Comic of the Week 9

Oops, missed one again. This is turning out to be more 'random comic of the moment' rather than 'Comic of the Week'. I am going to really try hard to get this back to a regular post. Keeping with the promise I sort of made in the last post, I have chosen a comic from 2001, this being The Amazing Spider Man #30:

I've been finding myself drawn to lighter comics lately, as I'm getting most of my angst from other sources, and this issue definitely fits that, although it really shouldn't. I do find myself drawn to angst so Parker's heavy inner monologues and him balancing on the edge of depression was very interesting to read but Straczynski writing makes it impossible for this to be the main thing you see. The aspects of humour actually have me laughing out loud still - especially when Spider Man 'made a funny' - and the action and bouncing pace keeps everything light and entertaining, overshadowing the angst. A Spider Man comic is usually pretty low down on my list, I do like the hero and I love the films but it's not a series that has really grabbed me, but I found myself enjoying this issue more than I did some issues of some of my favourite series. I'm not that interested in the character of Ezekiel, but this first appearance is definitely interesting as his charisma and arrogance shine through brilliantly - due to the excellent writing - and the way he easily shocks and mentally overpowers Spider Man is expected but still entertaining. The art is refreshing and matches the mixed light and heavy sides of the comic and the bright colours when Spider Man is on panel bringing the story to life. This is emphasised even more with the darker, yet still vivid, colours used at the end when Morlun takes centre stage. The last two pages with Morlun also gives this issue the last element to make it exceptional, mystery and fear. Mystery as we have no idea who these characters are what's happening and fear as Morlun obviously has a lot of power, enough to suck a German superhero dry (literally!). This mixture of mystery and fear at the end is the perfect combination to ensure I read the next issue, which I did.