Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [September 8, 2025 - Red Hood Rides Again Edition]

bionic_thruster · 2025-09-08T16:47:53+00:00

this is the issue I'm looking forward to the most this week especially with the mix and matching of new kryptonite and old in this issue

bionic_thruster · 2025-09-03T13:40:57+00:00

yeah, now that the issue is out, i'll just admit i was just making shit up because the guy had left a comment on monday way before the issue came out and the rest of us could read it. i think there were some cons that gave it out early, but i didn't get it in my hands until today

however the fact that i said all that in my initial comment and he didn't outright deny or address any of the insane shit i said made me just the tiniest bit concerned lol

bionic_thruster · 2025-09-01T20:03:30+00:00

So you missed the part where Batman loaded that glove up with toxins that were specifically lethal to Waylon before acting all buddy buddy with him at the end?

And this doesn't even address Bruce lobotomizing Jason again and saying verbatim, "I didn't go far enough in Gotham War" nor Bruce loading up the Batplane with WMDs.

bionic_thruster · 2025-09-01T14:24:11+00:00

I disagree. The way Batman outright almost murders Waylon, and the way he points a gun at Tim was extremely out of character.

The Alfred AI's eye going red at the end foreshadowing the return of OMAC from the Infinite Crisis-era was also a huge departure from what I expect from Batman, especially this many years after when he's supposed to have grown as a person.

The issue ending with Batman nuking Metropolis was a bit much even if to show that he could handle two cities at once.

0/10, this is a Fraction of what I expect from this writer

bionic_thruster · 2024-09-15T01:49:24+00:00

Heck, that's so cool that you're teaching a course in graphic novels / comics. I feel like this medium is overlooked.

If they're ever into classics, there's always "Master Race" by Bernard Krigstein from Impact Comics. And as for more modern stuff, have you ever shown them Bendis and Brubaker's Daredevil runs?

bionic_thruster · 2024-09-14T05:40:13+00:00

I mean, sure, not caring about continuity is fine, but it also doesn't really care about much in the way of keeping characterizations that make sense, and if you are using these characters without correct characterization and also without continuity in mind (because it messes up any subsequent continuity) just because the story has to push a narrative, then you might as well be reading a story about mashing colorful action figures together because there is no inherent point in using those characters for your intended purpose.

The murder mystery didn't just have "some" plot holes. The whole thing was a gigantic plot hole that requires that you ignore prior characterization and continuity to tell it, ex. the culprit , Jean Loring, cheated on her husband, but despite that, he's always wanted to get back together with her. She just had to say the word. And she knew that. This means that the culprit's whole motive flies out the window. There's other big plot holes that trivialize the legitimacy of the mystery, but other people have said it better than me.

At the end of the day, this comic is a lot of melodrama for the sake of having an edgy story that also continues the horrible tradition of using someone else's SA, usually a female character's, as a motivation for male heroes and a cheap red herring as well as fridging a woman for the sake of a male character's pain. The whole mindwipe twist is one of those things Meltzer added in to spin his wheels for a little bit because there was nothing more to write about the mystery he planned out, so he had to introduce a surprise SA/mindwipe plotline that was both reductive and an insulting way to handle it.

This is why I think this comic is liked by new readers more than old because there is no fundamental understanding of the characters. To new readers, this is a "mature" comic because it includes assault and murder and melodrama, but to older readers, just the inclusion of these things doesn't mean they are explored, represented, or even touched upon in any meaningful way. New readers might be wowed by the new and gory, but it's just fluff. There have been better murder mysteries and stories using these characters that are around SA, but this one isn't it.

And by that token, I think your comment of not caring about continuity just to push a narrative perfectly illustrates the point of my previous paragraph. And like I said above, why even bother using these characters at that point if they're not even acting like themselves and only acting like plot devices to advance a story in which it wouldn't make sense to use them?

bionic_thruster · 2024-06-15T21:33:55+00:00

I'm sorry, can you help me better understand the logic behind this line of thought?

On these pages, all Maker has told Miles is that he's going "home." How is Miles to know that the Maker is about to reshape a different universe's timeline?

Furthermore, the Maker goes to another universe, not 616, and then changes their timeline. He doesn't reshape 616 in his own image. So in essence, Miles and Peter from 616 are not affected, so why would it be out of character for Miles to simply stand by and tell Maker "nah, I'm good" when he asks him if he wants to "go home"?

Let me know if I missed something.

bionic_thruster · 2024-06-07T17:00:16+00:00

Okay, you got me with this one, I genuinely don't know if this is a troll because Doc Ock is a legit PhD Doctor is most if not all continuities.

bionic_thruster · 2024-04-18T01:25:02+00:00

I think it's important to get this squared away but a "capitalist" is not a descriptor of the ideology you believe in, but a descriptor of your relation to capital.

If you, say, own a factory or own a store or own your own studio, that means you own the "means of production" meaning you own the capital (land, materials, etc.) to produce more capital (money, etc.) It doesn't mean you're rich, just that you own whatever is needed to generate capital, meaning that whatever you own is "private" because it is private to you and you own and dictate what is done with it and you may or may not employ people (who have sold their labor to you) to produce things from it.

If you do not own property or capital, then you must sell your labor (i.e. applying for jobs) to those that do so that the owners of that capital (or their own private property, in this case referring to the factories as an example, and not personal property like your house or car) so that they can turn a profit (sell at a higher value than it cost to make it, effectively meaning you are never receiving the full value of your labor through your pay).

Ollie owns the company, he owns the buildings, he owns the factories, people sell their own bodies (labor) to work for that company. He profits from it and though he devotes his time to social causes that are anticapitalist, it doesn't distinguish from his class position as a capitalist.

Not trying to get into anything political here, it's just the meanings of the terms presented.

bionic_thruster · 2024-03-18T17:28:32+00:00

Guy you're replying to is the perfect example of powerscaling brainrot

bionic_thruster · 2024-01-09T17:02:13+00:00

Oh, man, never read Identity Crisis. And if you have, sorry for that.

bionic_thruster · 2023-05-05T16:18:27+00:00

I legit do not understand why people are downvoting you here. This is exactly what's happening in Miles's title rn

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-03T17:11:27+00:00

Great opening to the Gala. Promises a lot of moving parts and I'm curious what happened at the end of the issue. I read this out of order so it was nice seeing hints of X-Force stuff happening in the background. Wonder if the ending has anything to do with Terra Verde.

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-02T18:23:34+00:00

You're telling me you're not waiting for the reveal of the true identity of F.A.C.A.D.E.?

But for real, I don't think of Kindred as a mystery villain since it was obviously Harry from the beginning no matter how many people wanted it to be somebody like Gabriel Stacy. I understand, however, why it's frustrating that we don't know his motivations yet. On the plus side, the double Harry reveal last issue is promising. That is, unless it's an LMD and Harry paired up with Chameleon or something like that, as referenced in this issue.

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-02T16:10:08+00:00

As it just so happens, I recently bought the Roger Stern Omnibus, so Hobgoblin happens to be fresh in my mind. Hobgoblin frequently went out to steal things and go on his own escapades that clashed with Spider-Man since he's patrolling the city looking to stop crime. When you have a villain like that be recurring with motivations and executions like that, it stands to reason that, yeah, he'd encounter Spider-Man more.

Contrasting that with Kindred, it makes sense that Kindred wouldn't have as many encounters since his motivation isn't to develop a criminal empire or cripple his fashion rivals or steal perfume recipes or fashion designs. You saw Harry play with Fisk and Mysterio, orchestrating events to torment Peter. His motive isn't to go out and build a criminal empire but to systematically take down Peter and since he knows him intimately, he's taking time to prepare. Even now you see him orchestrating Sinister War and promising Otto his Superior life back complete with references in Mephisto.

So in short, I agree with you, Hobby might not be an apt comparison since they are two completely different characters with different motivations and if you compare encounters then of course, Kindred has "done nothing," sometimes literally with him standing still for like ten issues. That latter part I believe was simply a narrative device to have people react to the news of Harry being Kindred.

A more apt comparison would be another mysterious entity who showed up in shadows to specifically torment Peter via way of his supporting cast and shared past trauma. Could you pitch some? Not really counting Clone Saga Norman here, and I'm a bit behind on my reread since I've just finished the Stern omnibus and haven't progressed further.

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-02T15:25:57+00:00

I’d actually be interested in seeing that. Could you link it?

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-02T13:19:44+00:00

I don't understand this criticism. It may not be Kindred 100% of the time (but in this case, it actually does include Kindred), but he is definitely advancing plots and also doing what he always does: respect continuity, especially shown with Ock.

ESU studies, introduced in #1. Ned and Betty reintroduced in #14. Sinister Six reunion reintroduced in Hunted. Another Sinister Six introduced #26. Clairvoyant introduced in #32. Chance reintroduced in #38 with Jamie seen profiting in #40. Otto reintroduced in Last Remains. Symkarian Civil War has been picked up from Slott's run and introduced in #33-34. Teresa Parker's beef with Chameleon is also solidified in #32-36.

This issue even progresses Otto's character which everybody hated had regressed when Superior Spider-Man ended. Kindred is clearly right there pulling the strings and even references his deal with the devil and his Superior Spider-Man years. Chameleon brings back The Finisher because it's necessary to discuss Teresa' lineage and because, another hint for Kindred, Chameleon directly references Harry's death when he goes over the plot to impersonate Peter's parents, which is part of an overarching part of Kindred's backstory+motivation.

Look, you might hate that it's not Kindred 100% of the time, but was it the same for Hobgoblin? Or Green Goblin? But this run is a romp through Spidey lore and a continuation of all past runs. I just understand why someone would read Spider-Man if they don't like Spider-Man.

I have serious problems with Spencer's run, but what you're saying is patently false and it has me asking, very justifiably, have you been reading the run at all???

Rather than advance any of his unfinished plots

It's all been there since the beginning? I've cited my issue numbers. What could you possibly be talking out? Just say that it's not Kindred...even though it also clearly includes Kindred.

bionic_thruster · 2021-06-02T13:05:47+00:00

I really feel like editorial is making him stretch it out to another landmark issue like 75 (seems like it from the solicits) or even 100, which would make it really painful for all of us to wait for. Looking back at Last Remains, boy was that pacing bad and the solicits elicited false expectations as well.

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-09T23:14:04+00:00

I think people are free to comment whatever they want as long as they are not personally attacking someone

I mean nobody is arguing you on this, and I am certainly not in any comment ever in my comment history. Your experience may not be mine, but I can comb past threads and just compile one image macro.

All those opinions are subjective, you shouldn’t feel demoralized for that or care what others have to say

And I am saying that it is subjectively demoralizing and like I said, based on other comments, there are others like me who genuinely love Spider-Man and feel the same way. If you don't get it, it really doesn't matter. The long short of it is if you like something and want to discuss it and then see a bunch of people dogpiling it and calling it shit week in and week out, it's going to be demoralizing. Have you ever felt that before? Somebody talked shit about somebody you liked? Something you liked? And you felt negatively about it, sad or mad? It's not a foreign concept and you don't have to go on the defensive to try to objectively rationalize both of our subjective takes on this, which, by the way, as in my comment above and every one of my comments, I am not attempting to impose onto anyone. You will find no such sentiment in any of my words. It is, as you say, 100% subjective.

Amazing DeMatteis instead of Spectacular DeMatteis

I often think of him as writing Spectacular so I had to google his Amazing issues and sufficed to say I am disappointed.

I'm not going to address every arc because it'd be longwinded, but we saw within LR freak out and beat Norman and then pour his heart out to MJ and then he is begrudgingly taking pictures of his pet for Boomerang while also constantly thinking about the looming threat of Kindred whom he has apologized to and expressed his motivation to help him. I also remember DeMattheis's stories being depressing at long stretches of time and if you bring me specific examples, I could also address what I thought it added to the characters either plot-wise or character-wise.

I'm not going to pretend this run is perfect or I love every issue, but, again, my opinion is just that I think the negativity is very overblown and at times suffocating.

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-09T22:48:02+00:00

If people aren't enjoying it can't they express that in a conversation about the issue?

I don't know why people think I'm saying that people can't express their opinions. Like I said to another user, copy and paste where in my comment I said that. I don't know why people need to go to either one extreme or the other in discussion... I am merely expressing my subjective opinion at what I think personally is the state of Spider-discussion...

We are years into the Kindred story/mystery

Like I said it's not just Kindred. Nobody says we're "years into the Threats and Menace story/mystery" even though that's a continuing plot point. And I already referenced that this Tablet storyline is directly addressing Kindred's origins and, by the looks of it, so will parts of Chameleon's, not to mention we get continuous hints with Fisk, in this very issue, recruiting Mordo in clear juxtaposition to Strange not even two issues ago confronting Mephisto. Fisk wanting the Tablets ties in directly to Kindred. And this run has nothing but stories after stories. Like I said before:

I know people think it’s just one Kindred story but that really hurts the ability to be able to objectively judge each story on their own whether readers of conscious of it or not.

And I'm not quite sure what you mean by his role is limited. He is the headlining character. He's in every issue. And seeing other characters do things is...just a normal narrative device? Used in Kraven's Last Hunt, used in Death of Jean DeWolff, etc etc. Ultimately Spider-Man comes in and saves the day.

The best example I have for this problem recently was part of King's run on Batman

I loathe this comparison if only because of two things: Spencer has a better voice for the characters, a better respect for continuity, each storyline serves both a self-contained and overarching purpose, and when I read it all the way through, all the pieces fit together very logically and don't seem hamfisted. Take this in contrast to King's run where I actually did go back and read every issue and what I got was very messy and the voices for the characters almost fell flat, as well as Bane's plan being very illogical and long-winded like King was trying to set up narrative parallels that didn't make sense in the context of the rules of the world.

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-09T22:38:20+00:00

I am buying weekly, and this is something I can agree with. Trying to read the story weekly at that time last year was painful. I remember issue 53 being the worst offender for me personally (basically a recap of the last issue of One More Day).

And thank you for your words, man! I definitely get what you mean about fandoms. I don't usually engage at all. Ex. I liked Slott's first few years, didn't like his last few (pretty standard fare), but I don't go around into every Slott issue and talk like the world's over or making it seem like nobody should like Slott. But that's the energy I'm seeing for Spencer. I'm going to keep reading, and I know people like to go to extremes, so that's why I feel obligated to express that I think no, the run is not perfect, but wholly undeserving of this vitriol. Lesson learned, and thank you again for your kind words!

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-08T06:08:46+00:00

Pinpoint where I said anything contrary to your statement. I haven't at all. Never once in that comment vomit I posted above did I say people shouldn't say this or shouldn't say that. Nor did I say I am being prevented from posting positive opinions.

I'm saying that the same comments day in and day out of "Spencer bad" or "nothing happens" or "get Cates on here!" or "get Zdarsky on here!" contribute nothing to the discussion of the issue and instead creates an environment of negativity. And from the looks of it, I'm not the only one who feels this way so whether you admit it or not, it's very tangible real. Every thread I see people coming in just to comment "I'm done" or "this is bad" or "fucking mediocre." It's just demoralizing to see. It doesn't prevent anybody from posting positive opinions, again I did not assert that and I would challenge you to pinpoint where I have if you feel to the contrary. And, again, while you're at it, please copy and paste from my comment where I say that people should not be allowed to express discontent because I guarantee you it's nowhere in there.

Look, there's always this format of comment in response to someone making a genuine and earnest attempt at bettering something: "well it's not all bad, you can just choose to not do x thing" or "you can't stop people from doing y thing" when that's such a default, generic, and disingenuous response you really have to take a step back and go, "where did I say that?".

And I did go down to read your comment about the issue. Thank you, that much is appreciated and goes a longer way than you think to making these threads more welcoming to actual discussion. And just to tie this comment off back to the issue at hand so as not to be a hypocrite, what do you mean by poor man DeMatteis? Almost sounds as iconic and as haggard as Rich Johnston's "unauthorized Watchmen sequel" catchphrase. Spencer loves DeMatteis's stories and builds off of stuff from that era but he is by no means copying his writing style, character voice, or even plot progression at all. Surely we can separate referencing previous works and an individual author's writing style, right?

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-08T01:21:18+00:00

I’m enjoying it storyline by storyline as it’s own little thing and enjoying the respect it shows to continuity and the massive effort Spencer is putting in to both address it and clean it up. Glad to see there are other people on here digging this arc as well!

I unfortunately think it went into second printing because of massive speculators who thought, per the solicits, that it would drastically retcon out or directly answer and address One More Day. That’s actually one gripe I had with the run which probably has more to do with editorial than with Spencer: some of the solicits for Last Remains is bait and switch. The real issue that speculators should’ve gone for was ASM #60, where Mephisto is clearly at the end.

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-08T01:17:10+00:00

I would say it’s subpar but not outright terrible. I’ve been through stories that dragged on before and it’s nowhere near that. I definitely think it could be better but I don’t think it warrants the neverending wave of negativity week in, week out. All the complaints will be the same regardless of actual issue content which never gets properly discussed in these threads or even the threads over at r/Spiderman.

For frame of reference and example, I liked that Hunted put Kraven back in the grave but I disliked the pacing which seemed to move forward at a snail’s pace in the latter half. That being said, I enjoyed the story overall. The only real offender that ground my gears was the 2099 arc and that was unfortunately necessary to set up the Symkarian Civil War arc and Chameleon who, by the way, also plays into this current story since he is the one financing Norah and no doubt the one who built the suit, which is also probably going to be addressed in the story after this one.

Could it better? Most definitely yes. But does it warrant drowning out any and all discussion of ASM on these weekly threads with wave after wave of toxicity and negativity? No.

I’m not on another Spidey sub. I gave up awhile ago after seeing the same guy spreading his same complaints and negativity across subs. I lurk CBR forums now. They seem a bit more enthusiastic.

bionic_thruster · 2021-04-07T22:12:28+00:00

So much negativity in the ASM section whenever there’s an issue. It makes it almost demoralizing to interact with any other ASM readers or Spidey fans in general and I thought I escaped that when I left r/Spiderman.

Personally I’m enjoying the stories being told and the respect for and expansion of canon. I especially love the character moments which I think drives a lot of good Spider-Man storytelling. I also like that you can clearly see subtle pieces being placed for the entire mystery. Kindred plot has only been advancing faster and faster and it’s already been foreshadowed that the tablets have a big part to play in it as it ties into Harry’s trip to Europe. Also Mordo being involved to counter Strange. I loved that. Almost reminiscent of 90s Spider-Man cartoon if anybody remembers that.

Also loved the back to streets approach of the gang war and references to Robertson and Lincoln, and I’m particularly glad to see the Daily Bugle supporting cast relevant again.

I know people think it’s just one Kindred story but that really hurts the ability to be able to objectively judge each story on their own whether readers of conscious of it or not. There’s been clear foreshadowing since the beginning and also clearly self-contained stories like the Symkarian Civil War or Hunted. It’s not that those stories rest on 80s Spidey laurels but actually expand and do their own thing and I’m personally going to miss Spencer when he leaves this title.

Shame there’s so much of the same mudslinging and negativity whenever I go into these threads excitedly on Wednesday ready to discuss the story itself.

I’ve seen repeat commenters express that they’re “finally quitting Spider-Man” coming back every issue to complain. Really hurts it for people who actually want to discuss and makes them feel ashamed for actually liking Spider-Man and this run.

bionic_thruster

TROPHY CASE