Title: Skin Deep (Part 2)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Pencils: Mike Deodato
Inker: Joe Pimentel
Colorist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Flashback Sequences:
Pencils: Mark Brooks
Inker: Jaime Mendoza
Colorist: Brian Reber
Editor: Axel Alonso
So, to calm us down after last arc’s huge shake up, JMS does the right thing and gives everyone a couple of issues over to a purely fun arc. Two issues of a flashback invented old friend that is exactly what Spiderman needed. It needed to cool down a bit, since half the world was ready to praise JMS as the next writing messiah – the other half ready to claim him a blasphemer to the good name of Spidey.
Well, what’s my take? (I bet you won’t be surprised”¦ sadly)
STORY!
Charlie is a little special”¦ well, not exactly – he’s actually a huge neomaxizoondweebie. Geekier than a Silver Age Peter Parker and more easy to pick on with a last name of Weinerman. He is just everything you expect out of a nerd. Well, he’s back in Peter’s life and his life has gone nowhere fast. Failed project after failed project has left him needing help on his big plan – his great idea – his bullet reflective body suit. It will be the creation of a lifetime…
…until in a hasty move, he doesn’t take his time, blows up the lab and is now covered in his bullet proof reflective suit made of Vibranium. He IS a dork! Just a shiny one.
So that’s where this issue picks up, as we watch him rise from the rubble and confront Peter – threatening physical violence if Pete doesn’t help. That’s not the important part of this story though. The important part is watching the unfolding of what Weinerman truly is. This is done through amazing flashbacks with Peter and Uncle Ben. JMS knows the heart and soul of their relationship – and to see how they were before Ben’s tragic accident… well, it’s just nice.
Anyway, Weinerman shows that he’s just not a nice kid. Not nice at all, and he’s got this streak that isn’t as light and geeky as one would expect from a guy with tape on his nose. I’ll let you see what I mean. Either way, minimal on the current storyline, but amazing development on the past storyline.
Art!
Again, this book is split into two different directions, but I can say that both sides of this coin are perfection. The current storyline is done by the exceptional hands of Mike Deodato, who I love more and more with each passing issue. The scene at the beginning where we watch the new BulletProof Weiner rise to power has just as much potency and power as one would expect from a climactic battle between the best of the best and the darkest of the dark.
Now in the flashbacks, we get Brooks and Mendoza. The tone immediately changes in the book and you don’t need to consider why or how”¦ it just does – which moves the story just as effectively, even moreso than a ‘BACK IN THE DAY’. Plus, Brooks’ young Peter looks enough like current Peter without treading on Ultimate territory.
Overall!
So, Amazing hits you from two points – one is a bit of what the rest of the world calls decompressed storytelling, and it is. The entire modern portion of the story is summed up in “After the tragic accident, Weinerman goes and visits Peter” – but like I said, the substory that occurs in flashback is truly the meat of the tale, and is really really good. Not mindboggling. It doesn’t change status quo. It’s just a good story.
