REVIEW: Avenging Spider-Man #12

Writer: Kevin Shinick
Art: Aaron Kuder
Color Art: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Review: Art Bee

We all love Spider-man…but not always. A couple of years ago I caught the Spiderbug from Madman and began reading Superior Spider-Man. Then Marvel killed my interest with Spiderverse but I still like the one-line spittin’ web-slinger. So while at my LCS, thumbing through boxes, I found a couple issues of Avenging Spider-Man from 2012 and thought to myself, “oooooo…before the screw up AND Deadpool…SOLD!”

This issue proves that Marvel is having creative issues. They are completely out of interesting, original ideas, so they start writing ideas in mustard on pickle slices, throw them at the wall, and let them race for the win. This issues winning pickle: the movie Inception.
Great movie if you can wrap your mind around the science of it. The movie is based on a dream with layers, so the plot has layers.
This issue is about Peter Parker’s dream with layers, and the plot…not so much.              

Right from the turning of the cover, Deadpool has me laughing in this issue. He truly steals the show from Spider-Man. On page eight we find the Foul-mouthed Merc in a cheerleader uniform claiming to have bought it at “your store here”, and then he offers ad space by contacting Donald Eadpool. Admittedly I lost it bad right there.

Anyway the issue’s plot has Deadpool in Spider-Man’s dream for protection from an unknown enemy trying to influence Spider-Man through the dream. As the pair ascend the levels of Peter Parker’s dream world, the insanity just gets worse. That’s a good thing for us because the more insane it gets, the funnier things get. This is true until the very end of the issue when the mirror of entertainment gets a rock thrown through it.

*****Spoiler Alert*****
The villain revealed at the end of the issue is the Hypno-Hustler. Now I am not an avid Marvel reader, so he was new to me. The Hypno-Hustler is about as bad as villains come in conceptual design. Why isn’t BLM (Black Lives Matter) picketing in front of Marvel over this guy? Not only is this guy a lame representation of a villain, but he is a stereotype nightmare…afro, weird sunglasses, non-gold bling, goofy grin, and that name. I am not even going to touch the dialog. Certainly there was a bong in the room when this idea hit the creators.

The lines and colors of this book were amazing. Every page had a great balance of color which was captivating but not overwhelming. The detail showed the experience and care of Kuder to depict the scenes perfectly. My only complaint is, since this is a Spider-Man title, why does it seem Deadpool is drawn better than Peter Parker/Spider-Man on every page?
Seems a little biased, don’t it?

Shinick and Kuder must have been involved in a conspiracy for Deadpool to overtake Spider-Man. Both gave the best lines (get the double meaning) and focus to the Merc. Whose name is on the cover?
Let me look again.
Yes, it is Avenging Spider-Man. Maybe it should look like Avenging Spider-Man Deadpool.

The artwork and humor were the only things making this issue worth the purchase. Even the three variations of Spider-Ham on page five were great to witness. While reading this issue, excitement built with each page until the last. That is when the slap reddened my cheek. Damn you, Marvel! Every good thing rots in your hands.