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A review by nikshelby
Silk (2015) #1 by Ian Herring, Robbie Thompson, Stacey Lee, Dave Johnson
3.0
I haven't read any recent Marvel comics (or DC for that matter). So, I decided to give one of their new titles/characters a try.
This was the premise for Silk #8. No joke: "Cindy Moon (Silk), Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), and Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 (also Spider-Woman) recently discovered that the Cindy of Gwen's universe is a megalomaniacal mad scientist. She trapped them on Earth-65, traveled to their home universe and framed the real Silk for a series of tech robberies. Cindy and Gwen tracked her to Parker Industries, where she tried to recruit them by offering Cindy a chance to live with the Earth-65 version of her family and Gwen a chance to life without spider-powers. They refused, and in the ensuing brawl Cindy-65 sapped Gwen's abilities and pummeled Silk using her stolen tech! This couldn't have come at a worse time for our Cindy. The pressure of working as a mole for SHIELD in Black Cat's gang has been building, and it looks like something is going to give."
Seriously?
(1) None of this is related to, alluded to, prefaced by, or hinted at in Silk #1-7. I read the previous issues, with the basic understanding that there would be events/history that I wasn't aware of - since I'd taken a break from Marvel Universe for so long. However, hoping (and for the most part actualizing) an enjoyment of story, even without a complete encyclopedic knowledge. But, from 7 to 8? Oy. After reading that paragraph, I shut 8 and put it away. No continuity, no flow.
(2) Marvel (and DC) are in the business of selling comic books. They make money through art. I'm cool with that - I benefit by getting to enjoy said art. However, I despise when that focus crumbles the art-foundation. I don't want to attempt to find a bunch of random issues, of varied Titles (each with their own incumbent backstories and crossovers), in order to try to piece together a cohesive story. I hate cardboard-puzzles...so, I certainly am going to hate ephemeral issue puzzles.
(3) I understand that Spiderman is continually popular - not my fave - but, its true. His origin story has been retold repeatedly. You don't ever need to follow him with any continuity, because, Marvel will just reboot him, and start again. And the new iteration will be essentially the same.
That said, Silk seemed like it might be just enough of a variance to lend itself to good storytelling. A female (which has been done, but it's always good to see more women in comics). The first 7 issues gave enough backstory to tease curiosity, and enough mystery to draw that curiosity out. Similar to traditional Spiderman enough to highlight some key variance. Any story-tension built, was demolished with disregard.
(4) Alternate realities. Multiverse. Time-travel. All can be, and have been, used in excellent stories (most recently? Black Science. That's brilliant). That said: it is overused as a lame gimmick. I don't want to, and didn't, read this issue #8 (or anything after, or related)...because this schtick is so off-putting. Blech.
Ugh. Enough whining from me. Too late to keep this brief. I'll sum up by saying, after this brief attempt to explore a new title...I'm out. With that, I'm leaving the Marvel'verse, and finding something compelling to read - probably Image Comics.
This was the premise for Silk #8. No joke: "Cindy Moon (Silk), Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), and Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 (also Spider-Woman) recently discovered that the Cindy of Gwen's universe is a megalomaniacal mad scientist. She trapped them on Earth-65, traveled to their home universe and framed the real Silk for a series of tech robberies. Cindy and Gwen tracked her to Parker Industries, where she tried to recruit them by offering Cindy a chance to live with the Earth-65 version of her family and Gwen a chance to life without spider-powers. They refused, and in the ensuing brawl Cindy-65 sapped Gwen's abilities and pummeled Silk using her stolen tech! This couldn't have come at a worse time for our Cindy. The pressure of working as a mole for SHIELD in Black Cat's gang has been building, and it looks like something is going to give."
Seriously?
(1) None of this is related to, alluded to, prefaced by, or hinted at in Silk #1-7. I read the previous issues, with the basic understanding that there would be events/history that I wasn't aware of - since I'd taken a break from Marvel Universe for so long. However, hoping (and for the most part actualizing) an enjoyment of story, even without a complete encyclopedic knowledge. But, from 7 to 8? Oy. After reading that paragraph, I shut 8 and put it away. No continuity, no flow.
(2) Marvel (and DC) are in the business of selling comic books. They make money through art. I'm cool with that - I benefit by getting to enjoy said art. However, I despise when that focus crumbles the art-foundation. I don't want to attempt to find a bunch of random issues, of varied Titles (each with their own incumbent backstories and crossovers), in order to try to piece together a cohesive story. I hate cardboard-puzzles...so, I certainly am going to hate ephemeral issue puzzles.
(3) I understand that Spiderman is continually popular - not my fave - but, its true. His origin story has been retold repeatedly. You don't ever need to follow him with any continuity, because, Marvel will just reboot him, and start again. And the new iteration will be essentially the same.
That said, Silk seemed like it might be just enough of a variance to lend itself to good storytelling. A female (which has been done, but it's always good to see more women in comics). The first 7 issues gave enough backstory to tease curiosity, and enough mystery to draw that curiosity out. Similar to traditional Spiderman enough to highlight some key variance. Any story-tension built, was demolished with disregard.
(4) Alternate realities. Multiverse. Time-travel. All can be, and have been, used in excellent stories (most recently? Black Science. That's brilliant). That said: it is overused as a lame gimmick. I don't want to, and didn't, read this issue #8 (or anything after, or related)...because this schtick is so off-putting. Blech.
Ugh. Enough whining from me. Too late to keep this brief. I'll sum up by saying, after this brief attempt to explore a new title...I'm out. With that, I'm leaving the Marvel'verse, and finding something compelling to read - probably Image Comics.