Avenging Spider-Man #6 Review
- Details
- Published on Friday, 13 April 2012 01:00
- Written by Kevin
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With Avenging Spider-Man #6 Spider-Man teams up with Daredevil and Punisher in a three part crossover with the three character titles. The Omega Effect is a crossover that details the ramifications of Daredevil carrying the Omega Drive that has all the Marvel Universe crime organization data. The concept is strong and with Greg Rucka and Mark Waid penning this three part crossover I have high expectations for The Omega Effect. Let’s find out how this crossover kicks off with Avenging Spider-Man #6.
Creative Team
Writers: Greg Rucka and Mark Waid
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: While fighting an army of Hand ninja’s Spider-Man flashes back to orders he was given by Reed Richards. Reed tells Spider-Man about how Daredevil came to him with The Omega Drive to search for information about Black Spectre. Reed says that once he found the information Daredevil took the Omega Drive with him and left, knowing Reed could not follow him because of the universe shattering project he is working on. He tells Spider-Man to go search for Daredevil and try to get the Omega Drive back.
In the present, Spider-Man is able to take out the majority of the Hand ninja he is fighting. As the fight progresses he notices that the Hand were looking into Matt Murdock’s office. Inside Matt’s office Spider-Man notices that Punisher has walked into the room to meet with Matt.
Inside, Punisher hands Matt a drink but Matt is on to Punisher’s game and says he knows he brought someone with him, Rachel Alves. Punisher says that Matt has a problem he can solve by taking the Omega Drive. Matt says the drive is safest with him. Punisher is sorry to hear that and orders Rachel to execute their plan.
Rachel releases a concussive shot that leaves Matt stunned for a second. Punisher takes the chance to try to grab the Omega Drive but Matt grabs him before he can take it. Just as Matt is going to continue talking to Punisher and Rachel Spider-Man crashes the party with an army of Hand ninja right behind him.
Not wasting any time, Punisher and Rachel head into the middle of the Hand army to start the fight. After changing into costume Daredevil joins the fight with Spider-Man. Even though they are outnumbered the four are able to make quick work of all the Hand ninjas.
The four then meet on the rooftops where they discuss what to do. Punisher and Rachel are adamant in Daredevil handing over the Omega Drive. Spider-Man speaks up and says that instead of fighting the four of them should make an all-out blitz against the four organizations that are after Daredevil. In the meantime they will have Reed gather all the information on the drive. While reluctant Punisher agrees and the four split up into two teams of two with Punisher and Rachel headed to fight one group and Daredevil and Spider-Man to fight another. End of issue
Commentary
The Good: This is a good time to be a Spider-Man fan. First, Spider-Man is headlining his own event over on Amazing Spider-Man. Then he is in the center of the big Avengers vs. X-Men event. And now he gets himself in the middle of a conflict between Punisher and Daredevil in this three part crossover.
With the character involved in so many big stories Greg Rucka and Mark Waid needed to give us a reason to care that Spider-Man would be involved in this conflict between Punisher and Daredevil. This is exactly what Rucka and Waid are able to achieve with Avenging Spider-Man #6. They waste no time giving a reason for Spider-Man to be involved in this crossover. He is given a clear role as being the outside voice in this conflict between Daredevil and Punisher’s.
The opening battle between Spider-Man and the Hand not only gives a reason for Spider-Man to be involved but also acts as a summary of what has been going on in Waid’s Daredevil series. Rucka and Waid quickly establish what the Omega Drive is and why it is also such a sensitive item. Reed’s explanation was perfectly on point and did not waste any time.
It was also a great touch that throughout this opening battle that the conversation between Reed and Spider-Man was weaved into the current fight Spider-Man was having with the Hand. Having both scenes going on during the same sequence gives a sense of urgency to the conflict at hand. The framing of each page was perfectly balance between both past and presents day scenes.
Rucka and Waid also did an excellent job in quickly establishing were Daredevil and Punisher are in their respective lives. While we see Daredevil taking a lighter approach to things and Punisher being much more serious both characters are presented as overconfident. Both characters believe the Omega Drive is only safe in their hands and won’t let the other have it. So even with different attitudes and approaches the two characters are more alike than they may even realize.
Carrying over how Punisher has been acting in his own title I loved the minimalist approach Rucka and Waid took to everything Punisher says. The character was direct and to the point . The relationship between Punisher and Rachel also helps emphasize this as they work together without having to share very many words. Rachel’s evolution as the female version of Punisher continues to be well handled.
Splitting the four characters into two groups was a great choice. It again shows the focus Rucka and Waid have as they do not waste any time with the pacing of the story. They had a goal of where they want the characters to be in each issue. With each party member involved having different motivations for having the Omega Drive I am excited to see how their motives will continue to clash throughout the next two issues of this crossover.
Marco Checchetto artwork provides the perfect complement for this street level story. Even with some crazier elements that are involved with the Omega Drive Checchetto’s artwork keeps the whole story grounded. Checchetto has a great sense of timing with his character expressions. From Matt Murdock’s different body positions to Punisher’s deadpan look the artwork really pushes the story to the next level.
Equally as impressive are all of the action sequences he is given to draw. The action all flows extremely well together and I would not mind having that page with Punisher and Rachel diving out the window guns blazing on my wall. It was just a badass half page.
The Bad: Nothing. The issue is packed with content for new and old readers.
Overall: Avenging Spider-Man #6 is an excellent start to this three book crossover that will also involve the Punisher and Daredevil titles. From the first page to the last there is no wasted page or panel in this issue. Greg Rucka and Mark Waid keep the entire issue focused on the story as they present us with some background into what The Omega Drive is and why Spider-Man, Punisher and Daredevil are fighting over who should hold it. With how much content Avenging Spider-Man #6 had I cannot wait to see what Rucka and Waid have in store for us in the next two issue with Punisher #10 and Daredevil #11.
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Kevin started reading comics as a kid when he watched the first episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and Spider-Man: The Animated Series. After that his parents bought him a few random Spider-Man and Batman comics and he has been hooked ever since. When he is not reading and writing about comics you can find Kevin as the destroyer of worlds, champion of fighting tournaments and ace Madden player on the PS3. You can catch up with Kevin and all his thoughts at the following links:
Twitter: KevinL007
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Avenging Spider-Man