Rating: 
Summary: incomplete as a historical piece work; should include others
Review: "Amazing spiderman: Coming home" is the work of writer/artist J.M. Staczynski & John Romita Jr.. It comprises issue #30-35 from Amazing Spiderman.The story is good, but incomplete and the art is, well, I never like Romita Jr. art because I do not look pleasing to the eyes, which I think should be the bare minimum standard in art.This book is good but incomplete because they should awarely incorporate issues #36, 37 & 38.These 3 issues are what make a complete storyarc! Not issues# 30-35 as they claimed. The reason is, by including these 3issues it can serves as a stand alone book to understand who is Peter Parker & who is Spider-man based in terms of the setting on modern times. Issues #30-35 comprises the storyarc vs. the villain Morlun. And issue #35 is the concluding issue. Issue #36 is a stand-alone story that veers away from the usual Spey stories. It essentially a tribute to , and for the Sept. 11 tragedy. Issue #37 is another stand-alone story, focusing on human story as it explore more the person Peter Parker as a teacher and as a human being. Issue# 38 is, I considered one of the best comic issues of Spider-man ever came out.It is about " the conversation" between Pter & his aunt May. That whole issue devoted merely to just ,well talking, about, when his Aunt inadvertently discover his secret I.D. as Spidey. JMS, in my opinion, is not the best writer for Spider-man comics. I found that out after progressively reading his work on the amazing comic series. HIs stories turn out mudane, centering on humor,adventure-themed stories,& light-hearted( cute & superficial).Somehow, I feel, JMS just did not understand who Peter Parker is &who Spidey is.But this 8 issues I mention above when string together can be considered the definitive spider-man for the modern times.John Romita Jr., another one, I never did liked as an artist.His art is too crude and unpleasing to look at. It is painful to look at his art. He had done better in the past. In my opinion Stan Lee is the best Spidey writer of all time, bar none. Nobody even come close, it just that bad.As for the artist, I absolutely loves John Romita Sr. artwork in his Amazing run. 2nd is Alex Saviuk,his run in Web of Spider-man is also a classic. But this early, first run by JMS, I still consider very good, even just the issues comprises this TPB, still it could have been better.Hence, I give a 4 star because of it.
Rating: 
Summary: is it really worth 5 stars?
Review: A graphic novel isnt usually a piece of work which deserves the rating of 5 stars, however this graphic novel captures one of Spideyz greatest battles. Considering its exact story, it is a very weak graphic novel. The graphic novel does not revolve around a story but around a enemy. But, the novel is still a great book. If ur asking urself if u should buy it, i suggest it.
Because i live in Brasil, i had to order this novel from the internet. But when it arrived i loved it, it was exactly what i expected it would be, maybe even more. When i had to order it i wasnt completly sure but after i read most of the VERY LONG (and boring) reviews(nothin against the people who wrote it), i decided to make a shorter one. So the basic idea is that the author created a amazing story which, to me, helped inforce the "amazing" of the amazing spider-man.
Rating:
Summary: J. Michael Straczynski starts writing the Amazing Spider-Man
Review: Here is the deal: J. Michael Straczynski took over as the writer of Volume 2 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" with issue #30 and has been effectively "re-inventing" the character (but in a decidedly different way than what you find being done by Brian Michael Bendis in "The Ultimate Spider-Man," which is more a "re-imaginging"). "Coming Home" reprints issues #30-35 of the title, in which Straczynski come up with a striking new interpretation of the Spider-Man mythos. Clearly, then, the point of this trade paperback volume is to help new readers get on board and if not totally up to speed, at least within shouting distance. Taken together with the follow-up volume, "Revelations," these two books can do the trick. "Coming Home" suggests that there is great significance to the fact that Spider-Man has been fighting villains like Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, the Lizard, the Scorpion, the Rhino, ad infinitum, all these years. Peter Parker meets Ezekiel, one of those mysterious stranger types who brings havoc to a superheroes life, who suggest that Spider-Man's powers might not be quite as unique as he thought. In other words, the idea that a bite from a radioactive spider would give someone the powers of a spider is a bit far fetched and there is another explanation. To drive the point home Spider-Man has to tackle Morlun, a being who feeds on the power of humans with totemistic powers and apparently the only way to survive the encounter is to hide his powers from his new opponent. Unlike what Alan Moore did with Swamp Thing, the twist on Spider-Man's origin that Straczynski has come up with does not threaten to unravel the entire Spider-Man mythos. At that same time that Peter is being told that Spider-Man may well be the avatar of the Earth's spider population, he also takes a job as a high school science teacher. Meanwhile, there are still those marital problems with Mary Jane and at the end of this book Aunt May finds Peter him bruised, beaten, and bandaged, in a deep sleep, his tattered Spider-Man costume at his feet. This sets the stage for the next trade paper back collection, "Revelations," as Straczynski and artist John Romita, Jr. continue to turn the world of Peter Parker and Spider-Man upside down and inside out.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine. But doesn't live up to the hype.
Review: I read this story as it came out, but while some hail this story as excellent and the best Spidey story in years, I was rather underwhelmed. First, the good things. I did enjoy some scenes (Peter talking to the spider, the destruction of the abandoned building, etc.). Aunt May's characterization is definitely improving under JMS. The first Morlun/Spidey fight scene is a wonder. And JRJR's art is simply excellent (loved the shiny effects they had on the art, too). However, for the most part, I didn't feel I enjoyed this story as much as I should have. One problem was the continuity errors. Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn didn't go to Peter's high school, for instance. And what was with that line where Spidey said "I've never fought with someone who had the same powers as mine." What about the Spider-Women? Or Venom? Or BEN REILLY? All of them had similar powers. Why did they get ignored? Also, I didn't really like the school shooting scene. While I don't mind Spider-Man tackling an issue like this, I didn't find it very realistic. A kid sends a spray of bullets at a large crowd of kids and NONE OF THEM get hurt? I didn't buy that. Nor did I buy into Morlun's menace. I felt that he was hyped far too much within the story. "The first villian to ever tick [Spider-Man] off?" I think when the Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man was a BIT ticked off. "Nobody's ever hit me harder than that." That may be so, but for such a big threat, he went down pretty damn easily. Speaking of the end, I didn't really like it either. I felt the humorous lines in the end were just way too out of place. The whole "radiation" thing was also pretty tasteless. (I will concede I liked the last page, though, and am looking forward to the new storyline.) Oh, one last thing. I HATED Ezekiel. So, all in all, the story was enjoyable, but I felt it misfired on quite a few things. Maybe I'm a cynical fangirl, but I would have liked a bit more.
Rating:
Summary: Fine. But doesn't live up to the hype.
Review: I read this story as it came out, but while some hail this story as excellent and the best Spidey story in years, I was rather underwhelmed. First, the good things. I did enjoy some scenes (Peter talking to the spider, the destruction of the abandoned building, etc.). Aunt May's characterization is definitely improving under JMS. The first Morlun/Spidey fight scene is a wonder. And JRJR's art is simply excellent (loved the shiny effects they had on the art, too). However, for the most part, I didn't feel I enjoyed this story as much as I should have. One problem was the continuity errors. Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn didn't go to Peter's high school, for instance. And what was with that line where Spidey said "I've never fought with someone who had the same powers as mine." What about the Spider-Women? Or Venom? Or BEN REILLY? All of them had similar powers. Why did they get ignored? Also, I didn't really like the school shooting scene. While I don't mind Spider-Man tackling an issue like this, I didn't find it very realistic. A kid sends a spray of bullets at a large crowd of kids and NONE OF THEM get hurt? I didn't buy that. Nor did I buy into Morlun's menace. I felt that he was hyped far too much within the story. "The first villian to ever tick [Spider-Man] off?" I think when the Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man was a BIT ticked off. "Nobody's ever hit me harder than that." That may be so, but for such a big threat, he went down pretty damn easily. Speaking of the end, I didn't really like it either. I felt the humorous lines in the end were just way too out of place. The whole "radiation" thing was also pretty tasteless. (I will concede I liked the last page, though, and am looking forward to the new storyline.) Oh, one last thing. I HATED Ezekiel. So, all in all, the story was enjoyable, but I felt it misfired on quite a few things. Maybe I'm a cynical fangirl, but I would have liked a bit more.
Rating:
Summary: The way Spidey is suppossed to be!
Review: This book does demonstrate the wisdom of Marvel continuing with the 'classic' Spider-Man in light of the Ultimate Spider-Man revamp. While Brian Michael Bendis is doing a great job with the teenage Peter Parker learning to be a hero, it's nice to see writers like J. Michael Straczynski work with the older, more experienced Peter, a hero who knows what he's doing and has a higher degree of self-confidence as a result. Straczynski seems to be trying to shake up the status quo a bit here, with questions about the nature of Spider-Man's powers. Unfortunately a lot of the supposedly dramatic revelations feel like things that we've seen before in superhero comics. It's all solidly crafted, but it's not revolutionary, so the plot doesn't have a lot of edge-of-your-seat suspense. (The epilogue, on the other hand, is a bit of a cliffhanger separate from this book's plot.) The book is a worthwhile read nonetheless, because Straczynski does a solid job with the characterization and, for the most part, the dialogue. Peter's inner monologue and interactions with villains, allies and bystanders are all entertaining. There's a good balance between light moments and action-adventure. Straczynski seems to be enjoying himself here, and that carries through to the reader. The art by John Romita, Jr. and Scott Hanna with colors by Dan Kemp and Avalon Studios is solid on both the character moments and the action sequences. Romita is a fine storyteller whose pencils have a distinct style well-suited for an urban hero and his exploits, and the rest of the team complements him perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: Not ground-breaking, but solid storytelling
Review: This book does demonstrate the wisdom of Marvel continuing with the 'classic' Spider-Man in light of the Ultimate Spider-Man revamp. While Brian Michael Bendis is doing a great job with the teenage Peter Parker learning to be a hero, it's nice to see writers like J. Michael Straczynski work with the older, more experienced Peter, a hero who knows what he's doing and has a higher degree of self-confidence as a result. Straczynski seems to be trying to shake up the status quo a bit here, with questions about the nature of Spider-Man's powers. Unfortunately a lot of the supposedly dramatic revelations feel like things that we've seen before in superhero comics. It's all solidly crafted, but it's not revolutionary, so the plot doesn't have a lot of edge-of-your-seat suspense. (The epilogue, on the other hand, is a bit of a cliffhanger separate from this book's plot.) The book is a worthwhile read nonetheless, because Straczynski does a solid job with the characterization and, for the most part, the dialogue. Peter's inner monologue and interactions with villains, allies and bystanders are all entertaining. There's a good balance between light moments and action-adventure. Straczynski seems to be enjoying himself here, and that carries through to the reader. The art by John Romita, Jr. and Scott Hanna with colors by Dan Kemp and Avalon Studios is solid on both the character moments and the action sequences. Romita is a fine storyteller whose pencils have a distinct style well-suited for an urban hero and his exploits, and the rest of the team complements him perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: The way Spidey is suppossed to be!
Review: This is a great read! This is Spider-man the way I remember him.
Up against the odds with his sense of humor in tact.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story, Great Artwork, and a great ride!
Review: This trade paperback book was actually released as "Spider-man: Coming Home". J. Michael Straczynski, the mastermind behind Babylon 5 and Rising Stars, has penned a brilliant story of Peter Parker, aka Spider-man. This trade paperback is a self-contained book that covers Peter's battle with a creature that wants to steal his life essence! Peter first meets Ezekiel, an old man with powers much like his own. Ezekiel warns him of a creature that has been hunting super beings for hundred of years, and it has come to New York to hunt and feed on Peter. Ezekiel gives Peter a question which may forever change his conception of his powers: "Was it the radiated spider that gave you those powers, or was the spider trying to give you those powers before the radiation killed it?" The question is almost as perplexing as the answer may be. However, there is not time to delve into it, as the villain has decided to destroy parts of the city to lure out Spider-man. The first battle does not last long, as Peter realizes that his opponent is near invulnerable. He runs away, only to find that his enemy can find him anywhere he goes. Peter's body is utterly broken, and he decides on a last ditch scheme that will allow him to defeat his opponent, but will probably kill him in the process! This is a fantastic book for any fan of comic book. Straczynski is clearly a masterful storyteller, keeping the reader glued on every page. You can hear every thought Peter has as he tries to understand his life. You can feel every pain Peter has as his immortal opponent beats him to a pulp. Straczynski is doing what he does best - tell a story. The artwork is also strangely very good. I have never been a fan of John Romita Jr, but the color-artist that works on his artwork does a fantastic job of bringing every page to life. The reader is treated to a wonderful ballet of colors and excellent flow of story imagery. I was definitely surprised by the quality of artwork in this book. I highly recommend this book for all comic book fans out there, as well as anyone interested in literature in general. This is truly a fantastic story that is hidden in the format of a comic book. Great Story, Great Artwork, and possibly the best last page of any comic book I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story, Great Artwork, and a great ride!
Review: This trade paperback book was actually released as "Spider-man: Coming Home". J. Michael Straczynski, the mastermind behind Babylon 5 and Rising Stars, has penned a brilliant story of Peter Parker, aka Spider-man. This trade paperback is a self-contained book that covers Peter's battle with a creature that wants to steal his life essence! Peter first meets Ezekiel, an old man with powers much like his own. Ezekiel warns him of a creature that has been hunting super beings for hundred of years, and it has come to New York to hunt and feed on Peter. Ezekiel gives Peter a question which may forever change his conception of his powers: "Was it the radiated spider that gave you those powers, or was the spider trying to give you those powers before the radiation killed it?" The question is almost as perplexing as the answer may be. However, there is not time to delve into it, as the villain has decided to destroy parts of the city to lure out Spider-man. The first battle does not last long, as Peter realizes that his opponent is near invulnerable. He runs away, only to find that his enemy can find him anywhere he goes. Peter's body is utterly broken, and he decides on a last ditch scheme that will allow him to defeat his opponent, but will probably kill him in the process! This is a fantastic book for any fan of comic book. Straczynski is clearly a masterful storyteller, keeping the reader glued on every page. You can hear every thought Peter has as he tries to understand his life. You can feel every pain Peter has as his immortal opponent beats him to a pulp. Straczynski is doing what he does best - tell a story. The artwork is also strangely very good. I have never been a fan of John Romita Jr, but the color-artist that works on his artwork does a fantastic job of bringing every page to life. The reader is treated to a wonderful ballet of colors and excellent flow of story imagery. I was definitely surprised by the quality of artwork in this book. I highly recommend this book for all comic book fans out there, as well as anyone interested in literature in general. This is truly a fantastic story that is hidden in the format of a comic book. Great Story, Great Artwork, and possibly the best last page of any comic book I have ever read.
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