Tag: Spider-Man

Posted in Discussions, Personal Blogs

My Experience in the Comic Book Universe

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by Erik Mclean on Pexels.com

I’ve been thinking about writing a post like this for a long time. I want to share my experiences with the comic book universe and how I observe the movies/TV shows compared to how I read their source material. I feel like I have a lot of unique opinions on the matter; it’s just been a question of “who cares?”

Growing up in small-town USA, I didn’t know comic books existed, really. I never knew of a place where I could get them or read the comics. My earliest memories are of watching Batman and Justice League on TV. I dressed up as Batman for Halloween one year, despite the fact that I was a little girl. I guess that was an early sign of the years to come.

It wasn’t until the whole comic book/manga thing became more mainstream that I started seeing them at my local library. I fell in love with the medium, and I’m not ashamed of that anymore. I don’t care what “reader purists” say; I believe reading comics, manga, and graphic novels is just as valid as reading the Harlequin novels I see strewn about at Goodwill.

With the movies and TV shows being so self-contained, it makes team-ups seem extra special. For example, getting to see Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and the Guardians of the Galaxy team up was a remarkable moment in my mind. In the comics, it’s common to see heroes team up, but it’s just weird for me to witness, although it’s taken some time to become accustomed to seeing all the teamwork.

However, in the comics, Spider-Man is everyone’s BFF, more or less. He shows up to help any of the other heroes, no matter their expertise or neighborhood. He’s also not afraid to ask for help when he needs it; he’s sometimes seen seeking Doctor Strange for help or advice when the adversary belongs to a different dimension or has magical abilities.

Overall, I’m fascinated with this new universe and I hope to enjoy it for many more years to come. Even though I’m feeling a bit burnt out on how much content we’ve been getting, it’s great nonetheless. I can jump back in when I’m ready to and just as easily dip out or change to a different comic book. The world has become my oyster so to say.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Marvel Comics, Rapid Reviews

RAPID REVIEW: Marvel-Verse: Shang-Chi by Various Authors

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Spoilers Here*

Shang-Chi is the Marvel-Verse’s Master of Kung Fu – and his deadly hands are full in these action-packed adventures! Wolverine seeks out Shang-Chi to train him in the skills necessary to defeat the savage Sabretooth! A class at Midtown High leads Shang-Chi into a team-up with Spidey against Midnight and his ninja army – and the wallcrawler asks for Shang-Chi’s guidance on learning a little Spider-Fu! But will Shang-Chi find himself over his head in his newest adventure?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

When it was announced that Shang-Chi was going to be introduced into the MCU, I was initially excited. I love meeting new characters and when I saw this at my local library, I knew I had to check it out. So let’s dive into Marvel-Verse: Shang-Chi!

I think that this was a good introduction to the character for those Marvel fans who may not be familiar with or unaware of Shang-Chi. His friendly interactions with Spider-Man and his other allies makes him a very likable character. When he is shown in the first story trying to teach Wolverine about some fighting techniques he’s serious and not much banter. I think that’s to show more of Wolverine processing and learning from what Shang-Chi was trying to teach him.

Overall, I think if you’re hesitant to learn about Shang-Chi, this graphic novel would be a good place to start. You don’t get much backstory for Shang-Chi, but you can see how he is as a hero and how he interacts with other superheroes.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Marvel Comics

REVIEW: Spider-Man: Noir (Spider-Man: Noir #1-4)

Posted on by elishasbookreview

detail

*No Spoilers*

It was 1933 and the Great Depression was just getting started. And so was the corrupt mob boss The Goblin. When embittered, angry Peter Parker meets a spider and its life-changing bite, he may have just inherited the force to honor the phrase, “If those in power can’t be trusted, it’s the responsibility of the people to remove them.”

People who know me, know I love film noir. I’ve also been wanting to dive into the Marvel Noir series for a while. When I saw this at my library, I knew I had to read this.

I still haven’t seen Into the Spider-verse yet. I only recently learned that this version of Spider-Man was in the movie. I think Spider-Man in 1920’s New York is interested in the fact that Spider-Man is a “glass half-full” kind of hero. Even though Spider-Man has faced tragedies he is still hopeful and optimistic about the world around him.

Here, with the Great Depression, and The Goblin having control of the entire city, Peter Parker has a dour view on life. He is more vigilante than a hero. In that, he murdered one of Goblin’s henchmen that were after Aunt May. This caused Aunt May to be outraged by the pure violence that Spider-Man displayed and claimed she could take care of herself.

The artwork is dark and gritty. Throughout the novel, it is constantly snowing, and the art style makes the pure, white snow seem dirty and unclean.

I would recommend this graphic novel to lovers of Marvel Comics, Film Noir, and Spider-Man in general. This graphic novel definately scratched my itch for the Film Noir genre, and I think this novel might be perfect for you!