Spider-Man Comic Appearances for February 15, 2012

This week there are 8 new comic books featuring Spider-Man appearances.  Not too surprising for Marvel is the fact that only 3 of those issues actually have new content.

Everything old is new again as Marvel returns to the past with a release of many second printings of month-old books.  Interestingly, my local comic shop still had plenty of the first printing issues, but who am I to question Marvel's judgement.  I suppose since they are axing several lower selling titles, they feel the need to fill the shelves with something...and second printings are cheap to produce.

On another note, this week's Amazing Spider-Man #679.1 is released with a different cover stock.  The paper was first used back on Fantastic Four #601, and I really like it.  It has a stronger feel and is less prone to casual handling damage, plus it has more of a matte finish that appeals to me.  It appears this new stock is being used on Marvel $2.99 price point comics, while the $3.99 and above issues still have the thinner glossy covers.  I say go to the new stuff across the board.

Here are the new Spidey books for the week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for February 8, 2012

It's a lite week with only three new comic books featuring a Spider-Man appearance.  I guess, technically, only two of the books actually have Spidey in them, but Scarlet Spider #2 came out and I'm counting that as a Spider title.

With the Daken series coming to a close, and Marvel cutting the necks of several other titles based on sales, it'll be interesting to see if Scarlet Spider can withstand that pressure and survive.  I'm enjoying the storyline and the fact it is set in nearby Houston, Texas.

Here are the latest appearances for this week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for February 1, 2012

We're kicking off a new month with new comic day.  And this time around we have 7 new comic books featuring an appearance by the webbed wonder, Spider-Man.

Every comic type is represented with regular issues, a second print, and some over loving cover variants.

I have absolutely loved the 2-issue story in Amazing Spider-Man that concluded this week -- ASM issues #678 & #679.  Some fun time travel with a concise and tidy ending.

This month we also get another non-Marvel Spidey appearance with the first issue of Simpsons Illustrated.  It's less of an appearance than it is a spoof with Groundskeeper Willie taking a turn as the Friendly Neighborhood Willie Webspinner -- complete with blue tights and a red kilt.

Here is the full list for the week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for January 25, 2012

A pleasantly small week for Spider-Man comic book appearances with only four new finds at my local comic shop, and only one variant cover in the bunch.

Spidey's role in FF has trailed off, and I wonder how much longer Marvel will milk his appearance in the flagship Fantastic Four title now that the Human Torch is back.  I suppose time will tell, but his head-shot has already been removed from the inside front cover synopsis.

Here's the list for this week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for January 18, 2012

With 11 new comic books this week that have Spider-Man appearances, we have a good mix of regular and variant issues.  Marvel has really stuck to their guns with the variant covers, and it's a little annoying.

Also this week, nearly every recurring Spider-Man title came out.  Somehow, they're bunched up in one week instead of spicing through the month.  It makes it more expensive when the group of Spidey books also are polybagged and have cover variants.

Here's the list for the week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for January 11, 2012

So this week we have 14 new Spider-Man comic book appearances, but they are comprised of only 5 titles.  Mucho variantos this week.  But the books are pretty good, so it's all good.

The big Spider story this week is the release of Scarlet Spider #1 along with its five variant covers.  It's a good setup issue establishing the character's past and what his motivations were and are.

Just like the recently restarted Ultimate Spider-Man, this is a good book and worthy of joining the collection.

The weakest appearance this week is Wolverine #300.  There's a back-up cover gallery -- which Marvel has been prone to do in their anniversary issues -- and blink and you'll miss the couple covers with Spidey.  Strike that.  Spidey appears in costume on a few (thanks Peter), along with a spoof of the 1990's Spider-Man #1, and another features Peter Parker.  You don't have to tell me how weak that is.  I know.

Here are this week's books:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for January 4, 2012

This week there is an unbelievable number of comic books that feature a Spider-Man appearance.

Seriously.  Unbelievable.

One.  Can you believe it?  Only one new comic on the shelves at my local comic shop that features the red and blue costume of Spider-Man.

New Avengers Annual #1 is it.

My good buddy in the Netherlands, Peter Kroon, passed along an appearance I missed from last week.  And it burns because I was holding the book up until I checked out, because doggonit I didn't see Spidey in there.

And technically he wasn't.

The FF #13 variant cover version is drawn to be pared with Fantastic Four #601 variant edition to create a two page spread of all the characters in the books.  The Fantastic Four issue features Spidey prominently swinging on the cover amid the other heroes, while on FF #13 you get a continuation of his web line from the other cover.

Now I realize this is a mighty weak "appearance," but there is a precedence.  Back in Sensational She-Hulk #30 the voluptuous green goliath gets snagged in some of Spidey's used web lines (from the previous issue #29) that are hanging around town.  It was too priceless to pass up including in the appearance collection.

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for December 28, 2011

We've got 12 new comic books featuring a Spider-Man appearance or cameo this week, and we have a missed appearance from a previous week.  This week's issues include alternate printings and variants along with a few non-Marvel appearances.

Publisher BOOM! Town has released a "facsimile edition" of Too Much Coffee Man #1 (circa 1993).  The issue features a previously unknown Spidey appearance on page 13.

The other non-Marvel appearance is the weakest one of the week.  In fact, it's not so much an appearance as it is a complete spoof of the Spider-Man musical in New York (albeit starring Radioactive Man this time).  And while Spidey doesn't make an appearance himself, the whole story-line is just too much of a dead-on spoof not to include.

Avengers: X-Sanction #1 adds two new variants this week with the release of variant second printings.  Each is a black-and-white version of a previously released cover.

Here are the comics for the week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for December 21, 2011

A fairly low-key week as Spider-Man appears in 8 new comic books this week, and 3 are variants.

The most interesting news to come out of the comic shop this week is the change in cover stock that Marvel is testing out.

Fantastic Four #601 is one of the first to be released with the new paper stock.  Not sure if this is a test in the cost savings in producing comics, or maybe a reaction to the glossy cover stock causing some rippling from humidity around the country.

Bottom line, I actually like the matte finish to the new cover stock.  It hearkens back to the paper they used back in the late nineties.

Here's the appearance list for the week:

Spider-Man Comic Appearances for December 14, 2011

This week we have 16 new Spider-Man comic book appearances.  Half of those are variations of just one book, and two of those variations have multiple versions too.

Avengers: X-Sanction #1 is finally out and it brings us two exclusive covers only available for comic shops willing to buy 500 copies of their own exclusive cover.  Be sure to check out my story on the Avengers: X-Sanction comic shop exclusive variants including a list of participating stores.

Here's the list of books out this week: