Title: Spider-Man, Peter Parker.
Story Arc: Back in Black
Writer(s): Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Matt Fraction, Sean McKeever, John Rhett Thomas & Mike Fichera.
Illustrator(s): Ramon Bachs, Angel Medina, Clayton Crain, Salvador Larroca, Terrell Bobbett, Kano & David Lafluente.
Colourist(s): Paul Mounts, Avalon’s Dan Kemp, Matt Milla, Paco Roca, Bruna Brito.
Inker(s): Scott Hanna & Gary Martin.
Letterer(s): Virtual Calligraphy’s Cory Petit & Blambot’s Nate Piekos.
Publisher: Marvel.
Format: Hardcover – Deluxe Edition.
Release Date: November 28th, 2007.
Pages: 336.
Genre(s): Comics, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9780785129202.
My Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆.
The instant a person has an epiphanic moment where they understand what they want to do with their lives, their whole moral compass and most basic primal instincts are tweaked as their decision-making becomes goal-oriented going forward. But what happens if they encounter a tragedy far too heart-breaking for their mind to conceive? As their resilience and perseverance are sent on hyperdrive, some break while others will keep their heads up determined to change their ways. With three Spider-Man series written and illustrated in parallel back in 2007 (The Amazing Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and The Sensational Spider-Man), it’s writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s stories that find themselves exploring the tumultuous and fragile state of Peter Parker following a terrifying tragedy as he tries to understand what he’s done wrong ever since he’s decided to become a superhero.
What is Spider-Man, Peter Parker: Back in Black about? This companion volume to the Spider-Man: Back in Black story arc explores the dark and twisted transformation of Peter Parker following the life-altering events that take place around Marvel’s Civil War. Having announced his secret identity to the world through a news conference, he ended up being at odds with Tony Stark, joining Captain America in their anti-registration regime. Unfortunately, their defeat forced them underground afterward. Unfortunately for Peter Parker, his life crumbles when the imprisoned Kingpin of Crime hires a sniper to take him and his loved ones down. Although Mary Jane was saved on that tragic night, another meaningful life is now on the verge of death. Battling with a thirst for vengeance and clinging onto the tiniest ray of hope, Peter Parker brings back his black suit modeled after the Venom symbiote as he fights off a myriad of villains while leaving behind his humour and his purpose.
This hardcover deluxe edition collects Sensational Spider-Man #35-40 and Annual #1, Spider-Man Family #1-2, Marvel Spotlight: Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Back in Black Handbook.
From a violent mad scientist and Venom seeking their dreaded revenge on Spider-Man to bittersweet and eye-opening discussions with powerful and magical entities, the stories featured in this volume drew upon the webslinger’s devastating reality to display his struggles to return to his friendly superheroes days. Hunted by the potential loss of a loved one, he’s brought to reflect on his new ways with comparisons to monsters being drawn by those who only wish harm upon him in the first place. Convinced that the recent tragedies and the hell he’s put his loved ones in since the beginning of his days as Spider-Man would never have occurred if he hadn’t decided to do good with his powers, Peter Parker roams the street out of pure habit rather than good. Although some of these stories do a good job of depicting the complex and tainted relationships he now has with friends and lovers, others are far-fetched and are stretched too thin with the ideas explored.
A chunky portion of this volume is constituted of interesting discussions with various Spider-Man writers as well as a fascinating character encyclopedia section, giving this edition a very informational touch and further establishing it as a companion piece instead of aiming for an essential volume for fan’s who have read Spider-Man: Back in Black. As for the artists featured in this volume, they all possess a certain degree of talent as they utilize different styles to tell the desired stories. Despite this lack of consistency, the mere essence of this companion volume made it less warrant of profound scrutiny and allowed for a much more laxist enjoyment. However, artists Clayton Crain’s and Salvador Larroca’s artworks do merit a round of applause in their distinctiveness. After all, receiving a mixed bag of visual styles isn’t always that bad.
Spider-Man, Peter Parker: Back in Black is an unusual yet diverting companion collection of thought-provoking and sometimes mediocre stories exploring Peter Parker’s and Mary Jane’s mental state following a tragedy afflicted to a loved one.
Roars and Echoes 
Definitely three different styles of art on display. Look s good to me.
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Yep. I did that on purpose. There are more though and they aren’t all pretty! 😂
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I’ve always felt like Parker got the shaft ever since the mid ’00’s as Spiderman. I was never a huge Spiderman fan but Peter Parker WAS Spiderman for my whole life. I’ve just kind of let it all go though. So many more “real” problems to actually get worked up about 😀
But it makes for good complaint fodder!
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All heroes sort of go through that phase, huh 😂 Nowadays there’s maybe 20 different versions or spin-offs of Spider-Man and he goes through countless suits to fit with his mood/situation. Some are always better than others though hahah
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Now that you mention that about suits/etc, I wonder if I am missing the stability more than the actual character
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What an oldie! Not the best one, I’d say – still before the deal with Mephisto, so ancient history in Spidey’s storyline – rather a side story, and your rating reflects this perfectly 😉 Still, it’s great to see some Marvel here, Lashaan! 😀
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It indeed is. The whole event took place around the release of Spider-Man 3 too… which was one of the weakest movies, unfortunately.
Hahah I do try to sneak some in here and then (like Hawkeye last year) but I’ll probably never share as many reviews for them as I do for DC content! 😜
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The different art styles are rather weird.
It’s interesting to hear that there is more to this volume than the actual story. It’s great if you’re a mega fan, but if you’re just there for the story…
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And there are others that aren’t shown and aren’t that good too.
Absolutely right. People just need to know that it’s a companion volume to the canonical story arc before they dive into this one.
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As I commented on your IG feed, a dark Spiderman is very very weird to me Lashaan :-)))
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Is that a bearded emoji?
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Hahahahaha 😂😂😂
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Hahah totally normal for fans though. 😉 See the Spider-Man 3 movie, for example! 😂
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Awesome review sir, I remember the whole ‘Back in Black’ arc that played out in the wake of Civil War. I actually picked up (and still have) the Amazing Spider-Man issues which were pretty good. I did also read the Friendly Neighborhood issues which we’re not any near as good but an entertaining enough read. Sounds like an interesting collection for fans of the title with some nice complementary materials.
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Thanks, Chris. I’m not surprised that you know of this story arc and am quite glad that I am not the only one who has hahaha I do want to pick up more of his stories every time I read about him though. Is his ongoing series still as good as that issue you last reviewed?
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I haven’t read Spider-Man since the most recent re-launch with Nick Spencer. Nothing against Nick Spencer but I hear it’s a bit more of a younger and more goofy approach.
I did follow the latter end of Dan Slott’s run and enjoyed that though. I’m aiming to finally getting around to reviewing Civil War this year so will probably be revisiting the Amazing Spider-Man arc as well.
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Great review, Lashaan! 😄 It’s so weird to see Spiderman in black as I thought his red (and blue?) suit was kind of iconic 😯 I loved the intro and I wish I had an epiphanic moment where I’ll understand what I want to do with my life, it sounds pretty cool 😭
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Thank you so much, Caroline! ❤ He's been a black suit before (see Spider-Man 3 movie) and it's quite an interesting period in his life hahah
Pfffft I'm sure you've had that epiphanic moment and just didn't realize what it was. You'll know what you want to do with your life in time! 😀
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Hahaha maybee 🥰
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Wow I love these additional spin offs and stories! I think I’ve seen more of such works on your blog and I’m happy you kepp introducing us to more! Keep it up!
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Thank you so much, I really appreciate the boost in motivation! 😀
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I am always happy to boost great work!
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