I’m not sure what timeline/world this series is set in but it’s the modern day (smartphones, etc.) yet people still think Iron Man is Tony Stark’s bodyguard! Best not to dwell on it - it’s its own thing. In this continuity where we see Peter age throughout this miniseries, it adds new wrinkles towards known stories from the original Clone Saga, Kraven's Last Hunt, to Civil War, and these deviations work because they inform the various life directions that our hero goes through. Many of Peter's relationships are still there from his romances with both Gwen and Mary Jane, to his rogues gallery, all of which evolve throughout the issues. What is most interesting is the dynamics that we wouldn't expect, such as his friendship with Reed Richards and his dislike towards Tony Stark who becomes a recurring antagonist. In 2017, Sex Criminals artist Chip Zdarsky, who had been writing for Marvel for a couple of years, took over the newly published Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, which for years was very much the secondary Spidey title after The Amazing Spider-Man. Along with Adam Kubert, who primarily did the art throughout the run, Spectacular was a fun but flawed spin on the web-slinger that may go off in crazy directions, but had a healthy balance of heart and humour. After a pitch-perfect final issue with #310, it felt like Zdarsky had his final say towards Peter Parker, until two years later with a more ambitious Spidey story. This is downright in the middle for me. It's not great, it's not bad, it's just OKAY. I'd give this a 2.5 but since I'm feeling nice (And I love my Spidey) I'll be giving this a 3. However, I wish it was better than it was. Serafino, Jason (4 December 2015). " 'Spidey' Makes A Strong Case Against Comic Book Continuity". Tech Times.

McMillan, Graeme (July 24, 2015). "Marvel Announces Teenage 'Spidey' Comic Book Series". The Hollywood Reporter.The art is also great, with legendary Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley showing exactly why he has been the go-to Spidey artist for years. The dude is consistent and on time, which are two of the most important aspects for a comic artist to have. The variant covers by Zdarsky are also great in how well they set the mood for each issue.

In Spidey, Parker is in love with Gwen Stacy, he has to find a job taking pictures for the Bugle. The Peter Parker stuff couldn't be more by-the-(comic)book. You know that big thing some people complain about comic characters, that they never really age, and nothing really evolves much cause of timeline restraints. Well Chip is given the opportunity to start Peter's life in the 60's and through the decades age him and have the world around him change. In other words, we grow with Peter through his teen years to an old man.Also, a lesson in self-worth. Dude, I have SUPER low self-esteem, as evidenced by the fact that I have to prove to the faceless internet that I'm not a racist asshole even though I'm like 100% sure. I also routinely eat things off the floor because I feel like I dropped them and there's a price to be paid. And even I don't think kissing porcelain is the answer here. I don't mean to talk shit about something that's so relentlessly positive, but here are some headlines from right now:

I find it interesting that we so often consider Spider-Man a teen superhero and for his age to be at the core of who that character is. He graduated high school in issue #28 of Amazing Spider-Man (also the first appearance of the Molten Man, True Believers!), which came out in September of 1965. 51 years and over 700 issues ago. To put it in perspective, Peter Parker spent less than 4% of his Amazing Spider-Man run attending high school.

Books Multibuys

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed an issue of Spidey Super Stories. It was a series that ran in the 70s based on the live-action exploits of Spider-Man from the PBS series The Electric Company. In that issue, the web-slinger battled the terrifying Lizard. In 1962, a 15 year-old boy named Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider . . . " - from the intro