Spider-man Blue
I just finished reading Spider-man: Blue for the first time today. I liked it. I came in without having heard any opinions on the book, and was able to enjoy it. It goes on the list of Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale works that I like. Sure, maybe not as much as The Long Halloween, but I do like the Spider-man that Loeb portrayed in this story.
For the record, I have not read a current Spider-man book in quite some time, but this is the characterization that I think of when I think of Spider-man. To me, Peter Parker/Spider-man is a character should always be on the verge of getting what he wants, but is never able attain and hold onto what he wants. That lovable loser type of character. A happy Spider-man is not interesting to me.
I will admit that the underlying story of Spider-man being stalked and hunted down by Kraven, only to end it in a short fight was a bit contrite. This was nothing more than plot device to setup the plot of Peter/Spider-man always getting pulled away from what he wants. Sure, Peter gets Gwen at the end, but we all know how the Gwen Stacy story ends. So, him getting her at then end of this story leaves a bittersweet feeling, and ends up strengthening that he can't have what he truly wanted.
2 comments:
I agree with you, to an extent.
Spider-Man has always been viewed as Marvel's "everyman" character that readers could relate to because he was just a normal guy who got accidentally flung into the world of super heroics. He doesn't necessarily want to be a hero, but he feels he has to. He has to keep up the promise he made to Uncle Ben about power & responsibility. As such, I see the character as Peter Parker wanting to simply live his life but having to balance that out with his responsibilities as Spider-Man.
Naturally, Spider-Man should often get in the way of what Peter Parker wants. But not always. He has to be happy sometimes. Otherwise, why keep trying? He has the same goals and dreams as the readers (family, friendship, love, financial security) and he should experience them from time to time just like we do. Otherwise, the lovable loser just becomes a loser.
And I don't think how happy Peter Parker is has a great impact on the Spider-Man side of the character. Even if Peter had everything he could ever want, he'd still HAVE TO BE Spider-Man. No matter what Peter Parker gains or stands to lose, he still blames himself for the death of Uncle Ben. Therefore, as long as he has the power he still has the responsibility.
A lovable loser that continues to come up short all the time does not have to lose their lovablility. Look at the Boston Red Sox. Did their fans love them any less because they kept screwing up for 86 years? No. If anything, it brought people in, wanting to see them succeed more. But now that they have succeeded, there's less of an overall desire to see them win.
Why would Peter keep trying to have a life if he is constantly failing? The same reason Batman wages his unending war. Hope. He believes that one day he can be happy, and it's this belief that drives him.
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