Marvel Knights: Spider-Man, Vol. 3: The Last Stand

Marvel Knights: Spider-Man (2004)

by Mark Millar, Terry Dodson (Artist)

In the conclusion to the Marvel Knights Spider-Man super-story, the identity of Aunt May's abductor is finally revealed. But is that the villain who really pulls the strings? Things heat up as Spidey and the Black Cat face off against the might of the Sinister Twelve. Holy cow, True Believers Did we say twelve? Even with the tough-as-nails Black Cat by his side, how can the web-slinger possibly defeat twelve of the most powerful super-villains on the planet? The roller-coaster ride that is Marvel Knights Spider-Man picks up speed, riding a corkscrew to its conclusion Collects Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9-12.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Spider Man, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Superheroes

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2005

About the author

Mark Millar is the New York Times best-selling writer of Wanted, the Kick-Ass series, The Secret Service, Jupiter’s Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, Nemesis, Superior, Super Crooks, American Jesus, MPH, Starlight, and Chrononauts. Wanted, Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, and The Secret Service (as Kingsman: The Secret Service) have been adapted into feature films, and Nemesis, Superior, Starlight, War Heroes, Jupiter’s Legacy and Chrononauts are in development at major studios.

His DC Comics work includes the seminal Superman: Red Son, and at Marvel Comics he created The Ultimates – selected by Time magazine as the comic book of the decade, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, and Civil War – the industry’s biggest-selling superhero series in almost two decades.

Mark has been an Executive Producer on all his movie adaptations and is currently creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Uncle Ben, Gwen, Mom and Dad. Harry Osborn, Captain Stacy, Jean DeWolff, Bennett Brant and Freddie Foswell. I've been to more funerals than anyone I've ever known, and I'm starting to wonder if it all comes down to probability. Did Spider-Man send a ripple through their lives? I've buried too many people since I've put on the mask, but I WON'T let Aunt May be the next to go down." -- the contemplative Peter Parker, our amazing Spider-Man, during the introductory scene

Some pikers might cynically think that writer Mark Millar is name-dropping these former supporting players merely to generate instant recognition and/or nostalgia, but in this instance I think it works for a somewhat different reason. Spider-Man IS a character who has long been wrapped (webbed?) up in tragedy or tragic circumstances, so his Aunt May's forced disappearance does exponentially raise the stakes for him. The Last Stand resolves the tension-filled narrative that has been plaguing him for three volumes, and it was alarmingly captivating to observe what he will agree to do (hint: major felonious activity) in an effort to secure her safe deliverance. Things don't go quite as planned for him, and it all quickly descends into an ever-worsening situation. However, once a star-spangled Avenger and his many costumed cohorts jump in to lend a hand - summoned courtesy of a certain loyal redhead standing by her man - it leads into a suspenseful, rain-splattered showdown.

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as I used to remember at all. A flawed short run, but still a solid and entertaining one. Such a shame Frank Cho illustrated just two issues in volume two.

[Lector Perruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha sorprendido gratamente. A través de 12 números y tres arcos argumentales, Mark Millar te muestra al Peter Parker más vulnerable, aquel que ha perdido a tantos seres queridos y ahora busca desesperado a su tía May, quién ha sido secuestrada.
Puede servir perfectamente como introducción a quién solo haya visto las pelis. De hecho, la serie está repleta de guiños a Spider-man 2 (una de mis películas favoritas del superhéroes).
Cuando Mark Millar debe hacer una miniserie sobre una franquicia con tantísimos números a sus espaldas, opta por abrazar la mitología del trepamuros y llena los cómics de flashbacks, referencias a los episodios más importantes de la vida de Parker... y al mismo tiempo, un guión potente, por donde desfilan casi todos los villanos y mis personajes favoritos: Felicia, el simbionte de Venom, Norman Osborn... Además de ofrecer explicaciones coherentes a temas que siempre han estado ahí, sacar partido a personajes más desconocidos...
En fin, un cómic redondo, con unos dibujos increíbles, en el que tuve la sensación que se cierra un ciclo de la vida de Peter, justo al final. Una situación que creo que servirá para que Peter pierda el miedo a que se repita algo clave que le marcó.

[Matěj Komiksumec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Komupak přišlo jako geniální nápad vyvrcholit tenhle příběh totální deus ex machinou a tím, že vše skončí totálně naprázdno? Millar odhaluje karty okamžitě, takže se poměrně okamžitě dozvíme ten strašný zvrat kdo teda unesl Tetu May (tím dělá druhý volume zcela zbytečný!) a ne, žádný šok se nekoná. V podstatě vše se děje velice pokojně, za celou dobu se nejen nestane nic překvapivého ale zároveň nám dává najevo, že nebylo nutno tohle natahovat na 3 volume. I přesto úplný začátek s Benem je naprosto boží a pár scének je tu hodně dobrých, ale jako celek to bohužel nefunguje tak jak má být protože konec nás vrací do statusu quo.
Co rozhodně celou knihu i sérii zvedá jsou Dodsonovi což je perfektní dvojka na kresbu v úžasném cartoon stylu.

[Jules]

Redactată - TBC

[47Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer goes out of his way in this volume to outline a conspiracy of epic proportions. It involves the government, superheroes and villains, as well as control of the world. Not everything goes according to plan, though, so every once in a while some big players need to be taken out. That's when contingencies come into play. The rest of the story is full of kicks, punches and deus ex machinas. It's not a total fail, but it is pretty bad.

May's kidnapper is Mac Gargan, the Scorpion. Norman Osborn told him Spider-Man's real identity and gave him the money for Jonah's reward. It's a small part of a plan centered on Peter and his family. Mac offers to release May if Peter breaks Osborn out of prison. As Mac returns home, he bonds with the Venom symbiote.

Peter gets Felicia to help him break Osborn out of Ryker's prison. They are successful, but Osbon's backup, a full dozen supervillains including Mac+Venom attack the duo. Several superheroes join the chaotic fray, which allows Spider-Man to focus on finding May.

By this point Osborn has MJ too. He threatens to drop her to her death like he did with Gwen. Spider-Man is ready for him, but taking care of MJ leaves him open. Doc Ock was mindwiped to fight Osborn, so of course he shows up to throw a wrench in the works. When Spidey and MJ are cornered, a lighting strike takes both bad guys out of commission. Deus ex machina style, I love it. Add Peter's figuring out that May is in a grave and you got yourself a chaotic mess of a story.

[Kameron Nettleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consider this my review for #1-#3.

I really enjoyed this for the most part, although it was all over the place at times. The overarching plot of Spidey having to save Aunt May was engaging enough, but some of the "twists" along the way were kind of tedious. I liked the parts between Spidey, MJ, and Black Cat, and Peter really seemed to struggle with the ramifications of his actions and his choices. That was fun, but I don't know that the author really got who the character was. And the plot was pretty thin when you really get down to it. I don't care how smart Osborn is, setting all of these things in motion while in prison just seems unlikely. The last part, with the letter about how he truly respects Spider-Man and wants his marriage and life to go well, that part was creepy. More of that would be nice. Maybe less hypnotized Doc Ock attacking people.

[Kathryn Halbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, the conclusion to the missing Aunt May storyline. Overall, pretty good, but I think it's hard to write a truly as some ending for an action packed three volume story with high stakes. If there's no twist, no big surprise reveal, then maybe it doesn't turn out exciting enough. If there is, then maybe it isn't that great. Loose ends are either left a mess or tidied up too neatly. Then there's always the possibility of the old "Let's throw a whole bunch of bad guys at him! That'll up the tension!" tactic, which is not my favorite. It was a satisfactory ending, but not one that had me on the edge of my seat.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this volume felt a lot more solid on the Spider-Man front and managed to net a decent payoff from the past two volumes' worth of story setup. There's Osborn's big plan to get revenge on Peter Parker, the fact that Aunt May has been missing for so long and the added complication of Mac Gargan getting his hands on the Venom symbiote - so many pieces in play! And how it all pans out with a crazy battle royale finale worked out decently enough.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent wrap-up to this story line. One of the things that's always drawn me to Spider-Man was despite everything that happens to him, he's always willing to get back up and fight again. And his family and friends encourage him to. I don't think he'd be able to give up being Spider-Man even if he really tried.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice conclusion

I really enjoyed the final chapter in this story. All the loose ends tied up nicely and I am now gonna go read vol 4.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much Spider-man goodness in this one. Even Aunt May wasn't as annoying as usually.

[Odo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5-

[Mateusz Nowowiejski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 - 03.2024

[Paulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story arc from the Marvel Knights Comics which featured nearly all of our beloved Spidey villains and a cool new idea on the Venom Symbiote. The action scenes were great and I really enjoyed the parts where Spidey was kind of melancholic and doubting himself, showing the reader what was going on inside of him since Aunt May's been gone. It's nice to see that vulnerable side of his and how he's dealing with his past. The idea behind the villains in this arc was quite interesting too and picked up some things from a time where Captain America and The Invaders were still messing around in World War II.
I absolutely loved the illustrations, especially Spidey looks fantastic and I often caught myself staring at him for several seconds. Overall a great story arc with great art, but I'd highly recommend reading the other story arcs Down Among The Dead Man and Venomous before you start with this one.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

11min

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sinister Six? Try Sinister Twelve! The Marvel Knights tale comes to its end as a collection of Peter Parker's most deadly adversaries tackle Spidey and his various Avengers/F4 pals. Overall, a grat look at the Spider-mythos, leaving readers wanting more of this type of Spider-Man story.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Joey Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Green Goblin continues to cause problems for good old spidey. But that's not the only Villain he face. Watch as Old Villain rises up once again to to break Spider-Man's spirit.