First Look for December 15, 2017
Today I continue some previous reading by taking a first look at JLA #2 and Amazing Spider-Man #2. Once again, there are 3 stories contained in these 2 comics but I enjoyed these issues better than those I looked at yesterday. In the first Spider-Man story we basically get introduced to the Vulture who is familiar due to the Homecoming movie that came out earlier this year – I didn’t realize he was one of the first villains Parker had to face. The second story throws aliens at Peter and he takes them in stride. His Spidey sense is really coming in handy during these first few stories. On the DC side, the Justice League of America is in trouble. These Hyperclan guys are pretty powerful and are splitting up the League and taking them on in smaller groups. I think Earth’s heroes need to formulate a plan or they’re gonna be in some serious hurt.
Amazing Spider-Man #2 – story A
Duel to the Death with The Vulture by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Spider-Man continues to face off against villains who are using devices to enhance their criminal abilities. Last issue, Peter faced the Chameleon and won, this time he takes on the Vulture. It’s kinda cool to read this now that the Homecoming movie has been out and we’ve seen this on the big screen.
In any case, Spider-Man not only takes on and takes down the Vulture, but he also figures out how to finally make some money. He’s gonna take pictures as he fights bad guys and sell them to his biggest critic – J. Jonah Jameson. With JJJ paying to keep a roof over Spider-Man’s head, he also has some spending money to refurbish the kitchen for his Aunt May. This was a fun story.
Amazing Spider-Man #2 – story B
The Uncanny Threat of The Terrible Tinkerer! by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Once again, Peter’s scientific excellence has gotten him into a situation where he could have some trouble. This time, a professor he’s helping out sends him to pick up a radio that was just repaired. No one knew the radio would come back with a spy device attached.
Peter’s Spidey sense helps him figure out what’s going on and he learns that aliens are making plans to invade and the spy devices are providing them intel. There are some pretty cool fight scenes and as Peter learned in the last story, he’s gotta keep extra webbing so he doesn’t run out in the middle of an issue. The bottom line is the Tinkerer and his alien friends didn’t count on Spider-Man to interfere with their plans and they ended up retreating off the planet never to return.
JLA #2
The Day the Earth Stood Still by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter
The Hyperclan came to Earth in the last issue and in this issue, they indicate that they plan to stay. But instead of continuing their campaign of helping solve the world’s problems, they’re actually starting to cause some trouble – particularly if you’re a member of the Justice League of America. They expand their mind control abilities by building three gigantic watchtowers that will act as the clan’s headquarters and the JLA isn’t interested in just letting them take over the world. Members are dispatched to each of the structures but when our heroes arrive, they are soundly defeated at every location – obviously the Hyperclan had a plan of action to take on the JLA.
Batman was able to convince the team that the clan posed a problem but now with them scattered and defeated who will rise up to defend Earth? This story is definitely getting interesting.