Tag Archives: Venom

Top 5: Spider-Man Graphic Novels (To Continue Your Amazing Spider-Man 2 Experience)

Top 5

I have not see AMS 2 as of writing this article, so I apologize if I didn’t direct this list more toward plot points there.  Spider-Man is Marvel’s crown jewel, so there are literally thousands of Spidey stories out there to continue your journey.  I chose my favorite five that you can find in collected form on Amazon with just a few clicks of a mouse.

1. Kraven’s Last Hunt
KravensLastHunt
Amazing Spider-Man #293-294, Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132 and Web of Spider-Man #31-32

To me, this is unquestionably the greatest Spider-Man story of all-time.  It features a dying Kraven (who is not even a primary villain) taking Spider-Man’s life apart in a final ditch effort to finally bag his prey all leading to a shocking finale.  This is “The Killing Joke” of Spider-Man stories.


2. The Death of Gwen Stacey
marvel-spider-man-the-death-of-gwen-stacy-tpb-1
Amazing Spider-Man #121-122

I really hope this didn’t happen in the film, but I have a bad feeling where that stands.  In the comics, this changed everything.  Not just in Spidey’s books, but in comics in general.  No one was safe after this.  Peter never really recovers from Gwen’s death and it continues to affect his mindset today.

3. Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
ult-spi
Ult. Spider-Man 1-39, 1/2

The Ultimate line is a separate Marvel Universe that began in the early 2000s and though the rest of the line has gone through ups and downs, the Spider-Man book has been written by the same author (Brian Michael Bendis) for the entirety of the run (over 200 issues) and the quality has remained extremely high.  You can find this meaty tome used on Amazon for $35 and it’ll keep you entertained for quite a while.


4. “Birth of Venom,”
amazing-spiderman-birth-of-venom-graphic-novel-1
Secret Wars #8; Amazing Spider-Man #252-259, #298-300 & #315-317; Fantastic Four #274 and Web of Spider-Man #1

Whether you want to admit it or not, Venom is Spider-Man’s most popular villain.  It should be the Green Goblin, and is among a lot of Spidey fans, but Venom has been hysterically popular since his introduction.  This trade paperback tells the origin of the symbiote, how it left Peter to bond with his rival Eddie Brock and become the psychotic toothy villain of lore.

5. “A Death in the Family,”
047
Peter Parker: Spider-Man (Volume 2) #44-47

This one is a bit of a wild card, but it’s a four-issue arc that really is a sequel to the death of Gwen Stacey, because Peter and Norman talk about it, and talk about it at length.  It’s extremely emotional and you see just how scarred Peter is still from the death of his first love even years later.Story44

 

My Favorite Scene: Spider-Man 3 – “The Birth of Sandman”


Spider-Man 3 is not as bad as you remember it.  Somehow, in the seven years since its release, Spidey 3 has become the Batman & Robin of modern comic movies.  I saw Batman & Robin in the theatre.  I left in a homicidal rage.  I also saw Spider-Man 3 in the theatre and it’s not responsible for any cold cases. Continue reading My Favorite Scene: Spider-Man 3 – “The Birth of Sandman”

Sony to Expand Its Spider-Verse with Venom and Sinister Six Films

Venom Sketch by Sam Keith

This is extremely interesting news.  I’ve already been intrigued by the planned four-film arc for the Sinister Six.  Does this mean the Sinister Six film will be about the villains gathering or is that the actual showdown and the fourth film will give more story leading up?  I think they’re planning on a lot more than four and to have Garfield behind the mask for as long as they can keep him. Continue reading Sony to Expand Its Spider-Verse with Venom and Sinister Six Films

Fantastic Black & White Super Hero Sketches from Matteo Scalera

A little super hero art to brighten your Sunday morn.  Ran across these online and had to pass them on.  Awesome work.

1-172372885 2-172372885 4-172372885 6-172372885 7-172372885 8-172372885 9-172372885 10-172372885 11-172372885 13-172372885 15-172372885 16-172372885 19-172372885 21-172372885 22-172372885 23-172372885 24-172372885 matteoscalerabatman