The early-2000s were a truly wild time for Marvel Comics, with the turn of the century debuting a metric ton of lore retcons throughout the Marvel Universe, and even Spider-Man did not escape unscathed. The Amazing Spider-Man Modern Era Epic Collection: Coming Home TPB, from iconic comic duo J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr., compiles one of the most monumental and impactful times in Peter Parker’s like: his separation from wife Mary Jane, his Aunt May’s discovery of his secret identity, and the debut of the monstrous Morlun and his totem-hunting ways.
This Amazing Spider-Man collection has to be one of the wildest Modern Era Epic Collection trade paperbacks I have read in a long, long while. Peter’s battle with Morlun is absolutely brutal, and the growth of his relationship with May is a fascinating character study of one of Marvel’s most beloved familial connections. Plus, this collection includes the meaningful but bonkers tribute that Marvel did after the 9/11 terrorist attack (as a New Yorker living near Manhattan in 2001, I feel qualified to comment on this tbh).
Those cheeks tho…
Marvel
Let’s get the review of the actual story out of the way: I loved it. I had actually never read Morlun’s debut, and had no idea just how horrific his beatdown of Spider-Man was. I mean… JR Jr.’s art is absolutely perfect for this bone-shattering duel, and Peter’s constant, frantic movement juxtaposed with Morlun’s terrifying calm was expertly depicted in every scene. Ezekiel was an interesting addition to the Spider-Man universe, and while I have feelings about the whole “totem” thing, this was an interesting way to introduce the concept before it got really bogged down by Spider-Verse stuff in the 2010s.
May’s discovery of Peter’s identity is masterfully done, and I really appreciated the complexity that May was afforded, clearly distraught by the secrets and lies of her beloved nephew, but also terrified for his safety. It was all love, but done in a way that wonderfully elevated the character and her relationship to Spider-Man. Peter and May’s trip to Los Angeles to win back MJ was a fun read, and Peter’s near-death experience after being crushed by a building due to his battle with the two Doctor Octopi was harrowing.
Marvel
Now, to the more sensitive topic of the 9/11 memorial issue, Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #36. I am impressed with Marvel that they released a comic specifically addressing the attack because many media franchises completely ignored it (I remember watching Friends as a 10-year-old in 2001 and being so confused how they just never mentioned 9/11). Plus, Manhattan is such an integral part of the Marvel Universe that it would have been a shock not to acknowledge it.
The story is emotional and important, about the strength and resiliency of New Yorkers, a beautiful memorial to those who passed, and the bravery of those who ran into hell to save as many souls as possible. However, I do think much of the value of the story was lessened by including Doctor Doom crying at the collapse of the Twin Towers. It makes no sense that a genocidal dictator would get emotional from a terrorist attack in a country he isn’t from, and the image of Doom crying has become a long-running meme in comic circles. A great story, but with a weird addition that feels incredibly unnecessary.
Marvel
The collection itself is similar to other Modern Era Epic trades, printed on solid paper with vibrant colors, held together with a strong spine that doesn’t collapse after a single read. Unfortunately, this collection included zero variant covers at the end of the book, a favorite part of any Marvel trade for me. It had a few pages of process artwork and some dialogue scripts, but the lack of variants made the end of the collection feel abrupt and like something was missing.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this collection! Straczynski’s writing is stellar, especially the interactions between May and Peter and Spider-Man’s desperate attempt to stay alive while being crushed to death, and JR Jr.’s art made Peter’s battle with Morlun feel truly monumental. I wish there were variant covers, or other extra goodies, at the back of the book, but I am still happy to have this collection on my bookshelf, and would highly recommend it for any Spidey-fans!
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