TANGLED WEB #21

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/SpideyXMAS.jpg"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/SpideyXMAS_t.jpg" width="175" height="268" border="0" align="right"></a>While they used to be a holiday tradition of sorts among the publishers, this year, it looks as if only Marvel has a holiday issue coming out just in time for Christmas, Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #21 by Jay Bone and Darwyn Cooke.

An out and out Christmas Special, the 38-page issue is a response to the duo’s Valentine’s Special that came out earlier this year. As before, the emphasis of the special is on fun, so this time out, a veritable who’s who of Marvel stars are making appearances, from the FF, Crystal, Medusa and Mary Jane. The special is colored by Matt Hollingsworth.

" This book is a special treat for me, because Jay Bone co-wrote this one with me and handled the pencils, while I inked,” Cooke said. “I think it's great that the mainstream fans who may not have seen Jay's wonderful work for Oni press are gonna get a chance here. And hopefully no one is sick of us yet, because the rough plan is we're going to do a Halloween story and a Spring Break story next year, Axel and God willing. Now, bring me the Christ child...”

Click on the thumbnails for larger versions…

<center> <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/TWX09.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/TWX09_t.jpg" width="140" height="209" border="0" alt="page 9" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/TWX33.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/TWX33_t.jpg" width="140" height="209" border="0" alt="page 33" hspace="2"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Christmas/TWX38.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Christmas/TWX38_t.jpg" width="140" height="209" border="0" alt="page 38" hspace="2"></a></center>

[woodstock]

Cool, there will be at least one Christmas-themed book out this year. Might have to pick it up. :)

[NicholasWyche]

YEE-HAW!!! Cooke & Bone back on Spidey! Actually, I don't care a lot about Spider-man one way or the other one, but anything with the names Darwyn Cooke and Jason Bone on it is going to be fan-freakin'-tastic!

[Dan20]

I've stopped collecting Tangled Web, but I bought this issue today since I liked Cooke's Valentine's Day issue. Haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's good.

[Tom Daylight]

I hear that Tangled Web is cancelled after #22. :(

(BTW, that photoshopped Elektra is priceless)

[SPEEDBOY]

There is certainly a lack of Christmas-themed books out. Kinda miss the old Marvel Holiday Special. (Never forget Peter David's story where Doc Sampson, explaining Haunakah (yeah,I spelled that wrong) to a bunch of kids)

Speaking of the postcards on the other post...

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Christmas/CG01.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.newsarama.com/Christmas/CG01.jpg</a>

Damn, Greg Land, doing Crossgen comics. Why couldn't Marvel or DC have picked him up before Crossgen. Their books just aren't my cup of tea, and never been a Ron Marz fan ("I'm going to kill off the female supporting character in every book I write!" or at least GL and Silver Surfer. :mad: ) Sadly, as good as Land was on Nightwing/Huntress, his Crossgen work is leaps and bounds better.

SPEEDBOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MattFreakinLittle]

[quote]Originally posted by Fetsur:
<strong>(BTW, that photoshopped Elektra is priceless)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Huh? What'd I miss?

[MindTricked]

[quote]Originally posted by MattFreakinLittle:
<strong>

Huh? What'd I miss?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah! Please share with the rest of the class!

OH - Tangled Web cancelled after # 22? Where'd you get this info?!?!?

[exlax]

I think he's talking about the elketra picture in the christmas post on the main page.

[Tom Daylight]

[quote]Originally posted by MindTricked:
<strong>

Yeah! Please share with the rest of the class!

OH - Tangled Web cancelled after # 22? Where'd you get this info?!?!?</strong><hr></blockquote>


Yeah it's the one on the Christmas greetings page. Sorry for the confusion, I just thought it simpler to comment here. :)

Tangled Web cancelled... it's not been in Previews since January and at a recent Q&A Joe Quesada said that they were "putting [TW] to bed", citing the difficulty in keeping up the quality of the book on a regular basis, though I would imagine that sales come into it as well. Presumably it was to be replaced by the new Spider-Man ongoing in a February Spider-Man relaunch - I suspect this to be the date because the Peter Parker fill-in was originally scheduled to end by then, Marvel had bought a Previews cover for that month and ended up using it to promote a regular issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and now this. Of course neither Kevin Smith nor Paul Jenkins are ready so it's all been pushed back to July and the PPSM fill-in extended.

[MindTricked]

[quote]Originally posted by Fetsur:
<strong>

Yeah it's the one on the Christmas greetings page. Sorry for the confusion, I just thought it simpler to comment here. :)

Tangled Web cancelled... it's not been in Previews since January and at a recent Q&A Joe Quesada said that they were "putting [TW] to bed", citing the difficulty in keeping up the quality of the book on a regular basis, though I would imagine that sales come into it as well. Presumably it was to be replaced by the new Spider-Man ongoing in a February Spider-Man relaunch - I suspect this to be the date because the Peter Parker fill-in was originally scheduled to end by then, Marvel had bought a Previews cover for that month and ended up using it to promote a regular issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and now this. Of course neither Kevin Smith nor Paul Jenkins are ready so it's all been pushed back to July and the PPSM fill-in extended.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the info, Fetsur. Too bad, really - Tangled Web has had some great stories and just generally fun reads.

Oh - and that Elektra? When I first saw it last year... wow. When I saw it the other day? Wow :)

[Sean Walsh]

[quote]Originally posted by Fetsur:
<strong>Tangled Web cancelled... it's not been in Previews since January and at a recent Q&A Joe Quesada said that they were "putting [TW] to bed", citing the difficulty in keeping up the quality of the book on a regular basis, though I would imagine that sales come into it as well. </strong><hr></blockquote>

One would think they'd be cancelling TW due to poor/erratic sales, not "quality." Which is true also, but still...low-selling books often get axed because they're low-selling.

Sean
:)

[Jamie S. Rich]

One will hope that J. Bone's name is actually right in the book this time. Sheesh.

[MickeyScouse]

"Cooke said. “I think it's great that the mainstream fans who may not have seen Jay's wonderful work for Oni press are gonna get a chance here. And hopefully no one is sick of us yet, because the rough plan is we're going to do a Halloween story and a Spring Break story next year...."

Somebody please, shoot me now!!!!!!

"Joe Quesada said that they were "putting [TW] to bed", citing the difficulty in keeping up the quality of the book on a regular basis..."

I must have missed the issue which contained the 'quality', obviously it didn't get shipped over to the UK!
To be honest Tangled Web has been a Sad Joke since it started. The quality of the art has been appaling, and the writing at times infantile. In a period when there was a major Movie and media exposure why Marvel produced crap like this featuring their flagship character is beyond me. Another triumph for 'New' Marvel!!!!!

[OCM]

Another triumph indeed for Marvel! Hah!

And people complain about non-proportional artists like Robbie L. Look at the Spider-Kid picture up there...

And this "Archie-style" Marvel I can do without!

And I SINCERELY hope when Reed says, "Alicia seen Meduca etc." that it was not to be taken literal.

I mean I know continuity is a bad word, but isn't Alicia still blind? Or did I miss something ...?

[Dan20]

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>I mean I know continuity is a bad word, but isn't Alicia still blind? Or did I miss something ...?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Didn't it just say that Medusa was last seen with Alicia? Don't read too much into common expressions like "seen with" or "last seen".
What I didn't like was that Betty mentioned Ned...was this Ned Leeds? Has Darwyn Cooke not read a Spidey comic since 1980???

[J.C. Bakken]

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>Another triumph indeed for Marvel! Hah!
</strong><hr></blockquote>
It ain't? Well, since it is put to bed, as they say, it most likely ain't. Allthough this has been a series for not-so-likely artists to showcase "their" Spider-Man and the stories around him.

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>And people complain about non-proportional artists like Robbie L. Look at the Spider-Kid picture up there...
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Maybe, that's her next book :D

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>And this "Archie-style" Marvel I can do without!
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Then, do without it. It's not that hard really.
"Don't by the toys, that makes the noice."

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>And I SINCERELY hope when Reed says, "Alicia seen Meduca etc." that it was not to be taken literal.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
All the fanboys knows Alicia's blind, and therefor does not take it literally(yeah, spelling is i bitch , so sue me), and they who does not know she is blind won't care. Pretty simple.

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>I mean I know continuity is a bad word, but isn't Alicia still blind? Or did I miss something ...?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
A meeting with the coffee perhaps? I'm sure there is a no-prize in this issue.

[OCM]

[quote]Originally posted by Dan20:
<strong>

Didn't it just say that Medusa was last seen with Alicia? Don't read too much into common expressions like "seen with" or "last seen".
What I didn't like was that Betty mentioned Ned...was this Ned Leeds? Has Darwyn Cooke not read a Spidey comic since 1980???</strong><hr></blockquote>

Your comments got me curious so I re-read the above three pages. Reed definately says, "last seen by" but it's probably not to be taken literally.

What I'm curious about is, where did you get that Betty mentions Ned from? It certainly wasn't in the above three pages. Are you referring to the Valentine Special or something?

[Dan20]

[quote]Originally posted by OCM:
<strong>

Your comments got me curious so I re-read the above three pages. Reed definately says, "last seen by" but it's probably not to be taken literally.

What I'm curious about is, where did you get that Betty mentions Ned from? It certainly wasn't in the above three pages. Are you referring to the Valentine Special or something?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nope...when Betty is complaining to Jonah about the kids and tell him she's going home, she says "Ned's waiting for me at home" or something to that extent.

[theodoros]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sean Walsh:
<strong>

One would think they'd be cancelling TW due to poor/erratic sales, not "quality." Which is true also, but still...low-selling books often get axed because they're low-selling.

Sean
:) </strong>[/
haahahhahahahahha. That Joe is a killer!! He has a comic book that is a poor seller, and he axes it!! Then he said it's because of "QUALITY". Hehh... Great man. Please Joe talk less, do more :D

[OCM]

[quote]Originally posted by Dan20:
<strong>

Nope...when Betty is complaining to Jonah about the kids and tell him she's going home, she says "Ned's waiting for me at home" or something to that extent.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I really have to think when I post this early before i type. I forgot yesterday that most of you lucky folks managed to get the new comics before Fri. Lucky us here in Portland (or at least the driver to my shop) took Xmas eve and Xmas day off, hence we didn't get our stuff until last night to look at.

[SHODAN]

[quote]Originally posted by Dan20:
<strong>

Didn't it just say that Medusa was last seen with Alicia? Don't read too much into common expressions like "seen with" or "last seen".
What I didn't like was that Betty mentioned Ned...was this Ned Leeds? Has Darwyn Cooke not read a Spidey comic since 1980???</strong><hr></blockquote>

This story probably takes place back when Betty & Ned were still together. I'm pretty sure the Valentine's issue took place in the "past", as well.

[Dan20]

[quote]Originally posted by SHODAN:
<strong>This story probably takes place back when Betty & Ned were still together. I'm pretty sure the Valentine's issue took place in the "past", as well.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It would be very nice if they both took place in the past; they both have a 'retro' feel to them.
However, the Valentine's one mentioned that Peter was a teacher, and in this one Peter mentions having to persuade MJ to come home for Christmas.
It's like on the one hand Cooke wanted to have it in present continuity, but on the other couldn't be bothered to give more than a cursory glance to any comics more than a month old.

[j.bone]

My thanks to those of you who bought and enjoyed the book. If, on the other hand, you hate my crap you might want to ignore the final issue of MUTANT TEXAS from ONI press due out sometime in January. Also cover your eyes when the trade paperback of that selfsame title hits the stands sometime in March or perhaps April or May. Check previews so you'll know when NOT to browse the "M" section of your local comic shop so as not to offend your visual senses.

When Darwyn and I have approached these stories it was with the intent to have fun with Spidey's world and the Marvel characters. They're light hearted and not meant to involve detailed continuity. God bless Axel for giving us some leeway with the cast of characters. I honestly don't know whether or not Peter and MJ are together but I hope to heck they patch things up in time for the Spring Break special 2004!
Also, I actually think it's rather funny if Reed suggest Medusa was last "seen" by Alicia. It shows his rather distracted genius and perhaps a touch of his sometimes inconsiderate nature. But we know he's a good guy at heart. And I'm biased in my own favour.

Cheers to the cheery,
j.

[Tom Daylight]

I bought it last week (the one that had been pulled for me was the only one left in the shop) and read it last night. Good stuff. The Ned thing irked me at first, but now I think maybe Betty's getting senile in her old age (she must be, what, over sixty by now ;) )...