Comics are Awesome II

[138 Scourge]

Yeah, Otto shot the hell out of something, sure. But even the characters in the story are being vague about exactly what. They use words like "stopped" and "neutralized", bit nobody straight up says Spidey blew his brains out. I think that's what we're supposed to think, but we'll see in a couple weeks. Maybe its just wishful thinking on my part, I don't want Peter to have the guilt of having Otto just slaughter a bunch of dudes with his body, you know?

Incidentally, in defense of Massacre as a villain for Spidey. He's kind of perfect for that role. He's a dangerous, murderous loon who isn't in control of himself thanks to a chunk of his brain being all fucked up. In a way, he's carrying a hostage at all times just by being around. This would cut zero ice with, say, the Punisher, but I know Spidey's gotta see it differently.

[BWprowl]

Yeah, Otto shot the hell out of something, sure. But even the characters in the story are being vague about exactly what. They use words like "stopped" and "neutralized", bit nobody straight up says Spidey blew his brains out. I think that's what we're supposed to think, but we'll see in a couple weeks. Maybe its just wishful thinking on my part, I don't want Peter to have the guilt of having Otto just slaughter a bunch of dudes with his body, you know?

Yeah, I get what you mean. My thing is just...why do it that way? It really can't affect the story itself all that much because the characters within know whether Spidey killed Massacre or not. So all you really get by leaving the audience in the dark until you reveal that 'No, he actually didn't' is some shock value at the end of this issue. Which is...kinda iffy as a storytelling mechanic.

Hey, I said this book was getting good, not that it was great. Yet.

Incidentally, in defense of Massacre as a villain for Spidey. He's kind of perfect for that role. He's a dangerous, murderous loon who isn't in control of himself thanks to a chunk of his brain being all fucked up. In a way, he's carrying a hostage at all times just by being around. This would cut zero ice with, say, the Punisher, but I know Spidey's gotta see it differently.

Yeah, they worked that well, especially when Massacre started to actually show an emotional breakthrough right there at the end, illustrating Peter's position effectively. Definitely helps keep the possibility of just killing him more morally ambiguous.

Furthermore, given that Otto was incidentally mucking around with neural interface technology just an issue ago, what do you think the odds are that he'll try to use his mad scientist skillz to 'fix' Massacre?

[138 Scourge]

Furthermore, given that Otto was incidentally mucking around with neural interface technology just an issue ago, what do you think the odds are that he'll try to use his mad scientist skillz to 'fix' Massacre?

Now that's interesting. That hadn't occurred to me, I figured the neural interface technology was old hat to Ock and he was applying in useful ways. I mean, prosthetic limb that is controlled by one's own brain? Right up his alley.

But hell, maybe he will. I can kind of see similarities between Doc and Massacre. Both were pretty decent fellas until they had some regrettable brain damage happen. Maybe he will, at that.

Shit, I already couldn't wait for the next issue, cliffhangers and stuff like this doesn't help any.

[Onslaught Six]

It really can't affect the story itself all that much because the characters within know whether Spidey killed Massacre or not.

Maybe the public believes that Massacre is dead...but Otto (and Peter) knows better. It is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility for Otto to "fake" killing the guy (or letting circumstantial evidence do the job, more like) and then keep him around to experiment on (or try to "fix") later. That way he has it both ways--the public (and the villains) think Spiderman will kill to do the job, when in actuality, he totally won't.

Kind of like what Prowl was doing with the Decepticons? Almost?

[BWprowl]

Maybe the public believes that Massacre is dead...but Otto (and Peter) knows better. It is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility for Otto to "fake" killing the guy (or letting circumstantial evidence do the job, more like) and then keep him around to experiment on (or try to "fix") later. That way he has it both ways--the public (and the villains) think Spiderman will kill to do the job, when in actuality, he totally won't.

Nah, see, he 'kills' him (pulls the trigger, shoots *something*) in front of a bunch of witnesses, who it later shows getting interviewed by the media. We just don't get to hear all of their interviews to find out if they're actually saying Massacre is dead or not, as Scourge noted, it's cleverly written around not explicitly telling us if that happened or not. If it were a case of Otto just faking killing Massacre, the story would explicitly lead us to believe he was dead and that that's what everyone else thought. But instead it's very particularly done in a way as to keep just the audience in the dark; the witnesses apparently know what happened, we just don't get to hear from them one way or another. It's a very curious way of doing it, honestly.

Kind of like what Prowl was doing with the Decepticons? Almost?

The difference being that (in IDW especially) TFs can handle having their heads blown off for a little while, then be repaired/restored to life. Human beings are considerably more difficult to fake being shot to death, especially given that Otto was using a random gun he picked up at the scene.

I think this issue was the end of an arc/trade-length (at least the artist is different starting next month), do we know if Slott's continuing to write this going into the next arc? It's entirely possible he left the situation so oddly ambiguous so the next writer coming in would be able to make a call on whether Otto did kill Massacre or not.

[Dominic]

On a semi-related note:
Has anyone else heard (and not from me) the rumours that Marvel is setting up for a "crisis" scale reboot in the next year or so?

The more I think about it, the more and more it seems to make sense. Marvel is now using the comics as incubators for movie properties. So, it would almost make sense for them to rebrand all of the comics to be more like the movies, and toss the old baggage. Thoughts?


Dom
-honestly not sure...

[Sparky Prime]

On a semi-related note:
Has anyone else heard (and not from me) the rumours that Marvel is setting up for a "crisis" scale reboot in the next year or so?

Yeah, I've been seeing rumors suggesting Marvel might be working on that type of reboot as well, from some comments I've seen at some comic book related sites. Something about recent events in Avengers and Age of Ultron destroying parallel Earths and changing timelines? Not having read the stories I'm not clear on the details, but sounds like they could be setting up for it already.

[Onslaught Six]

I've heard rumours as well, but really, it was inevitable that rumours would start up with DC having done it.

[Dominic]

Age of Ultron #2:
Not much happens this issue. Black Widow and Hawkeye are shown on the west coast. The NYC group of heroes ruminates on the sorry state of things. Spider-Man describes what he saw as things were initially going to hell. I get the feeling that Bendis is saving the important stuff for some of the tie-ins and oneshots sheduled to be released over the next few weeks. The Spider-Man shown in this issue seems to be based more on Parker that Ottavius. Given Bendis' talent for dialogue, I am assuming this has more to do with the fact that "Age of Ultron" was at least drafted, if not substanitally written, before Slott's octo-opus. This might also be an attempt to keep the core "Age of Ultron" series unbound to any current arcs that are not going to stick. K
Grade: C


Team 7 #6:
This book only has one or two issues left before being cancelled. This issue is set back "~5 years ago", though the timing is not announced. All hell has broken loose at the cybernetics/robotics lab shown last issue. Either Henshaw and Spartan are being significantly revised in the New 52, or both characters are going to be tweaked in the next few issues. I am tilting towards the latter.) Predictably, as this is the last arc of the series, a few of the new or otherwise "obviously doomed" characters suffer their inevitable fates. If you have not bothered with this book yet, there is no reason to start now as it is winding down.
Grade: C


Multiversity speculation/update:
The guy who manages the local comic shop had an interesting point in a recent conversation. Morrison is on his way out the door at DC. He is not, by any acount, leaving comics forever. But, he has not stated any definite intention to come back. We know that the (delayed) "Action Comics) #18 is planned to be his last comics work for some time. While "Multiversity" has been promised for the last 5 years or so, we have no idea of knowing how "done" it is. (Is it even confirmed that the script is done?) And, aside from vague "sometime this year" statements, DC has not said anything about the project. And, they have been saying even less recently. There is a real chance that "Multiversity" is (for lack of a better term) cancelled before it even starts.



Dom
-kinda bummed about Multiversity.

[BWprowl]

Slott's octo-opus

I laughed.

Anyway, one thing to note about Spidey's portrayal in this book: Yost's current Superior-themed 'Avenging Spider-Man' has largely been making the point that Otto can do a good job passing as Peter when he ends up crossed over with other heroes. A lot of that is probably pre-emptive ass-covering by Yost (with some coaching from Slott) in case guys like Bendis wound up writing Superior Spider-Man as just Spidey like he apparently has here, but it at least helps to mitigate the issues you're having with his portrayal here.

One question I have: Is the Spider-Man in this story drawn wearing the 'Superior' costume, or the classic Spidey duds?