Marvel's Spider-man: Reign

As an industry, comic books are struggling. If it wasn’t for movie licenses and merchandise deals, most comic publishers would have gone bankrupt years ago. Comics are a strange beast. They are often very well-written books full of impressive artwork. Yet, the majority of the population looks upon comics as nothing more than silly, childish publications. Even avid book readers, who willingly rush to the stores to pick up the next Dan Brown page-turner or line up for miles when the newest “Harry Potter” book hits the shelves, have no respect for the comic medium.
The only respect I have for the “Harry Potter” books are that they do a fine job of getting children to read. In my opinion, J.K. Rowling is just ripping off the story of “Simon the Sorcerer,” a video game released in 1993.
But, I digress, because in reality, imitation is the sinserest form of flattery. If Rowling is indeed flattering the crew at Adventure Soft, who developed the “Simon the Sorcerer” games, then with the recently released comic, “Spider-man: Reign,” writer/illustrator, Kaare Andrews is flattering Frank Miller like crazy.
You see, back in 1986, writer/artist Frank Miller wrote a book entitled “The Dark Knight Returns.” The book is a classic in the world of comicdom. It is set in a future where crime runs rampant. Batman has disappeared because Bruce Wayne (aka, well, if you don’t know who Bruce Wayne is, this column might be over your head) is haunted by the death of his side-kick, Robin. Without ruining the plot for those who haven’t read it, Batman, well, he returns (it’s right there in the title of the book), and things progress. When that book was released, it shocked the comic-reading community, and Miller’s book is still held in high regard almost 20 years later.
I could not review “Spider-man: Reign,” without referencing Miller’s “Dark Knight Returns.” There are hints of that story all over Andrews’ current project.
This is another story set in the future, but instead of being set in a city riddled with crime, it is, instead, a city gripped tight by the order of the ruling class. In a obvious nod to current events, Andrews’ New York of the future is a city gripped by fear of terrorism. It is a city that has been convinced by its mayor that the only solution to keep out the unwanted terrorist element is a “web.” The web is a netting of lasers that blankets the city and keeps everyone out who is unwanted, but it also traps the citizens inside.
Peter Parker (aka your friendly neighborhood web-slinger) is introduced as an old man who has hung up his tights years ago. He is haunted by a death, just as Miller’s Batman was — the death of his wife, Mary Jane.
The first issue sees an elderly Peter Parker fired from his job at a flower shop, and as he walks home, he gets into a tussle with the ever-present, oppressive New York police force known as “Reign.” Now you know where the title comes from.
Andrews, as writer and artist, is fantastic. His dialogue is smartly written, while the panels and artwork are just phenomenal. Andrews said in an interview with the Web site Newsrama.com, that he plotted the book out like a movie screenplay before he started to do any work on the final product. The extra work shows, and it is easy for readers to envision this book as a movie.
By the end of the first issue, Parker has had his arm broken by the Reign, and he has been reunited with his old boss from his days as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. Jameson came bearing a gift, and soon, Spider-man is showing the Reign soldiers that you can’t mess with every old man you meet.
The second issue reintroduces some familiar enemies (I spotted Dr. Octopus, Electro, Kraven and even Mysterio in there), and two more issues are on the way later this year.
The third issue came out last week, and shows some slipping points in the series. There are a few moments when it was dificult for the reader to understand what what happening in reality and what Spider-man was imagining. I feel that if this was a six-issue series, maybe some of the characters could have more room to breate (or in Doc Ock's case, rot) but, that's just because I'm interested in seeing what every character has been up to while Parker's been gone. But, the coming climax looks interesting and I'll be first in line for issue 4.
The story may have some similar elements to Miller’s classic tale, but overall Andrews’ book is genius and should not be overlooked because of a few fleeting similarities to another classic book.