tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post4826089312933799077..comments2024-03-26T20:11:01.933-04:00Comments on NOT BLOG X: WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #50-#51, May-June 1989G. Kendallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12279461069684403792noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-69315951656454577632010-10-05T20:20:18.982-04:002010-10-05T20:20:18.982-04:00This is the first time these characters meet, but ...This is the first time these characters meet, but they're not called the "Outsiders" yet.<br />And, yes, I own the entire run of WEB. I've reread up to the Clone issues right now, and to say that the book goes downhill after Conway leaves is quite the understatement.G. Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12279461069684403792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-5571468403539460782010-10-05T12:13:49.563-04:002010-10-05T12:13:49.563-04:00To be fair, it was also Mackie who wrote the un-de...To be fair, it was also Mackie who wrote the un-demon-ification of Hobgoblin, and turned him back into a pretty bloodthirsty mercenary type, in the two-part "Hobgoblin Reborn" story (which, strangely enough, also involved Hobby trying to kill Nick Katzenberg, as I recall).<br /><br />Hobgoblin was captured at the end of that story, but not before he wreaked some pretty impressive carnage as just plan ol' Jason Macendale. I believe Mackie also wrote the story where Macendale gains super-strength, and he may even have written the story where he became a cyborg. Say what you will about the guy as a writer, but at least he tried multiple times to make Macendale a credible threat as the Hobgoblin.<br /><br />Honestly, though I can't defend his work for X-office, I always really liked Howard Mackie on Spider-Man -- up until the reboot when he took over both <i>Amazing</i> and <i>Peter Parker</i>. Until that point, his was usually the "street-level" Spider-book, focusing on organized crime (the Maggia, Hydra, etc.), and he seemed to be a good fit for that type of story.<br /><br />It was, in my opinion, it was Terry Kavanagh who took this title to some truly awful depths. F.A.C.A.D.E. alone would be enough for such a judgment, but there was more -- so much more! But I guess the opportunity to truly scrutinize both Mackie and Kavanagh here will come soon enough...Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-56435000040278868872010-10-05T10:46:18.724-04:002010-10-05T10:46:18.724-04:00The worst part about Katzenberg's death was th...The worst part about Katzenberg's death was that it was tied into a really dumb anti-smoking PSA storyline. <br /><br />I also love the periods when Peter moves back into his childhood home.<br /><br />In an earlier post did you say you have a full run of Web? I ate the Howard Mackie issues up as a kid because I loved the demonic Hobgoblin. I now realize they were all terrible, especially after having just completed and read through Roger Stern's original run. They screwed up the Hobgoblin bad, but I'd love to read some reviews of those Mackie issues.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-47108678948437570882010-10-04T12:08:12.888-04:002010-10-04T12:08:12.888-04:00I agree with you about Peter and MJ living at Aunt...I agree with you about Peter and MJ living at Aunt May's house. That was a fun period. Although my own personal favorite living arrangement for the married Parkers was post-Clone Saga after May died, when they lived there with super-nosy Anna Watson, and Peter had to hide his ID from her -- causing her to think he was having an affair or something.<br /><br />I also really liked Nick Katzenberg (in a love-to-hate way). I thought it was a shame that they pretty much ceased using him after Conway left, and then killed him off a couple years later. The Spider-Books really had a great supporting cast right around this time.<br /><br />Also, was this the first appearance of the "Outlaws"? I know they had a 2-part team-up in Conway's <i>Spectacular</i> involving the Avengers and the Space Phantom, but I didn't think they worked for Silver Sable yet at the time. I could be wrong, though.Mattnoreply@blogger.com