FCBD SECRET EMPIRE
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Release Date: 05/06/17
Rating: Rated T+
Price: Free
Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is the first Saturday in May where comic publishers send Local Comic Shops select comics to give away for free. Companies can use this day to showcase work they have already done this year, or create new content to promote events, or upcoming series. This year one of Marvel’s offerings is the Secret Empire/Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man issue.
Plot: After Captain America revealed his plan in Secret Empire #0 and before the world was under his control in Secret Empire #1, he had to take out his friends, the Avengers.
Story: This book is supposed to fill in the gaps between Secret Empire #0 and #1 but it fails to truly do so. The events here go by so fast that it still feels like we are missing a chapter. The Avengers, the Champions and other heroes are battling Hydra forces when Captain America and the Hydra council arrive.
No hero can believe that Captain America has betrayed them, and in an equal display of of disbelief Captain America and his Hydra Council take out every hero in New York. In the midst of the battle they also presumably managed to use a virus to turn Vision and magic to turn the Scarlet Witch against their friends. In the end the heroes lay unconscious as Captain America proves he is still worthy by lifting Mjolnir.
Art: The art here is very basic. It sets the mood as if we are seeing the events through a dream or memory sequence. The art uses bold strong contrasting colors to show the intensity of the situation.
Verdict: Overall this was kind of lackluster. A lot of story happened between Secret Empire #0 and Secret Empire #1 and this was designed to fill in those gaps, but it didn’t. A lot of the heroes we see knocked out are now free and members of the Underground. While it does explain the Vision and Scarlet Witch it doesn’t explain others like Odinson. I thought this didn’t help the story any, but still felt like it was missing pages as did Secret Empire #1.
Rating: 3 stars.
FCBD PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Penciler: Paulo Siqueira
Inkers: Walden Wong, Cam Smith, Jay Leisten, & Paulo Siqueira
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Release Date: 05/06/17
Rating: Rated T+
Price: Free
Plot: Peter Parker is back in New York City and so is his rogues gallery with upgrades and new legacies.
Story: Peter and Mary Jane are having lunch together catching up on their lives when the Vulture robs a bank and Peter takes off after him. While swinging through the air and cracking quips, Spider-Man finds out that the Vulture’s suit has been upgraded, and that he is now trying to go by the name Falcon, which is apparently not in use anymore. During the fight the two run across a new Trapster who traps them both and steals the Vulture’s loot. Meanwhile two S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents look over the footage and seem to be concerned about the upgrades to the Vulture’s costume.
This story had me cracking up and feeling that good old Spidey feelings again. Mary Jane and Peter had a connection again, something that I did not see at all since One More Day. The jokes fly a mile a minute and M.J. is lobbying them right back at Peter, this is a side of her that has been missing for too long.
Art: The art here was great. I loved it! While the art brought new designs to some characters it did contain many of the classic elements. The way Siqueira draws Spider-Man in as he swung through New York, brought back all the old memories of the 90’s but all the bold layouts of today. The emoting on Peter’s face alone made this issue a pleasure to look at.
Verdict: Overall this was the far better of the 2 stories. I loved every second of this, and if this is what we can expect from the new Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, then my Spider-Senses are tingling that I will have to make room in my Top 5 for it.
Rating: 5 stars.