The Sandman arc here is depressing, but a well written depressing. We finally see part of Peter’s heart wake up thanks to a near death experience and a “visit” from MJ. My biggest problem is it’s hard for me to see the world where Peter actually pushes that button.

I want to give it a higher score but admittedly some things just don’t make sense here. The reveal of how MJ dies? Oof. This makes it a lot more understandable as to why Peter is so broken. My issue is, Peter is always the one to rise up from the pain, the punishment. Here, he’s given in. His body almost has a kind of its own but his heart isn’t in it. Doc Oc. Oh Doc Oc. I feel like they just wanted to include him. He’s use as a driver to get us to the MJ reveal, but he really didn’t do anything. He was just a weirdo. I’m assuming a like from this is where they got the Superior Spider-Man idea. Lastly, I get why Peter wants to give up but his approach was, interesting. more

This definitely has a vibe and it’s sticking to it. Again, art is weird but it fits the story. This is dealing with some dark topics, and we still don’t know find out what happened. You can see she’s clearly younger than Peter, so it happened awhile ago. You presume this is what broke him down to this level. JJJ’s character fulfills his purpose and fits right in for what the author is going for, loud obnoxious old man shouting things from his porch. This old guy is on to something though. more

Got this since Reign 2 was coming out, even though it seemed to be controversial that a sequel was coming. The art is weird, but it fit the vibes of the story. Interesting premise. My only issue is this doesn’t quite feel like the Peter Parker we know, but it’s technically an “else world” type story so I give some lenience.

Seems like Blood Hunt may be a cool event, but not interested enough to get more.

If you’re just getting into comics or know someone who is interested in comics, this is a great starting place for future fans of Wolverine. I’m no wolverine expert, but I didn’t learn too much from this book, a lot of rehashing what we already knew. Again, if you’re unfamiliar it’s great. Otherwise it’s just a jog down memory lane.

Meh. It’s primarily just a tie in.

Giving it a score for what it is. One of the best arcs Wells has had was only a couple issues, and it’s a big part of what led to this arc. It looks like this might be another short lived scenario, but we don’t know yet.

Again, haven’t been a fan of his run as a whole but I’ll give credit where it’s due.

Fun book, I disagree with the critics.

No angsty irrational responses!?! Wonderful

I’d rate it higher but when stories of any kind take this angle they never sit with me well and just bother me, which I guess could be the point.

Lots of action, and highly questioning a decision from Optimus..

Art was superb.

I know many haven’t been a fun of Zdarsky’s run, but I’ve enjoyed it. I do wish it was better. This one felt like it could’ve been better if there was a tad bit more exposition.

I still think the start of this run was horrendous. I still think anytime he touches MJ it’s garbage. But, the little things that he’s planted along the way, are they actually going to pay off?

Great job on the art.

Filler/transition issues are hard to rate. For what it was, it was great. But since it really just felt like a placeholder until a possible blood hunt tie in, it couldn’t be much more.

Great world building

If you thought the first issue of Jackpot and Black Cat was mid, you haven’t read bad yet.

Bronfman continues on her merry march of character assassination. Last issue she turned Mary Jane Watson into a melodramatic parody of Batman. This issue she annihilates Felicia Hardy, turning her into a callous liar who doesn’t care that her and her girlfriend’s larcenous blackmail scheme is causing pain and suffering to everyday Marvel citizens, doesn’t care that their scheme turned innocent bystanders into would be assassins who shot at Jackpot and a tech bro with intent to kill, doesn’t care that their heists are putting other people like the candy store employee and the customers in harm’s way. It was bad enough when Dan Slott turned Felicia into Queenpin but at least she was supposed to be a villain. Here she’s a “hero,” but in reality she’s just unlikeable.

This issue also makes a mockery of issue one and destroys the reading experience. In issue one, Felicia is introduced pulling a heist. She tells us - as we are in her head - that she has to follow the blackmailer’s instructions exactly, indicating she is being blackmailed. But…it turns out the blackmailer is Felicia’s girlfriend and Felicia is in on the scheme so the narration is all a lie.

This is the author not playing fair with the reader. It’s a sign of weak writing craft and highly amateurish, and it’s shameful this wasn’t caught before this series was printed and sold. It’s dishonest writing and doesn’t deserve the reader’s time and certainly not the reader’s money.

The rest of the issue is just as poor. There are two artists but the art appears rushed with the scene in the candy store especially static and confusing. The colors are as flat as Mary Jane’s hairstyle. MJ is forced to play nursemaid to Paul’s feelings instead of centering her own emotions in her own book, the banal planet murderer who is super sorry he got tricked but who still refuses to show remorse for all the deaths he caused and who hasn’t done a single proactive thing to atone, the closest being making MJ’s power device which, y’know, can kill her. But then, this Jackpot version of MJ bears little to no resemblance to the Mary Jane Watson created in 1966. They can’t even be bothered to remember she has dimples and a cleft chin, that’s how little thought and care when into this book.

“Mary Jane and Black Cat: Beyond” was a delight to read. It’s no wonder Marvel wants to continue to pair up the two characters, but the Zeb Wells status quo, MJ’s nonsense super powers as she plays house with a planet killer, and now the destruction of Felicia Hardy has turned the concept into nuclear waste. And Bronfman’s hackneyed, amateurish writing nails the coffin closed. more

I don’t agree with the low scores. Good book, good starting point. Interesting in the ways they’re relating to old Gwen.

Fun but kind of meh.

Setup for the rest of the arc, excited to see where this goes.