Previously I had only read the first two arcs, back when Marvel had them online. Thought they were pretty good, but not quite enough to rope me into reading the book.

These days, of course, JMS is the Devil, raping childhoods and tearing the industry down around him with his bare hands.

At least, that's how some make it seem.

So the other night I started reading his run from the start, and plan to read it right up to current, just to see what the fuss is all about. Just to see how evil and repugnant - if you believe the rantings of some - this man's work truly is. (That, and to get up to speed as Civil War continues. I'd like to see how the status quo got to where it is.)

This will be the thread where I discuss my reading of the JMS Spider-Man run in dry, uninteresting terms.

Wait! I didn't get to say "Bored now" yet!

Bored now.

There. Continue.

Read last night.

Second read.

John Romita Jr. art great.

Solid story.

Totem, take it or leave it. Seems like something you can ignore if you want. No big deal.

Want to know what Morlun is. Assume more to come later.

More to come on Totem, too? I don’t know. Assume so. Will see how it pans out.

Game tonight. Maybe not read next part until Thursday.

Pollywannacracka.

I read the first couple of jms arcs. I thought they were all right. I'm waiting for the Spider-Man DVD collection of all the issues up to 2006 and plan to read all of jms' stories then.

I read his Spider-Man up until John Romita, Jr. was taken off the book.

After that, it was never the same.

Somehow I can't imagine JRJr agreeing to draw 'Sins Past'.

Totem.

I left it.

Yes, I found it to be worse than the Clone Saga.

When I thought it could just be a passing "well...maybe..."

But then it came back, and I didn't.

Heard about Sins Past. Glad I stayed away.

I liked the first arc...but he kinda lost me after that.

It isn't bad. The best stuff is early on.

Yes, Morlun and Totem come back.

However, when Morlun comes back it is The Other and crosses over into all the books (however, each story arch is written by the same guy-so JMS will do Amazing, Spectacular (or sensational I forget) and Friendly, and then PAD, and then Hudlin).

He had some ideas and tried to do some things different.

When JRjr leaves the book, I still liked the art but Sins Past starts immediatelely-which i thought was well written but at the same time crappy.

He does some cool stuff with Spidey in The New Avengers.

However, never meets the promise of the earlier issues.

I have all the issues - and I keep picking them up the new ones. I have to admit, though, that I haven't actually read the book in almost two years! I find it harder and harder to find time for comics, I'm afraid. (I'm sure I could read more of them, if I'd stay off the message boards, but c'est la vie.)

I stopped reading after the arc that followed "Sins Past." I was a little disappointed that JMS chose to milk Gwen Stacy's death again (That well's run a little dry, if you ask me.). That aside - I'll admit it: I thought it was a well written story, and I enjoyed it, despite my misgivings.

In fact, that, in a microcosm, kind of displays my feelings for the whole run. I didn't particularly care for some of the changes JMS made, but he told really involving stories, nonetheless! The spider totem nonsense, for example, seemed like a horrible idea - and maybe, it was - but JMS pulled it off! I was really involved in the story (and I think that you can still ignore the "totem explanation" if you choose to do so.).

So...I'm not a JMS basher by any means. For the most part, I really enjoyed his run - or what I read of it.

I like JMS' stuff with Romita Jr. Hate Sins Past for many reasons. It reads like a badly-written soap opera, seems to serve no purpose other than to dig up a character that's been dead for thirty years and pile some kind of angst onto her relationship with Peter, adds a ridiculously complicated set of "villains" to Spidey's rogues gallery (We're the twin children of your long-dead ex-girlfriend and your archenemy, the result of a pity-screw that happened while the two of you were dating and when Mom was a virgin, which technically was only about 5 years ago, but due to the Goblin-toxin in Dad's blood we've aged at a miraculously accellerated rate. Oh, and we hate you, except for Sis, who's creepily attracted to you), and doesn't seem at all appropriate for what is ostensibly an all-ages comic. The Other (with the minor exception of the PAD/Ringo issues) was crap, and redundant, as Paul Jenkins had covered most of the same ground less than a year before in the Disassembled arc. Lately, while it's somewhat entertaining, there are minor inconsistencies with the other Civil War books that just don't make sense, to me.

Read last night. Skipped 9-11 story. (Read it once before.)

Lots of talk. I have no problem with talky. Big conversation handled well. Aunt May stuff, not bad.

Issue with homeless kids handled very well. Reminded me of "a very special episode" stuff, in a good way. Kudos.

Back up issues from Tangled Web featuring Rhino better than main feature. Funny and touching!

Solid writing. Still great art.

Noticed cover price was $14 (I paid $6 on eBay). $14? For this?

Rip. Off.

Otherwise, solid stuff.

This was second read of these issues for me. Starting with next arc, all new to me.

To be continued.

Back up issues from Tangled Web featuring Rhino better than main feature. Funny and touching!
*****
Is that the story that is the Flowers for Algernon redo? I have been wantingto read that for some time and I loved the original story.

Wasn't aware it was supposed to be a riff on Flowers for Algernon, but that makes absolutely perfect sense.

So, yes, it is.

I stopped all Apidey after the 1st issue of Sins Past. I didn't like the art, let it slide for a few months, and then read some of the spilers on the web (no pun int). Glad I stayed away.

That being said, I enjoyed the heck out of the Spider-man's Tangled web series. I was really sorry to see that one go.

Read third JMS Spider-Man trade.

Not understanding where the hate comes from. This was great. New villains. An old favorite. Subplots woven into story 'old school' style. Doesn't have heavy "written for trade" feel. Good talk. Good action. Good writing. Good art.

Quite good.

Granted, not yet read Sins Past.

That seems to be the one people hate.

So, maybe thoughts will change then,

This, I liked.

I lost interest in the book after the "Sins Past" storyline, the Romita Jr. issues were good but after he left the book just didn't feel the same.

It'll come.



Annnnd, that's it.

I don't know if it was the absence of JRJr's artwork, but the writing in the first issue after he left felt different. I think it was 'Sins Past', but even so, the energy and spiritedness of the issues JRJr worked on hasn't been back since.

Read Vol. 4. Brings me through issue 50 aka 491.

Still liking. Reunion with MJ very good.

Totem stuff, eh. But still something reader can ignore if wants.

I find concept interesting. But ignore it.

Issue 50 with Captain America and Doctor Doom a hoot.

Spider wasp killer thingee, nice try, not quite up to snuff.

Still think JRJR is peaches.

JMS good about making issue feel like issue, not part of trade.

I like Bendis, but he's not so good at that.

Will read more later.

Eric - your reviews are like little haiku poems:)

Damn. I may have to aim for true haiku now. It'll be an Internet first!

Read the fifth volume.
Enjoyed the stories within.
Gamma creature good.

Romita artwork,
Brings me great joy on the page.
His style is just great.

Subplots are woven,
Written very well I think,
Balanced action.

Still have no hatred,
And even like it okay,
Soon will be part six.