So it’s worth beginning this by saying I don’t really care about “One More Day“, there’s been a few great stories over the last ten years, but it’s been a while since I really enjoyed this book, until now.
Part of the appeal is the revamped Spider-man continuity.
Peter Parker’s single and broke, Harry Osborn is back and acting more like his confident movie counterpart, Spidey has his webshooters back and his id is secret. This is the Peter Parker I want to read about, this is the character I grew up reading reprints about in the annuals and old comics I’d buy with my pocket money (I loved the 5 for £1 deals Deadhead Comics did), so obviously I’m glad to see the character back to this classic status that I love.
Writing wise, Dan Slott was born to write the webslinger. He gives Peter that right about of wit that makes him funny rather than just a wise ass and makes him just mopey enough to be the Parker we remember, whilst not going overboard with the self pity (something I felt the movie Spider-man wallowed in a bit too much).
The storyline dealing with Spidey’s new adversary, gang lord Mr.Negative, harks back to those great Hobgoblin stories of the 80s and Maggia stories of the 70s.
I always loved that Spidey basically dealt with all the gang and petty crime in the Marvel U while the bigger heroes were busy with the cosmic threats, it’s always grounded the character and after a very cosmic/mystical few years I think it’s a great place to start this renewal.
The art by Steven McNiven, is of course, fabulous. Well detailed and the story telling clear and concise, I dig the little techie details on the spider-tracers and the way Peter’s web shooter trigger folds under the wrist strap when not in use (I think Ditko did that too).
My only real criticism is with the trade dress. I’m am glad to see that the old typeface for “The Amazing Spider-man” is back, it’s a classic, the problem I have is with the left hand box.
It’s a very clunky look, straight from Marvel circa 1998, terrible, the Marvel logos alignment is off in that box for pete’s sake, not to mention the thick black borders and pee-yellow gradient behind spidey there, yuck. Get Chip Kidd to sort that out!
So yeah, Spidey is back and well worth checking out.
The book is out three times a month with each arc lasting those 3 issues, so you can wait till the end of the month, pick up all three and get a complete story, sweet!