Outside the Canon

From now on I think I can stray from my themed titles.

I've been watching Spider-Man: The New Animated Series on instantwatch via NetFlix. It's voiced by NPH. Anyway it inspired me to catch up on The Amazing Spider-Man comics. So I have. and well, I'm outraged.

Aunt May is old. and has been old for a long time. She was old raising peter, old through high school, old through college. now he's in his thirties. I know time doesn't work the same way in the comics world. She get's shot, let her go, let the comic mature... The status quo with Aunt May... it's been done, for decades. Let it address more serious issues.

It was a beautiful set up, the pain of peter parker was palpable. the return to the black costume, he meant business, he'd do anything to save her, even talk to tony, but the end it wasn't enough. let him fail.

that's something that at least in my opinion, has always been true of peter parker and spider-man. sometimes he doesn't succeed, and he lives with the consequences (gwen stacy? the ups and downs of mary jane? i'm sure there's more, but while i love it, i'm not a details nerd for it)

so at the end of it, he makes a deal with mephisto? really? REALL? that's pretty dumb. Stan Lee may have had a vision, but it's not Marvel's job to generate the same comic forever, things can evolve, isn't that the point? (man becoming more than man)

also, if m day/decimation showed us anything, it's that peter could be, and would be, perfectly happy if everyone knew he was spider-man. he got to live the dream of it being out in the open (it's like a giant in the closet gay story, keeping the secret is part of the fun, but it's nice to know what happens when you come out [or so i assume])

we were finding that out, and it seriously wasn't explored enough.

and now that i'm reading the 'brand new day' i'm summarily disappointed. it's so... old looking. spider man looks like he's wearing pajama's. i know it's classic or whatever, but i really enjoy the modern make overs. (ultimate spidey, xmen, anyone?) or at least the edgier, darker, grittier look of the black costume issues. i think it captures new york.

damn. i'm just annoyed, i was really enjoying amazing spider man, especially when i had really only gotten into comics beginning with ultimate spidey. the story lines are just clearer, with less ret-conning b.s. it's just like, if you're making a decision with the story, make the damn decision adn stick with it. stop waving the magic stick around when you get bored or lazy. just keep up some quality writing, or hire somebody that can maintain it.

too many drivers i guess.

and so ends my rant.