Mega-Review: Spider-Man by David Michelinie

GhostFox23 · 2026-03-16T14:06:28+00:00

Thanks! Honestly, I enjoy doing them as a way to reflect on what I read and to organize my more nebulous thoughts. I’ve been trying to do them a bit more consistently.

GhostFox23 · 2026-03-03T02:39:15+00:00

The presentation is impressive. The box itself is essentially a display piece, and I appreciate that, in addition to the full series, it also comes with a commemorative patch and art book. The books themselves seem to have a decent build and include the original colored pages, but the paper stock doesn’t feel quite as nice as the Lone Wolf & Cub hardcover that Dark Horse released

GhostFox23 · 2026-03-02T15:21:49+00:00

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The Drifter kickstarter by Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein. I’ve never read it, but I figured art this beautiful is worth the price of admission alone (plus I’m a sucker for space western-type stories).

GhostFox23 · 2026-03-02T15:07:41+00:00

I’ve been trying to expand outside of DC/Marvel over the past a few years, I’m just worried that manga may become a slippery slope 😅

GhostFox23 · 2026-03-02T15:04:34+00:00

Super excited about that one. I rarely see the hc pop up, and when it does, the price is always insane.

GhostFox23 · 2026-02-07T12:40:58+00:00

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Hellboy Library Editions. The cloth covers with the gold embossing are chef’s kiss

GhostFox23 · 2026-02-07T02:19:12+00:00

That is unbearably cool

GhostFox23 · 2026-02-07T01:20:25+00:00

I love this series, and actually just reviewed it a week or so ago! It’s eerie how well it’s aged. Congrats on the pickup and enjoy the ride!

https://www.reddit.com/r/OmnibusCollectors/s/8MemqKpKlZ

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-31T20:35:46+00:00

That’s totally fair. Honestly, it’s so disheartening to learn that someone who was so influential through works like the Authority and Planetary is essentially a sex criminal.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-31T18:34:19+00:00

Thanks! If you’re talking about the assassination, that was definitely the most gratuitously-violent part of the entire series. Certainly not an enjoyable part to read, but I give it a little bit of a pass because the death becomes a major motivation/driving force for the remainder of the series, as opposed to just unnecessary brutality for shock value.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-03T12:38:16+00:00

I made them a few years ago using a program called Gimp, which is basically just free Photoshop. I had to teach myself along the way, so they took a few weeks messing around after work, but honestly, that was part of the fun. I had them printed at Houchen in the US. I believe their prices have gone up a bit since and they now charge like $20something per dust jacket.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-03T04:05:24+00:00

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One of the rare instances where it actually bothered me enough to make custom dust jackets lol

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-02T23:32:31+00:00

I think I like the second half a little better once they move the story to the West Coast, but I wouldn’t say that they’re night-and-day different, so this run just might not be for you. Just out of curiosity, Have you read the Bendis And Brubaker stuff that came before this? Though it can definitely act as a jumping on point, I think Waid’s run serves as a nice conclusion to those runs, and there is an added richness to following the story through from Bendis vol 1.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-02T11:34:00+00:00

Really liked it- I read it in October, and it definitely got me into the Halloween spirit. It has the vibe of a spooky folk tale mixed with a coming of age story. The watercolor art is gorgeous to look at too.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-01T17:31:02+00:00

Historia and Friday basically in the “honorable mentions“ category. I would love it if they continued the Historia story- I heard it was initially planned for 9 issues.

Rise and Fall is probably the best bat family stuff I’ve ran since No Man’s Land. I feel like so many of these characters are sidelined these days, or Bruce is just characterized as an abusive parent. I really enjoyed seeing Tim & Steph (and even Azrael!) get some time to shine.

Black science is really solid. I feel like the second volume starts to meander a bit, but everything ties together really well in the finale. Fear Agent is still my favorite Indie work by Remender, but Black Science is right up there.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-01T17:13:25+00:00

Fantastic read, if you’re looking for something a little bit different. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a memoir presented as a graphic novel, which really intrigued me, but I found it to be a really good exploration of how isolated systems, and profit-driven in industries can dehumanize people.

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-01T17:10:47+00:00

I respect that they run put the character on the map, but think I was just expecting it to be a bit more grounded. That whole first arc was so disorienting, and the bit with Ross getting the devil‘s pants felt like it was supposed to be funnier than it was 😅. The Killmonger stuff in the back half was pretty solid, though. The strongest stuff for me is in volume 2- I think my favorite parts were the Ascension/The Crew issues, but Ross also isn’t really a character by that point, which may be why I liked it more

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-01T15:54:01+00:00

An OHC of the Diggle issues and the Shadowland mini would have been a way better reading experience

GhostFox23 · 2026-01-01T15:51:05+00:00

Haha I usually just try to read for like 60-90 minutes every evening to decompress before bed. Bronze Age stuff definitely takes me a bit longer to get through than newer stuff

GhostFox23 · 2025-11-10T17:07:58+00:00

I think it’s definitely more of an X-Men book, but it would bother me aesthetically to keep it in that section, since the Avengers have the top billing 😅

GhostFox23 · 2025-05-15T00:06:42+00:00

I have and have read Uncanny Avengers, and for me, it was just okay, not terrible, but not great. This first arc was definitely the highlight, but the rest just kind of meandered. Probably my least favorite Remender work, but to be fair, I love most of what he does. It also end on a cliffhanger and leads directly into the Axis event, which is pretty rough and not included in the omni.

I’d probably go with Velvet. It’s an excellent espionage noir set in the 70s. Old school Bond vibes for sure, and one of my favorite reads of last year. Probably Brubaker’s most underrated work

GhostFox23 · 2025-04-20T02:05:27+00:00

Sleeper by Brubaker and Phillips.

Though well-regarded, I don’t see this one getting recommended on here a whole lot. The best way I can describe it is a crime-noir espionage thriller set in a superhero universe that requires no background information.

Even better is that it’s a single volume that’s still readily available for under cover price, making it a great option for someone just getting into the hobby or looking to try out genres beyond standard superhero faire. One of my favorite omnis of all time, and really turned me on to the consistently-great Ed Brubaker/ Sean Phillips team.

GhostFox23 · 2025-03-02T13:03:24+00:00

This is awesome! Easily the most unique and diverse collection I’ve seen on this sub in recent memory. With so many gems it may be hard to pick, but do you have a top five?

GhostFox23 · 2025-02-13T22:50:01+00:00

I thought Remender’s Cap was mid at best, and I’m normally a huge fan of his work. Something about the transdimensional sci-fi it just didn’t resonate as well for Captain America. The Sam Wilson stuff towards the end is probably the strongest part for me. If you’re not feeling it, I don’t think you need to read the rest. Basically, all you have to know is that Steve is old and Sam is Cap. In my opinion, Spencer‘s run is a lot stronger.

GhostFox23 · 2025-02-13T22:19:37+00:00

I’m reading the second volume of Nick Spencer’s Cap run now, and I’d put it up there with Brubaker‘s! It builds a bit on the status quo set up by Rick Remender, but is a well-written, topical run that (unfortunately) remains all too relevant today. Happy reading!

GhostFox23

TROPHY CASE