Marvel Comics: Avenging Spider-Man 5

The Avenging Spider-man is a fairly new series that has only just started, and so far I must say I enjoy it. By no means does that mean I like it, as there is no need to have more than one comic do the exact same thing as another. We already have The Amazing Spider-man, we really don't need an Avenging one. It's not like when you have a series like Ultimate Spider-man, where the universe is completely different.

This time it's really just the same Spider-man we know teaming up with various avengers. We get that normally though, so to me it's just putting talent into a wasted effort. If you want to put Spider-man with any given Avenger, then write The Avengers, The New Avengers, or even The Amazing Spider-man that much better.Well that's not happening, so let's take a look at this particular issue, because I liked this one.

[SPOILER ALERT] 

This book tells a good story. That's rare. I mean, when you pick up a comic nowadays, you will more than likely pick up a piece of a story. Comics do "arcs" in their story lines, which basically divide one large story over several issues. So normally, like issues 1 through 3 of this series, you have to get a certain number of issues before you have a complete story. This issue doesn't follow that trend, and surprisingly enough, the story is written very well.

The book opens up with the Avengers and Spider-man basically hanging out poking fun at a comic strip. Why poke fun? It's Steve Roger's comic he wrote and drew as a kid, before Captain America was even a thought. The reason they're even being brought up is because they are being auctioned as memorabilia. So in the midst of all the poking, Steve Rogers walks in, and Spider-man is left a little embarrassed, having to have stopped mid-sentence.

So as the team leaves for a mission, Spider-man has a revelation. Peter and Steve- they're nerds at heart. Peter is a scientist, Steve is an artist and/or writer, I guess that counts. Feeling as though they have this bond, Spider-man goes so far as to pair up with Cap on the mission, interrupting whenever possible to get little jabs of interest in towards Cap's childhood hobbies. Cap dismisses all of them.

Back at the Avengers mansion, Spider-man reveals that he bought all of Cap's comics from the auction. This is the part of the story you should pay attention to. Here's how the opinions basically draw down to:

Captain America/Steve Rogers: These represent a time when he had no skill, no talent, and is reminded of his weaknesses. Compared to what he can do now, these are obsolete.

Spider-man/Peter Parker: These represent the inner child, where no matter what happens to you over time, you are still the same person. They hold a lot of memory and represent ambition.

Steve makes a remark about how Peter must break out the old Chemistry set from time to time, which Peter admits to. Later in the mansion, as Peter is about to throw out the Chemistry set, Steve approaches him and the two begin to look at Steve's new drawings, having been reminded of what he enjoys doing once again.

If nothing else, it's nice to know that the book was made in memory to Joe Simon, who passed away this past December 2011 at the age of 98. Simon is responsible for co-creating Captain America.

It's a very heart-warming book that gives us, as readers, the know-how that despite what super heroes go through, they are still human beings. Would I go buy this book if you're not already getting the series? Probably not. But if you see it on a shelf, take the 5-10 minutes to read it, you might get something out of it.

The Geek Asylum Says: Worthwhile, But Not a Priority