – Writer Brian Wood continues to bring us an entertaining and gripping look at the Revolutionary War, mixing in a bit of the philosophy behind it.

Starve #4 (Image Comics) – The world is messed up and the television show Starve mixes a celebrity chef cooking competition with excess. The characters are fascinating, and the underlying message of the series could be debated about for some time. A big middle finger to the Food Channel and all of the cooking competition shows out there.

TET #1 (IDW Publishing) – Eugene Smith is desperate to leave Vietnam behind, and begin a new life with the woman he loves. But when a fellow Marine is brutally murdered, Eugene’s plans are thrown away, forever. All’s fair in love and war, right? This crime/romance story set at the height of the Vietnam War and the decades that followed sounds too interesting to not read.

Elana

Top Pick (tie): Bitch Planet #5 (Image Comics) – Probably the most important comic being made today in terms of the issues it explores like social enforcement of gender roles, racism and the prison system. In some ways it’s been a slow burn developing the story (in part because of the pace of the releases, not that it hasn’t been worth the wait). Yet the worldbuilding already feels so fleshed out. That’s probably because this dystopia is far too much like the real world of today. No wonder the series has such a loyal following.

Top Pick (tie): Phonogram the Immaterial Girl #2 (Image Comics) – Music is magic in Phonogram. Creators Gillen and McKelvie are masters at building fantastical metaphors for growing up and developing your sense of self that feel more real then any more “realist” or literal narative could ever be.

Our protagonist, Emily used her powers to exile her depressed teenage psyche to the netherverse beyond the mirror. While this gave her the hard exterior to become the Poptomistisn embracing maven she is today it also makes her past self her own worst enemy.

Last issue ended with Emily’s sad old self dragging her into Aha’s legendary “Take On Me” video video behind the screen of her TV. How will she escape? (Read my review of issue 1. A new essay is on its way)

Catwoman #44 (DC Comics) – Last issue ended on a huge cliffhanger. Will either of the series’ two Catwomen- Eiko and Selina survive? That was a serious fall. And have you seen the stunning Kevin Wada cover of our two Catwomen tangoing? Meow.

Gotham Academy #10 (DC Comics) – Easily one of DC comics’ best books. The cast of characters and art are utterly charming. But the story also delves into real emotional turmoil that kids will recognize (& older readers will look back on and remember). The book is perfect on the perifery of the Bat world but requires no knowledge of Batman related comics to enjoy.

The Michael Moorcock Library Volume 2: The Sailors on the Seas of Fate HC Vol. 2 (Titan Comics) – This is not Conan. This is not Red Sonja. This is trippy as hell! This is the second volume of a brand new reprinting of Roy Thomas, P. Craig Russell, and Michael T. Gilbert’s take on Michael Moorcock’s fantasy epic, Elric of Melniboné. While the story is quintessential 70s psychedelic sword and sorcery if you haven’t delved specifically into Moorcock’s works before it will feel utterly new to you. The work that was inspired by it is not like it. So treat yourself to this beautiful volume.

Kenny

Top Pick: Tyson Hesse’s Diesel #1 (BOOM! Studios) – The fantastical sky pirating world of Diesel has had me excited to read it since I first heard about it weeks ago. Now, that I finally have the chance to get my hands on it I could not be more thrilled.

Batman #44 (DC Comics) – The safest pick coming out of DC right now is Batman because it has been so constantly good in the hands of Scott Snyder. And, adding one of my favorite artists Jock into the mix makes this a must read.

Catwoman #44 (DC Comics) – Catwoman has been one of the pleasant surprises of the last few months, creating a really intriguing and exciting crime drama. I cannot stop myself from watching Selina’s criminal empire crumble and after the events in issue 43 I have to know what comes next.

Holy F*cked #1 (Action Lab – Danger Zone) – If you just want some utterly ridiculous fun while reading comics then you need to check out Holy F*cked. It is an absolute blast.

Mr. H

Top Pick: Batman #44 (DC Comics) – Snyder and Jock team reunited for a one off that shows Bruce back in the cowl and gives us an insight to the origin tale of Mr. Bloom. Yes I may miss Capullo for one month but this should be great!

Action Comics #44 (DC Comics) – Truth comes to an end. Will all the answers set us free? Only Kuder and Co. know.

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #5 (Marvel Comics) – I am very pumped for this one. Now that they got through the prodding first few issues, last month really turned up the heat. We get Spidey and Annie May side by side fighting for survival of their world. I cannot wait! Let’s see that Parker luck in full force!

TMNT Color Classics Series 3 #9 (IDW Publishing) – Turtles. Color. Classics. Always there.

Paul

Top Pick: Siege #3 (Marvel) – One of my favourite titles to come out of Secret Wars. Abigail Brand is front and center, defending the SHIELD in a never ending battle from the hordes that would lay waste to Battleworld. Issue #2 ended with Abigail seeing a familiar face leading the charge against her…can’t wait to see this go down.

A-Force #4 (Marvel) – A mysterious new ally! A traitor in their ranks! And the Thors are on their way to uphold the laws of Doom. She-Hulk has fought hard for Arcadia…is she about to lose everything? Looking forward to finding out! This has been a fun book from the start that hasn’t disappointed.

Civil War #4 (Marvel) – Issue #3 showed us a third party pulling strings in this civil war…and the Punishers are just too damn cool. Iron Man and Captain America are getting desperate…will either one stand victorious? This has been a surprise hit with me; I’ve really enjoyed seeing these characters in what seems like a ‘What If?’ story. It doesn’t feel like a tie in book, but more of a fast forward if the war went on. If you’re not reading this one, what are you waiting for?

Review: Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows #4

Posted on August 19, 2015 by

Secret Wars has been one of the biggest crossovers in comic history but also one of the most confusing. In the past of comic book crossovers leading into reboots, there have only essentially been two, and both of them at DC Comics. The first was Crisis on Infinite Earths, a somewhat necessary crossover which was needed in order to propel DC Comics into the future by cleaning up its past of having purchased numerous other small companies and throwing them together in the same continuity. It was also necessary in order to take a lot of the characters out of the silver age and into the modern superhero medium. The following game changing crossover was Flashpoint, this time again heading for a reboot of DC, only this time focusing on a marketing campaign as its outcome. Although it was a risk, it paid off and despite the successes of Marvel NOW! and other replies from Marvel, the other company seemed to be playing catch-up in order to reboot its own properties, at least until Secret Wars. This mashup of different influences and different universes promises to put everything back together, and to fix what were the few discrepancies between its not-shared universes.

The problem with this crossover has been the scope of the story telling, in that it has been somewhat all over the place, focusing on versions of classic story arcs, but not necessarily explaining the underlying concepts behind the bigger world. In this case, all of the different miniseries have spun off of the same idea, but it is increasingly difficult to put them together, especially as numerous versions of some characters exist in all of the different series. Spider-Man is one such example, existing in several series at the moment, including Civil War, Spider-Verse and Spider-Island. These have had their moments, but definitely the best of the series has been Renew Your Vows, focusing on Peter versus the world, the same kind of story which made him so popular to begin with. The story continues here, with a bit of the always teased at idea of a Spider-Girl, which is sometimes realized and sometimes more of a suggestion.

The approach here works both as a series and as part of the overall crossover. Although there are some attempts to tie this into Doom, one can also read this without too much understanding of the bigger series, and instead it focuses on the characters that have made Peter Parker and Spider-Man such an approachable characters since he first graced the pages of comics. This has been and remains one of the best of the miniseries tying into Secret Wars, and it can stand with some of the other noteworthy story arcs focused on the character over the years, even if it is an alternate universe kind of story. There is an honesty to the characters, even living in superhero world they seem real enough, and the imposing threat in this series is also a lot more personal than elsewhere in Secret Wars. Many of this series will go away after Secret Wars and the original heroes will return, at least in part, but this is one series that seems like it has enough of a heart to deserve more of a look

Story: Dan Slott Art: Adam Kubert
Story: 9.3 Art: 9.3 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

Justice League #43 Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Nanjing: The Burning City HC (Dark Horse) – This is one of those weeks where I could have easily chosen 20 different comics to put on my picks. Narrowing it down to five was very difficult, but this book is absolutely on top. A graphic novel taking place in Nanjing during the Chinese occupation/attack during the second Chinese/Japanese war. The atrocities committed are staggering, and this graphic novel is a nice introduction that will hopefully get people more interested in this genocide and destruction.

Hip Hop Family Tree #1 (Fantagraphics) – If you missed it, the praised Fantagraphics graphic novel series is being released as monthly comics with extra material, so perfect for new readers and old readers like. The series is an amazing recounting of the rise of hip hop music.

Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare #1 (Comix Tribe) – I love Comix Tribe’s releases, though their release schedule can be a bit spotty at times. This new series, spinning out of The Red Ten, which is being released a week early, focuses on the supervillain the Oxymoron. Comix Tribe is a publisher that absolutely deserves more eyes on their releases.

Princeless: Raven, the Pirate Princess #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Jeremy Whitley’s Princeless has been both entertaining and destroying comic tropes and stereotypes at the same time. This new series, which spun out of the last volume, focuses on Raven as she builds a pirate crew to take on her brothers. This issue is amazing, and there’s one sequence in particular that’ll get you laughing and thinking.

Young Terrorists #1 (Black Mask Studios) – A fascinating read that I’m still digesting. It gets Black Mask Studios back to its political roots, taking on corporations, governments, really, society as a whole.

Edward

Top Pick: Justice League #43 (DC Comics) – The ending to the previous issue, with Batman taking on the role of Metron, is one of the big type of developments that Geoff Johns loves in his storytelling. Where this story arc goes from here is anyone’s guess, but it is going to be something big.

Manifest Destiny #16 (Image Comics) – This series continues with the unexplained mysteries of America’s interior, as was seen by a different Lewis and Clark. The revelations of the previous issue seem like they will have a big impact going forward.

Secret Wars: Secret Love #1 (Marvel) – Romance comics are an important part of the history of the medium of comics. It is nice to see a romance inspired tie-in to Secret Wars, though it will be interesting to see exactly where they take it.

Silk #6 (Marvel) – There are still a few Marvel monthlies that are moving along somewhat unbothered by Secret Wars, and Silk is one of them. This fun series never got a good chance to gain a decent fan base but continues to impress.

Van Helsing Vs. Dracula #1 (Zenescope) – Dracula is probably the most widely used villain in comics, not in terms of appearances, but in terms of how many companies have published stories with him. Liesel Van Helsing is a steampunk heroine that has never made the connection with readers. Putting the two together seems like it might work though.

Elana

Top Pick: Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Everyone loves Princeless, the feminist, funny, exciting all-ages fantasy comic staring women of color and a dragon. Raven the Pirate Princess is not just a spin-off series, it is the next step of maturation for the adventure/fantasy world Jeremy Whitley is building. While both series are all-ages this one is aimed at slightly older kids. It very effectively lampoons real world sexism in ways that I want to put on freaking flyers and hand out at conferences.

Just as important, it features young women flirting with each other. So you get pirate ships and also ‘shipping in one family-friendly, queer positive, comic book featuring mostly people of color.

Marvel, DC, take note.

Which brings us to….

Top Pick: Secret Wars: Secret Loves #1 (Marvel) – Jeremy Whitley, creator of the feminist all-ages fantasy comic dynamo that is Princeless is finally writing something for Marvel. It’s a romance story featuring Danny Rand and Misty Knight! If that wasn’t enough in this comic we get Kamalah Kahn and Robbie Reyes together. Marvel should probably publish a full time romance series again. Other then X-Men.

Black Canary #3 (DC Comics) – Last issue ended on a cliff hanger. Who’s Dinah’s ex in the covert-ops suit? And how does that mysterious kid play guitar like that? And when will someone buy me an Annie Wu commission? Her art here is killer.

Island #2 (Image Comics) – Bored of comics? Want something new? Buy this. All of the art is unlike any of the other comics art you have. Unless you read a lot of Brandon Graham stuff in which case the Brandon Graham stuff will be familiar. And by familiar I mean awesome.

Power-Up #2 (BOOM! Box/BOOM! Studios) – Magical girls for everyone! Magical girls for construction workers with beards! For Mom’s in station wagons with irritable teenagers! For tiny gold fish! And for under-employed retail workers. Cute and heartfelt. Read the review I wrote for issue 1.

Secret Six #5 (DC Comics) – Gail Simone’s original run on Secret Six is one of my favorite comics of all time. It’s taken a while to get this new volume up and running properly. But the last issue marked a major upswing in the series. It’s harkening back to the twisted humor, over the top violence and drama between members of a found family of fucked-up people that made readers fall in love with the original series.

Wolf #2 (Image Comics) – Urban fantasy is a dime a dozen right now but Ales Kott’s new series Wolf stands out. The story is completely unpredictable. This series has a David Lynchian vibe I haven’t felt in anything else I read. It’s reminiscent in tone Mulholland Drive in particular. The series is genuinely creepy and a little confusing. But I love Mulholland Drive for those very reasons. So consider that praise for this book too.

Mr. H

Top Pick: Justice League #43 (DC Comics) – Forget Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, this has been the cinematic adventure of the year for me! I love how Johns has taken the old cliché of “Bat-God” and turned it literal. Awesome stuff. His reinterpretation of Darkseid and his Apokolips horde is fantastic. I don’t see it slowing down. Waiting at the bus stop for the next Boom Tube!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #4 (Marvel Comics) – Peter finally gets his daughter back and she fights by his side. I don’t think anything more needs to be said. Thwip this one up quick Webheads!

House of M #1 (Marvel Comics) – What’s better than one rule under Doom? Try Magneto. I am very glad they are revisiting this story. Was great when it was originally published. However what could Wanda wish away this time? How about hoping she utters the words “No More Reboots.”

Superman/ Wonder Woman #20 (DC Comics) – Continuing the Truth story, I’m eager to see what became of Lana Lang but if this month doesn’t turn it around, this might be it for me on this title. Big fan of Mahnke but not sure his art can save me on this. Hope I’m wrong.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #49 (IDW Publishing) – One more issue till the big one. This is where it hits the fan! Turtles, Shredder, Splinter, Bebop, Rocksteady, Metalhead, Karai. I am eagerly awaiting the showdown. Rumor is one of the Turtles may not survive..

Review: Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows #3

Posted on August 5, 2015 by

Spider-Man is obviously one of comics most popular characters, but few perhaps take the time to consider why that is. Although he is superpowered, he is also unquestionably still a street level character, not really all that capable of taking on bigger threats, but this ends up being part of his appeal, as he faces off against anyone and everyone who is a threat, whether big or small. At the same time, the character’s popularity and characterization have made him one who is difficult to drop in team books. Although he has served as a member of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, it is usually under the auspices of getting a bump in sales from Spider-Man readers and not so much because he is a good member for the team. These are dynamics which are important to deal with in the mainstream universe, is also one which can be easily thrown away in the new Secret Wars world, and specifically with Renew Your Vows.

This series has previously established Spider-Man as one of the few remaining heroes in a reality where they have been wiped out by those in charge of the government. This same group controls the Sinister Six, a group that is now funded and willing to eliminate the supposed threats to the establishment. The series has previously established the Parkers as guarding their identities safely due to the need to protect their superpowered daughter, but with her discovery near they are also forced out of hiding, and as the midway point for the series, it seems as though the plot is going to get a lot more interesting.

The series succeeds because of its back-to-basic approach, as does this issue. Although the degree of Parker’s use of violence is made out of character, the overall approach of the character here is one which feels like it could easily happen under these specific conditions. By using what makes the character special while also setting him inside the Secret Wars world, it benefits the crossover by highlighting these traits. This is the best treatment of Spider-Man in Secret Wars and it is among the best Secret Wars series overall.

Story: Dan Slott Art: Adam Kubert
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Brett

Midnighter #3 Cover Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Top Pick: This Damned Band #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – A fun and trippy start of a series that mixes the fun of rock and roll with ghosts. This is Spinal Tap meets Ghostbusters, and it works in an awesome way. By the end of the first issue, you won’t be sure what is supernatural and what is drug induced, and that’s half the fun.

Bower Boys Our Fathers HC (Dark Horse Comics) – The webcomic is collected in print. The series focuses on Tammany Hall and Union busting, but it’s so much more, it’s about the relationships we have with our fathers. The fantastic story is backed up by beautiful artwork.

The Bunker #13 (Oni Press) – The time bending series continues its fantastic ways. In this issue we get some more info on what the deal with Heidi is including where she’s been the last three months, and more importantly who she’s been with.

Midnighter #3 (DC Comics) – Punching corporations! Seriously, this series is violent fun, that shows the struggle of a man designed to hurt attempting to figure out who he is. Steve Orlando is killing it (and a lot of people) in this series.

Nailbiter #15 (Image Comics) – One of my favorite series that has a few folks attempting to discover why a small town has produced so many serial killers. We’re getting closer and closer to finally getting an answer… I think and hope.

Alex

Top Pick: The Fox #5 (Archie Comics) – I picked issue #1 up on a whim, and this series has fast become one of my favourites. I love the fun, almost cynically innocent take on the superhero genre, and I cannot wait to get my grubby mitts on the final chapter of the opening arc.

Detective Comics #43 (DC Comics) – I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve been enjoying Mecha-Batman, and while I expect the original to return eventually, I’m enjoying this while it lasts.

We Stand On Guard #2 (Image Comics) – The first issue of this comic took me by surprise when it came out last month. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, and whether it is the underdog nature of the story or the Great White North setting, this is a series I’m looking forward too.

Edward

Top Pick: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad #5 (Marvel) – This all ages comic has not been on many people’s reading list, bust it proves that some minds at Disney are still interested in creativity.

Morning Glories #47 (Image Comics) – The standout series continues by weaving in new plots to the old. Every answer continues to create five new questions.

Groot #3 (Marvel) – This series has only run two issues thus far but has been unexpectedly amazing. The story is simple enough, but executed flawlessly.

Ms. Marvel #17 (Marvel) – One of Marvel’s stand-out series gets the Secret Wars treatment. It is nearing the end before Marvel relaunches and it remains to be seen how that will affect this series.

Red Skull #2 (Marvel) – It is the Suicide Squad of the Secret Wars as Red Skull takes on the role of Deadshot.

Elana

Top Pick: The Humans #7 (Image Comics) – Apesploitstion biker madness continues! I love this series so much I have a lenghthy personal essay about it coming out this week. This month’s issue features even more sex and violence and drugs and rock and roll and vengeance and period accurate hair and the color orange and oh my god the lettering! The lettering!!! All the important things in art, really.

Top Pick: The Wicked + The Divine #13 (Image Comics) – At last an issue about the mysterious goddess Tara jokingly called “goddess of who knows what” because there are so many deities with that name that it’s unclear who she’s supposed to be. I’m not sure which real world pop stars the character was inspired by. Beyoncé?

One thing is for sure, the new art by Tula Lotay is stunning!

Kaptara #4 (Image Comics) – This charming sword and sorcery in space comic won my heart. It’s saturated in lurid colors and riffs on He-Man but it doesn’t get in the way of being a very human story about a scientist who really needs a hug. And a date. Do you know any nice single men for Keith to date? I worry that Manton the warrior may take a while to come around.

Midnighter #3 (DC Comics) – Last issue our hero started to square off with the corporate powers that be. I’m really looking forward to a comic that tackles Monsanto. At least that’s where I think this is heading. Also, Midnighter punched a steak through a killer’s head. A dinner steak.

This Damned Band #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – What if Led Zeppelin really did sell their souls to the devil? It’s a brand new series from the ever funny and inventive and very British Paul Cornell (art by Tony Parker). I simultaneously love over-indulgent boomer rock and I also find it hilarious and worth deflating. This comic seems to be doing the same– both reveling and lovingly mocking the 70s rock pretentious and conventions. But with the actual Devil.

Mr. H

Top Pick: Green Lantern #43 (DC Comics) – I’ve really been enjoying this Hal on the run as a bounty hunter storyline and now that they’ve thrown Black Hand back in the mix, it should only get even better. Proof that he doesn’t need the most powerful weapon in the universe to still be a bad ass, this title is still providing bright days!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #3 (Marvel Comics) – Back in black and the marriage still intact? Let’s see if the removal of Spidey’s bright colors bring the foot out of the grave on this one. I really want to like this Mr. Slott, don’t disappoint me please. I’ve waited a long time for this.

JLA: Gods and Monsters: Wonder Woman #1 (DC Comics) – Having seen the movie, Wonder Woman was my favorite part. I hope they delve even deeper into her loss and betrayal. I really enjoy the twist on the New Genesis vs. Apokolips War. Should be a good one! Plus that boom tube sword is just epic. DC make a replica now!

TMNT: Color Classics Series 3 #8 (IDW Publishing) – Turtles, Shredder, April, Eastman, Laird. Isn’t that enough right there?

Paul

Top Pick: Age of Apocalypse #2 (Marvel) – Fabian Nicieza and Gerardo Sandoval took me right back into the Age of Apocalypse that I remember from so long ago; great story and fantastic art make this one of my favourite Secret Wars books, and I’m looking forward to seeing Magneto give Apocalypse’s forces the smack down!

Civil War #2 (Marvel) – Steve Rogers and Tony Stark; opposing sides in this world of Civil War have been pushed further apart after an assassination attempt has left a proponent for peace dead at their feet. I really enjoyed the first issue of this book, and I’m excited to see if the two sides come together…or tear each other apart.

Siege #2 (Marvel) – I really loved this story of the SHIELD, the wall that separates Battleworld from the zombies and robots that would destroy the planet. Not to mention Abigail Brand is calling the shots, so that alone has me hooked.

Spider-Island #2 (Marvel) – The Spider Queen has turned almost everyone in this area of Battleworld into human/spider hybrids…including the heroes…and they all serve her. Flash Thompson is one of the few not affected, and with his resistance force, has managed to help some former colleagues break from the Spider Queen’s control…but will what he’s turned them into be a help or a hindrance? This was a fun first issue and I’m excited to see how Venom’s newly freed friends help him out.