My Roger Stern Spidey Omnibus Experience
 

Well I am now halfway through the Roger Stern Omnibus (the next issue is Hobgoblin's first appearance) and pretty much every issue of Amazing has been just as good, if not better, than the Spectacular issues. Reading Spidey take on Juggernaut was quite interesting, but I really enjoyed the four parter that dealt with the Brand Corporation and Roxxon. That was some really interesting stuff. However, I have a few questions for those that know about the other series because despite reading all of these issues in order, I'm vexed on a few items.

1. Aunt May has suddenly set up some type of her own old folks home, but this was never previously established in the issues before it was mentioned in this book. How did this happen? When did it happen? Where did she get the money?

2. When did Peter resign from his teaching job? One issue he is a teacher and the next he is talking about picking up his belongings becuse he quit. What? That seems random.

3. Peter briefly mentioned that Doc Ock and the Owl are having some crime war going on. Have those issues been collected at all?

4. I'm not confused on this bit, but want to know more out of curiosity. Can someone tell me what story the original web wings got destroyed in? IN the Cobra/Hyde story he said they were destroyed and he didn't have the ability to make new ones until now.

Anyway, I also read the annual that introduced a new Captain Marvel and the fact that it was drawn by both Romita's was amazing.

So I finished the Roger Stern Omnibus and my god I grew up in the wrong era of Spider-Man comics. Those issues were truly amazing. I loved the Hobgoblin arc and it is a shame none of the other stories (such as the ones with Flash and Ned being framed) are available to read in a trade or something.

As such, I moved on to Hobgoblin Lives and have read the first two chapters so far. This was definitely past the part where I stopped reading the comics back in the 90s because I did not know MJ had a miscarriage (nor that she was ever pregnant), Norman returned from the dead (at that point), Harry died, and that Aunt May died. When I started back up with JMS' run, everyone was alive and the baby was never mentioned. Moving on, I really like how this story is progressing thus far and it is nice to have everything that is talked about so fresh in my mind. It is an interesting way to having Stern continue his story without retconning the decade's worth of stories. It also makes Hobgoblin feel even more badass than he was previously.

Anyway, back to the other stories in the Stern Omnibus, I thought the one with Thunderball was probably the weakest in the entire book. The side story with the dying kid was really well done and it was interesting to see where the Animated episode got its source from. The black mail scene in the country club was badass and I'm surprised that scene has never been adapted in the movies or cartoons whether it were to feature Hobgoblin or not. In fact, this makes me upset even more than I already was with how underutilized Hobgoblin is when it comes to the other mediums. Even the 90s cartoon didn't make him this conniving. At least they gave us Mark Hamil, who is the voice I hear when I hear Hobby speak in the comics. Finally, the first issue with Symbiote suit could have been better. It just feels weird to have a new suit out of the blue (and the artwork wasn't as good). How did this work out when these comics first came out? Was Secret Wars happening before the end of 251 so that when 252 came out, everyone knew what occured? I've never read the original Secret Wars.

In other Spider-Man news, Omnibus Volume 3 for Amazing shipped out. YAY!! Can't wait to go back to reading more of the Lee/Romita era.

I am not happy but has a good attention to deal with the new information of different items and accessories with Lego WW2 Soldiers.

Huh?