Considering that I'm a fan of pulp heroes, it's surprising that I have not read any of the original pulp adventures of The Spider until this year.Part of the reason is that only a limited number of his original adventures have been reprinted since the early 1960s.
But the character pops up from time to time as a comic book character, and the latest version is quite good.
It focuses on Richard Wentworth, a wealthy genius who pits his abilities against murderers and monsters, all while posing as the criminal known as The Spider.
The story plays out of a big stage, as a criminal mastermind unleashes a gas that turns people into zombies - and death runs riot through the city.
The story is by David Liss, and it holds true to its pulpy, high adventure roots, and throws in some great dialogue and characterization - The Spider has some great comebacks here.
The art is by Colton Worley, and it's very impressive. It has a painted, dramatic look, loaded with mood and almost photographic images - his depiction of faces is truly remarkable.
Not many creative teams are able to capture the hard-edged vibe of those pulp stories from the '30s, but you'll find it here. The stories are set in the modern day, but they're true to their source.
Who could ask for more?
Grade: A-
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3 comments:
I'm not really digging it. I guess I'm more of a purist than you are concerning this particular character.
Glen, I can understand that - as I said, I've only read one of The Spider's pulp adventures, so the character isn't fixed in my mind as much as The Shadow or Doc Savage.
Haven't read any of the original pulps yet myself, but I recently picked up a Baen volume at a library sale for $1... worth the price just the Steranko cover alone! ha!
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