As a standalone issue, this is amazing.

As a 16th issue of USM, it's frustrating.

Once again, we get more focus on side characters who aren't related to Peter. This book is basically Ultimate Harry Osborn at this point.

Don't get me wrong. I love everything in this. From writing, to art to making it all make sense.

But I'm so annoyed, because Peter, MJ or their family doesn't get the same focus. And because this series is so deadset on having each issue cover a month, having an issue have an exciting ending doesn't matter. Last issue we had Ben and JJJ facing Kingpin. This issue, they are barely mentioned.

And since Peter doesn't learn this stuff with the reader (like the solicits say he does), he doesn't feel like a main character. It feels like Hickman wants to write about his cast, not about him. more

This is what we call a great issue two. I have zero complaints. Art is amazing, plot moves ahead while everything feels natural.

I am still a bit wary of this run because of the editorial. But I am getting excited what we see next.

Keep on cooking Kelly!

Let's start with the obvious.

The art is amazing. Just so beautiful. Welcome to ASM Pepe Laraz, I hope you are staying for a long time.

As for stories? Kelly did good. This is so much better than #61 was and I think it is because it feels like there is a direction here. We are actually going somewhere and not just waiting for plot to happen. That is great and Kelly uses his time here well. I have seen comparisons to Big Time and it certainly feels like that.

First backup is great. I love that Kelly continues to work on Norman's redemption. And it won't be easy.

Second one is... I do not like it. I hope this isn't a random magical hell-related bad guy that has zero connection to Spider-Man like Cyttorak or The Blight, or a friend turned demon like Kindred (that is actually a demonic AI controlling cloned bodies made from DNA of your nemesis and your former love with memories from your friend). Because neither of them worked. Kindred especially was bad.

And that brings me to my biggest problem here. I am not excited for this run. I have been this down before, and I don't want to be burned for the third time. And it's all because of the editor.

Lowe seems like a nice guy. I have nothing against him personally and he seems cool in his responses on letter pages. But his work output has been mediocre or terrible for the past decade, with some standouts. If two last runs of ASM suffered because of poor editing and somehow opposite mistakes, I think that tells something.

From the getgo, Kelly seemed like a safe pic. And that he is. This is a solid introduction. But for me, not an exciting one because editorial stays the same. more

I'm not gonna pretend I love the idea. But Ewing makes the script work. And he is the guy whose work I love like 99% of the time, so I will give him a chance. You have me still on board Ewing. I wanna see what you will cook.

Just cook. MacKay. Just cook.

8-BALL AND THE POOL PARTY DO A HEIST!

I read X-Men before this and thought to myself "This is perfectly OK, IDK why I'm so down on this comic" and then I read this and remembered what really great McKay looks like.

Also, wonderful work on the art from Domenico Carbone, exciting panel layouts and a fantastic splash page of Tigra.

The best issue of this volume of Moon Knight so far. more

I think this was one of the first issues where Bazaldua's art really shined for me. Ewing's script is great as usual.

Like most artists past their prime, Jim Lee recycles his older dynamic poses and iconic set pieces to mixed results. I won't say it looks bad but it's definitely derivative of his own earlier work and it stands out. Loeb's writing is much the same. This is definitely post Loeb peak. He's harder, his stories darker in tone, vocabulary and scope. He went through trauma. It makes sense. What doesn't is this story's existence. I'm happy to read more Batman but this story should have been written 20 years ago. This came out of nowhere.

One thing stuck out to me very specifically and I think it is very telling about Loeb's approach to storytelling and his perception of Batman. I don't think he has a lot of reverence for him which isn't a horrible thing. You don't have to worship a character and keep every part of their core tenets uniform forever, that's how characters change. But here, in the first two pages Batman kicks the mask off of a Joker henchmen, activating some form of Joker toxin/acid killing him. After yelling at their corpse asking where the Joker is Batman immediately turns around and kick the mask off of the other goon, again killing him. That's not even plausible deniability of murder or manslaughter on the second guy. Come on man. The first I can let slide. In the moment, he wouldn't know but considering that he's the world's greatest detective and this is once again somewhat of a detective story, he would easily be able to deduce that kicking the mask off of the second guy would result in the same reaction as the first one!

Overall, I do like this. I takes me back to a Batman that I've been missing for a long time but unlike some people, I would rather just read the old stuff than beg for what is new to be old again to eternally be disappointed or to actually get their wish and have two men who have really no business creating a sequel to a book 23 years later. It's well drawn. For Jim Lee, it's a bit disappointing. It's fairly well written. For Jeph Loeb it's disappointing. In total it's derivative and unnecessary.

One final note, I'm calling it now, this isn't about Hush. It's about Jason. They're going to make him a villain again. more

I was not a fan of this as much as I was the previous issues.

Every issue focusing on one month is really hurting this book. Because we miss crucial moments between the main cast of this book and it makes it seem like nothing important happens between the issues.

MJ is just fine with Peter being gone for over a month, tortured and having his identity revealed, which causes them to go on a run for over a month. And that her son is doing the same? Okay, if the point is she pucts on an act, I expect to see something else too. Like this is just perfect wife again and not a real character. Why can't we see the talks between these issues, where we see how characters actually feel about stuff that happens? Why do we need to spent 1/2 of an issue to Sandman, who isn't important character on this book and doesn't seem to be for the next 3 issues. Instead of just... Peter and how he feels that his son is risking his life to do the same that Peter himself did and that causes them to go on a run.

It's a fine singular issue. But overall, I can't be invested on the main cast, if the book isn't either.

Thankfully something happens with Ben and Jonah. But the last time we saw the Ben Reilly story beat was on #10, which is 5 months ago in the book's timeline. So, what happened during that 5 month period for the Paper? more

This issue really shows the cracks in this series. I understand that Hickman views each issue like a month has passed in real time, and that's fine. But the problem is that the pacing in this issue is kind of whack, and for once I can see how Gabe Hernandez gave this a lower score. Last issue we see Peter Parker and Mary Jane run away. But then this issue they're just chilling on a vacation. And I realize something.

A lot of things happen OFF-SCREEN. For example from Issue 12 we see the symbiotic resembling Peter Parker in the last pages. But in issue 13, Peter's son is wearing the symbiote. Again, it is inferred that the symbiote must have revealed its identity, and Mary Jane lets her own teenage son go out and fight crime while risking his life. But at least have it SHOWN to us.

This brings me back to this issue. Peter somehow knows that his son and the symbiote are working together. But it's OFF-SCREEN. Most of the important plot points or strong character moments that we can be attached to aren't shown, and are just told. And I literally forgot about Ben Parker and J Jonah Jameson. I forgot that they were writing a piece for Wilson Fisk in Issue 10, and they were celebrating in Issue 12.

Overall, I understand that Jonathan Hickman is a long-form story-writer. He likes to plan out seeds and do slow-burn. In the moment, the books may be boring, but when read from start to finish after Hickman finishes his saga, it ages like fine wine. And I have no doubt that Hickman will put out a strong spider-man series, probably the definitive Adult Spider-Man series of all time. But his run is not perfect, and just because it is vastly superior amazing and spectacular compared to the main Spider-Man series, doesn't mean it's perfect. And I have to point this out. There are a couple of genuine constructive criticism, like how Mary Jane doesn't feel like a real person, and I do wish we have more time spent on Peter's kids. The art is okay, the fight was decent.

But kudos to Hickman for making it this far for me to give this issue a 7/10. That's a pretty tall feat more

Gotta say, art was phenomenal. And I liked what Kelly's idea was for this and message was heartful So, I can confidently say that if the hack fraud who works for the Spidey office as the main editor doesn't quit by 1000, then I will. The sheer level of incompetence this storyline has showcased has been disrespectful and horrible to see.

Like, way to ruin a nice idea by Kelly. Like what the hell was this storyline. What a waste of time with no consequence

What was the point of Peter moping for three issues, cheating Shay or treating her horribly, breaking up with her and then getting back together. The only thing managed was to showcase what a joke that relationship is and how horribly Shay is been treated. At least show some character we saw from her in #55.

What was the point of that one-off between Peter and Felicia. It didn't change anything. Only lessened the relationship between them. Why where the rest of the X-Men here besides Juggernaut. This is the second team-up we see with them and Spidey and it means nothing. Why do they need to bring Cyclops and Magik here, if they don't interact with the main character at all. Don't they have trust that this will sell? Who is this for???

I like the idea of Cyttorak being the new casket. But what we have seen from this storyline, rules don't matter at all, so by the next time we see Cyttorak, Randy Robertson can be the new casket because why not.

And when the Fraud mentioned that it was Kelly's idea they started to work on, I got the idea how it went down. Kelly wanted to do a story where he showcased Peter's love for life and how it can affect even immortal gods like Cyttorak and motivate them to do good by seeing the beauty of life. It's a beautiful idea and Kelly does his best here to showcase it. The rest of this arc pretty much ruins it by disastrous editing, since there is no clear vision how to make it last for 12 issues.

And they even didn't get the name right for this. If all other mistakes and choices weren't enough, they can't even name the storyline correctly. 8 DEATHS OF SPIDER-MAN!!! WHERE HE FACES 8 SCIONS OF CYTTORAK. BUT ACTUALLY IT'S ONLY 5. HE ALSO DIES ONLY 5 TIMES. TWO OF THE SCIONS AREN'T EVEN SEEN, JUST KILLED OFF-SCREEN. more

This comic shouldn't work, but Soule and Saiz make it work.

This should be everything I dislike about Snyder writing Batman, but this bombastic comic just keeps entertaining me big time.

I have to say, as someone who doesn't like 5 Deaths of Spider-Man, this was fine. Pretty good actually. As a singular issue. With amazing art.

But as the penultimate issue of this story, it just showcases all the weaknesses it had. Too many players and very odd writing for Spidey. Kelly's writing is solid for all characters, but how Peter and Blight and general setting was handled, this doesn't save this story. It's a good singular issue, but not a story saver.

And I might go crazy, but I genuinely do not know why is this called 8 DEATHS OF SPIDER-MAN, when he only died like 5 times. Does he die 3 times in the next issue lol. more