Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Dave Stevens, 1955-2008: The Good “Good Girl” Artist

      Daniel Gehen
      March 14, 2008
      Columns, Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Finding A Meaning in Death: Civil War II #3 & The Vision #9

      Daniel Gehen
      July 19, 2016
      Big Two, Columns, Comics Bulletin Soapbox, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • Retro Review: The Valiant (2014)

      Daniel Gehen
      April 17, 2020
      Retro Review, Reviews, Valiant
    Recent
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 4.0

      Real Talk: Marvel NOW! Point One #1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 17, 2012
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • 2.3

      Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

      Daniel Gehen
      February 16, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Preview: Comics Bulletin Videos!

      Daniel Gehen
      July 29, 2013
      Interviews, Video Interview
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade: Elric of Melniboné

      Daniel Gehen
      March 27, 2015
      Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Kickstarter Spotlight: Cyberines #1

      Daniel Gehen
      November 9, 2014
      Kickstarter Spotlight, News
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'The Best We Could Do' is a Moving Memoir and Corrective to Trump-era Xenophobia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 13, 2017
      Books, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Blue Beetle
  • Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia
  • Collecting Profile: Kraven the Hunter
  • Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good
  • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY
  • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN'S UNIVERSE
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Big Two

Review: Spider-Man Life Story #1 is a Retread of Better Works

Daniel Gehen
March 21, 2019
Big Two, Big Two Reviews, Marvel Comics, Reviews

Marvel Comics

(w) Chip Zdarsky (a) Mark Bagley (i) John Dell (c) John D’armata

The concept of Spider-Man Life Story is an interesting one: six issues spanning the six decades of Spider-Man’s existence sounds great. Having an all-star creative team of Chip Zdarsky (Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man) and Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man) gave this title lofty expectations. Before the first issue dropped, comparisons were being made to Superman: Secret Identity, another high-concept title featuring a comic publisher’s flagship character. However, after reading the first issue, expectations for the remaining issues may be tempered.

The Spider-Man stories of the 1960s feature the character’s defining moments. Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and John Romita Sr. crafted every major plot beat that has been retold over and over again. Any time a story tries to revisit that era of storytelling, comparisons are inevitably made. Some are successful, such as Kurt Busiek’s Untold Tales of Spider-Man, and others are not, such as John Byrne’s Spider-Man: Chapter One. Chip Zdarsky’s own Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man revisited this era with its “Amazing Fantasy” arc to great success. But while “Amazing Fantasy” tackled that early era of Spider-Man stories from a unique perspective (involving time-travel), Spider-Man Life Story #1 is a straightforward retelling of Amazing Spider-Man #47.

Although the writing is updated with modern sensibilities, this issue truly serves no real purpose. Granted, it may work in the context of the series as a whole and in hindsight this review may be too harsh, but all this issue does is retread ground better executed by past creators. Peter Parker is late to class. Peter Parker is concerned about Aunt May. Peter Parker’s friends are annoyed by his peculiarity. Peter Parker and Flash Thompson don’t get along. When the book does something interesting – namely a Spider-Man/Green Goblin fight – it’s difficult to tell if it’s actually exciting or simply not as boring as what came before.

The biggest problem with Mark Bagley’s art is that he is so associated with modern Spider-Man, it is difficult to see this issue as set in the 1960s. However, it is hard to place the blame on him. He has a very modern style that was perfect for Ultimate Spider-Man, and it just doesn’t work here. Though he tries to recreate a 1960s aesthetic, it looks mostly like an issue of Ultimate with the characters playing dress-up. I’m under no illusions that this might be unfair, and if this is someone’s first time seeing Bagley’ art they might think the artwork is a great fit. I don’t even think Bagley’s art is bad. In fact, it is very good and one of the issue’s highlights. He does a great job in conveying emotions that are both wide-ranging and nuanced. His depiction of the classic Green Goblin is delightful. But as a whole, he just isn’t the right fit.

Spider-Man Life Story #1 is a missed opportunity to do something really great. Instead, the issue is a subpar retelling of a pivotal moment in Peter Parker’s character development – and Flash Thompson’s too. Perhaps this issue will work as a part of a completed work than on its own, but as it stands this is just a straight misfire.

Review: Spider-Man Life Story #1 is a Retread of Better Works
2.0Overall Score

Chip ZdarskyMark BagleySpider-ManSpider-Man: Life Story

Share On:
Tweet
Review: ‘Invisible Kingdom #1’ Topical Mystery Creates Promising Start
20 Thoughts on Doom Patrol: Episode 6

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Editor-in-Chief

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • Collecting Profile: Kraven the Hunter

    nguyen ly
    February 20, 2021
  • Collecting Profile: Miles Morales

    nguyen ly
    November 14, 2020

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders