Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #19


Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Mike Norton
Inker: Norman Lee
Colorist: Guru eFX


Peter Parker’s trip to the museum is cut short when one of the exhibits, the massive dragon known a Fin Fang Foom, comes to life.

Much like the plot description above, this comic is pretty short and straightforward, almost boringly so. I can’t think of what to say about this issue of Marvel Adventures Spider-Man that I haven’t already said about a number of other Marvel Adventures series. It’s much too simple and dumbed-down for my liking. But perhaps, as these books are aimed pretty solidly at a younger market, none of the books in the line will ever really do anything for me. Although I am still of the opinion that kids comics don’t have to be watered down versions of regular books.

When I saw that Peter David was writing this particular Marvel Adventures series I had high hopes. Over the past few years David has become one of my favorite writers and I figured if anyone could turn my opinion around about this particular line of comics it would be him. Alas this issue doesn’t even approach the level of quality that most of his other books do. Yeah, there are some pretty funny moments that are unmistakably David, but for the most part the story is so simple and cliché-ridden that it completely overshadows those moments.

Even Mike Norton’s artwork, while pretty solid, seems a little rushed and less than dynamic. One gets the feeling, from the art, that even Norton was bored while doing this one. Like I said, the artwork appears to have been very rushed in places. But again, perhaps Norton just wanted to draw the book as quick as possible and get it over with. I did like his take on Fin Fang Foom though, so I guess that’s something. I’m a sucker for a well-drawn Fin Fang Foom.

I guess if you don’t want to look too hard for a good book for your kid to read then by all means, pick up any one of the titles in the Marvel Adventures line of books. But if you do feel like taking a little more time I can tell you right now that there are several comic books out there for kids that are miles above books like Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #19.
 

Special thanks go out to Jeremy Shorr, owner of Titan Comics for allowing us to use his advance preview books for review purposes.

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