Spider-Man: Matters of Life and Death By Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente

It's a serie as good as Spider Man classics. I recommend for all those who like a great tale, even if you aren't a comic book veteran collector. Spider-Man: Matters of Life and Death Son loves it! Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente Awesome Kindle & comiXology Overall, this was a 3 star read. There was a very powerful section in the middle that by itself could have been a 4 or 5 star.

The overall theme was very depressing, but that didn't make it a lower quality read. It just wasn't the lighter fare I'd expected. Matters Of Life And Death is the second collection of Dan Slott's run on Amazing Spider Man (after it began in

One of the best things about this collection, is that it has 7 issues (including the.1 issue) This part of the series is pretty good too, as you see spider man determined then ever, after a certain event. The writing is top notch as Dan Slott continues to show, that he is the top Spidey author, and the art features great pages done by romas, and casillo. This edition has everything you would want in a comic, and leaves you wanting to read . Kindle & comiXology When I saw the cover I coulded wait to read this book. However, I would have liked to know after Spidey tagged Smythe what happened to him? When I see books of this magnitude there are usually stories. Just make the story longer. I didn't buy the book to read 3 4 stories. I want 1 or maybe 2. Nice read. Kindle & comiXology ALMOST as good as Death of the Stacys. Puts a new spin on what Peter goes through day in and day out. wonder-woman Dan Slott has changed Spider Man. He has given him a new (exciting) career. He has a hot girlfriend (IMO). He is finally living the life he has always wanted. Now the other shoe drops. Alyster Smithe and the Scorpion are back. They are determined to destroy J. Jonah Jameson's life by killing all those close to him. The story marks a major change for Spider Man and ends the life of a supporting character. We also are treated the debut of the New Venom, a government controlled Venom at that.

Another great chapter in the life of Spider Man by Dan Slott & crew (3 artist).

Highly recommend this. No one's currently writing better Spidey stories than Dan Slott (Sorry, Bendis). And maybe I won't ever get over what Quesada did with that whole One More Day do over arc, but, in this spanking new era, you must credit Dan Slott for crafting some darn entertaining capers for our wallcrawler. He's switched some things up, advanced poor Peter Parker up that career ladder, re introduced Mary Jane but without making her Peter's requisite love interest. Slott's got our boy moving on. But, still, that predictable ol' Parker luck is never too far away. And in this particular trade collection, it rears up with a vengeance.

The trade opens with Peter sauntering down the sunny side of the street. He's wallowing in his dream job as respected tech developer at Horizon's Lab. Things are going swell with his girlfriend Carlie Cooper who is a police forensics expert AND a tough as nails roller derby participant nicknamed Crusher Carlie. His Aunt May has gotten happily married (never mind that it's to J. Jonah Jameson's dad). On the costumed crimefighting side, he's gained a measure of respectability due to his Avenger status. So, naturally, it's the perfect time for Dan Slott to drop that anvil. And to demonstrate that he could do than write for shucks and giggles, there are a few somber stories in this pack.

AMAZING SPIDER MAN: MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH collects issues #652 657 and #654.1 and presents pretty stellar artwork by up and comers like Stefano Caselli, Humberto Ramos, and Marcos Martin. Even though Mac Gargan is featured here and newly returned to his Scorpion persona, a seriously leveled up version the big bad is Alistair Smythe, the demented Spider Slayer. Smythe still harbors that murderous vendetta against J. Jonah Jameson, still vows to kill everyone close to him. Smythe's latest plot is pretty diabolical in its cover all the bases thoroughness. Smythe not only has the Scorpion on his payroll, he's also created his own well ard bug army. He's even equipped each insect goon with his/her own spider sense. Spidey's New Avengers teammates are hard pressed to just make contact, let alone smite the ef out of them. Spidey arrives at a science solution, but it impacts him disastrously. And just so I don't get yelled at, the rest of this paragraph gets a huge honking ****SPOILER**** ALERT. In resolving the bug army's spider sense having dilemma, Spidey ends up sacrificing his own. Ensuing issues examine how much this loss affects Spidey, how much he's really relied on his spidey sense for than just dodging supervillain punches.

And, worse, to demonstrate that while you may ridicule the Spider Slayer as a B level villain, Smythe is actually a terrifying big bad, there is a casualty. We see Peter reacting badly to this. As per usual when Peter is nursing pangs of guilt, he has nightmares or flashes back to those that he feels he'd let down in the past. So we eyeball Peter's inner turmoil, as visually translated into a surreal landscape in which Pete runs into Uncle Ben (of course), Gwen Stacy, the original Kraven, and even the kid who collected Spider Man. To be honest, this routine got old for me many years ago, although Slott and Marcos Martin deserve big ups for making those moments at the funeral so quietly moving. And I did savor Martin's double paged M.C. Escher esque composition from that same issue (ASM #655). Anyway, Peter emerges from this bout of self flagellation with a new vow: No one else dies on his watch. To help him carry out his new mission statement, Peter constructs a bulletproof black and gold costume which, frankly, looks so generic even his clones would turn up their noses. So many costumes for Spidey. Somewhere, the late Janet Van Dyne is feeling threatened.

Issue #657 is a poignant tale as Spidey swings over to the Baxter Building and chews the fat with what's left of the Fantastic Four as they each take turns reminiscing about Johnny Storm. Johnny's personal goodbye message to Peter strikes a particularly strong emotional chord. Of course, now that the upcoming FANTASTIC FOUR #600 hints of Johnny's return, that moment is cheapened. Still, the Invisible Woman's method of defeating the Frightful Four is absolutely unmissable stuff.

This trade also reprints the short story Rebirth from ASM #654. Written by Slott and penciled by Paulo Siqueira and Ronan Cliquet de Oliveira, Rebirth unveils what happened with the Venom alien symbiote and reveals its next host. The new Venom's first government sanctioned mission is detailed in ASM #654.1. Lock and/or Key is a backup story told in three parts (the first two parts of which are reprinted here from ASM #652 3; you can find the final chapter in POWER MAN & IRON FIST: THE COMEDY OF DEATH). Written by Fred Van Lente and drawn by Reilly Brown and Victor Olazaba, it features the brash new Power Man getting on Spidey's last nerve as they go after the Looter. We also get some good banter between Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and Spidey as J. Jonah is forced to present Spidey with the key to the city (Don't even think about crushing my hand with your satanic strength, J. Jonah growls at Spidey). Heh. Spider-Man: Matters of Life and Death

Collects Amazing Spider Man #652 657 & #654.1. Facing a foe from his past bent on the murder of everyone J. Jonah Jameson holds dear, Spidey calls in the cavalry! But can even the Avengers help him stop the new Spider Slayer from claiming his victims when he has the Scorpion and an entire insect army at his command? Plus: It's a new Venom for a new age as a character you know and love takes on the power of the symbiote you love to hate! Spider-Man: Matters of Life and Death