Avenging Spider-Man 8
This issue is meant to be the epilogue of the Ends of the Earth Spider-Man event that ended last week. It’s odd that they’d put the epilogue in a different Spider-Man series when most of the event was in Amazing Spider-Man, but that’s the least of this issue’s problems.
This issue is mostly a flashback of a team-up between Spider-Man, Silver Sable and Dr. Strange. The issue barely mentions Ends of the Earth and doesn’t really solve anything besides Spider-Man’s respect for Silver Sable – we’re still not sure of her exact fate from the last issue.
The main story in this issue is, well … mediocre at best. While it does highlight Spider-Man’s respect for Silver Sable, it takes way too long to do so. Instead, we have a story about a princess who wants to marry someone in order to escape Dr. Doom. It’s distracting and doesn’t work very well. The only way this truly finishes the Ends of the Earth storyline is Spider-Man’s one-way conversation with Doctor Octopus that, while good, isn’t worth the $4 price tag.
The only positive thing I can say about this issue is the art. While not anything special, the art is still good. There’s plenty of colour and effects, and plenty of detail in characters and backgrounds.
I can’t recommend this. It does little to conclude Ends of the Earth, it’s distracting, and it’s just not a good comic. Hopefully Slott’s next story line will refocus the Amazing Spider-Man series while the next issue of Avenging will be great again.
Winter Soldier 7
This issue continues the espionage story that the last one began. It pits Winter Soldier and Black Widow against an angry ex-Russian agent. It’s set apart from the rest of the Marvel Universe and has nothing to do with Avengers vs. X-Men, and that’s a good thing.
This issue is excellent all round. The chase scene was great, the mystery is compelling and the character work is good. The dark yet visible artwork helps with the issue’s simple atmosphere, and the plot twist at the end is awesome.
I can’t say much about this issue without spoiling what happens. At least with this story arc, reading it as it unfolds is most of the fun. Marvel doesn’t have enough comic titles like this. It’s simple, self-contained story involving two characters that have little or no superpowers. This issue is an easy recommendation, and while everything you need to know is on the recap page, I recommend that you find issue six as well (shouldn’t be hard).
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