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The Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga
The Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga, Book Two
Spider-Man's greatest fashion disaster continues! With his symbiotic black costume safely removed and imprisoned for study, Spidey re-dons the classic red-and-blues to battle fearsome foes including Hobgoblin, Silvermane and the Kingpin! And when the Black Cat whips him up a homemade version of his ebony ensemble, Spidey can embrace a modern look that only looks killer. But while Peter thinks he's done with his rather clingy former suit, the sinister symbiote isn't finished with him. COLLECTING: Marvel Team-Up (1972) 146-150; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 96-100, Annual 4; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 259-263; Web of Spider-Man (1985) 1
493 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
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88 people want to read
About the author
Tom DeFalco
2,479 books108 followersTom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well-known for his association with Marvel Comics and Spider-Man.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 14, 2015
God, some of this was painful to get through. None of it is particularly bad, but it just feels like such a slog to read, especially where every issue seems intent on recapping both Spidey's origin and the origin of his Alien Costume. I know every issue could be someone's first issue, but dear god this is taking it to the extremes.
Similar to the first volume, the three titles here are focused on different things, with Black Cat and Spidey's relationship being front and centre in Spectacular, whilst the Hobgoblin is part of Amazing, and random team-ups are the order of the day in, you guessed it, Marvel Team-Up. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, but the constant recapping and stories that retread old ground over and over (there's only so many times Spidey and Black Cat can fight the Kingpin, or Spidey can fight the Hobgoblin before it gets boring as hell) really begins to grate by the end of the volume.
On the one hand, I hope that there are further volumes to bridge the gap between these stories and the often-collected Amazing Spidey #300 era Venom stories, but on the other hand, I don't know if I can handle any more recaps.
Similar to the first volume, the three titles here are focused on different things, with Black Cat and Spidey's relationship being front and centre in Spectacular, whilst the Hobgoblin is part of Amazing, and random team-ups are the order of the day in, you guessed it, Marvel Team-Up. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, but the constant recapping and stories that retread old ground over and over (there's only so many times Spidey and Black Cat can fight the Kingpin, or Spidey can fight the Hobgoblin before it gets boring as hell) really begins to grate by the end of the volume.
On the one hand, I hope that there are further volumes to bridge the gap between these stories and the often-collected Amazing Spidey #300 era Venom stories, but on the other hand, I don't know if I can handle any more recaps.
December 5, 2015
#150
The bromance between Juggernaut and Black Tom is the star of this issue.
The bromance between Juggernaut and Black Tom is the star of this issue.
March 9, 2020
The first Alien Costume saga book, this doesn't tell an all-engrossing tale of the alien costume. At the end of the first volume, the costume was contained by Reed Richards and imprisoned in the Baxter building, although the first few issues of this book (including an annual) appear to have happened before that event.
What you do get here is a lot of good 1980s stuff. You get an Annual of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man that delves into Aunt May's past and reveals she went around with a gangster before she married Uncle Ben. Then there's an Amazing Spider-man Annual with the wedding of J Jonah Jameson provided the Scorpion doesn't mess things up. Then there's Spider-man and a round robin group of team-uppers battling the Black Abbott in a few issues of Marvel Team-Up. That book comes to an end with a double length team up with Spidey and the X-men battling the Juggernaut. On top of that, you have the re-emergence of Hobgoblin and you also have the relationship between Spidey and Black Cat playing out as she learns the price of her deal with the Kingpin. Then we have Web of Spider-man #1 and the return of the alien costume.
There are some lesser issues in here, but overall this book is really fun to read. More than a specific storyline, this book captures how Spider-man in three different books was firing on all cylinders and producing iconic and legendary comic stories.
What you do get here is a lot of good 1980s stuff. You get an Annual of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man that delves into Aunt May's past and reveals she went around with a gangster before she married Uncle Ben. Then there's an Amazing Spider-man Annual with the wedding of J Jonah Jameson provided the Scorpion doesn't mess things up. Then there's Spider-man and a round robin group of team-uppers battling the Black Abbott in a few issues of Marvel Team-Up. That book comes to an end with a double length team up with Spidey and the X-men battling the Juggernaut. On top of that, you have the re-emergence of Hobgoblin and you also have the relationship between Spidey and Black Cat playing out as she learns the price of her deal with the Kingpin. Then we have Web of Spider-man #1 and the return of the alien costume.
There are some lesser issues in here, but overall this book is really fun to read. More than a specific storyline, this book captures how Spider-man in three different books was firing on all cylinders and producing iconic and legendary comic stories.
August 2, 2020
Creo que todo el marketing y el nombre de estos tomos está mal. Lo venden como la saga del traje alienígena pero en realidad el primer tomo nos presenta aventuras de Spiderman utilizando el traje simbionte, para el final del tomo vemos a Spidey enfrentarse a la verdad del traje junto a los cuatro fantásticos y el traje es encerrado en un frasco de laboratorio.
En este tomo las aventuras de Spidey ni siquiera tienen el traje negro, y vemos una continuación a las tramas que se quedaron pendientes con Kingpin, Silvermane, la Respuesta, Hobgoblin, etc. Yo esperaba que en esta saga se exploraría lo que le sucede al simbionte al adherirse a Brock y el origen de Venom, pero eso no sucede aquí. El último número del tomo nuevamente, es quizá el único relevante en lo que a una saga del traje alienígena se refiere. Y eso es triste porque yo esperaba más.
De los conflictos personales que Peter tiene en su vida desde el tomo anterior, sólo se resuelve el de gata negra y aunque la resolución me pareció muy interesante (si no hubiera sucedido eso entre ellos dos, le hubiera dado dos estrellas a este tomo), el conflicto con la tía May no es resuelto.
La mayoría de los números son entretenidos y creo que en general las historias sueltas me gustaron más que las del primer tomo pero también no hay gran conexión entre las historias, la mayoría son sueltas. Y de cierta manera siento que falta un tercer tomo en esta saga, un tomo más que amarre lo que vimos con Flash, con Hobgoblin y el origen de Venom.
Me gustó mucho el número de "origen" de Mary Jane, me ayudó a entenderla mejor como personaje aunque realmente nunca he tenido problema con ella, este número le dio contexto en general.
No sé si haya un tercer tomo pero si lo hubiera si me gustaría leerlo porque es el origen de venom lo que realmente quería llegar y aquí no pasa.
En este tomo las aventuras de Spidey ni siquiera tienen el traje negro, y vemos una continuación a las tramas que se quedaron pendientes con Kingpin, Silvermane, la Respuesta, Hobgoblin, etc. Yo esperaba que en esta saga se exploraría lo que le sucede al simbionte al adherirse a Brock y el origen de Venom, pero eso no sucede aquí. El último número del tomo nuevamente, es quizá el único relevante en lo que a una saga del traje alienígena se refiere. Y eso es triste porque yo esperaba más.
De los conflictos personales que Peter tiene en su vida desde el tomo anterior, sólo se resuelve el de gata negra y aunque la resolución me pareció muy interesante (si no hubiera sucedido eso entre ellos dos, le hubiera dado dos estrellas a este tomo), el conflicto con la tía May no es resuelto.
La mayoría de los números son entretenidos y creo que en general las historias sueltas me gustaron más que las del primer tomo pero también no hay gran conexión entre las historias, la mayoría son sueltas. Y de cierta manera siento que falta un tercer tomo en esta saga, un tomo más que amarre lo que vimos con Flash, con Hobgoblin y el origen de Venom.
Me gustó mucho el número de "origen" de Mary Jane, me ayudó a entenderla mejor como personaje aunque realmente nunca he tenido problema con ella, este número le dio contexto en general.
No sé si haya un tercer tomo pero si lo hubiera si me gustaría leerlo porque es el origen de venom lo que realmente quería llegar y aquí no pasa.
June 6, 2023
Not as good as the first volume, but still a worthwhile read.
The bad: The Marvel Team-Up books were mediocre, and the villains there were subpar. I enjoy seeing Spidey work with other heroes (even if it is reluctant), but overall, this was blah.
The good: The Spectacular Spider-Man portions, dealing with Black Cat, Cloak & Dagger (some of my favorites), The Spot, Kingpin, and Silvermane were solid storytelling, and good artwork and writing!
The great: The Amazing Spider-Man titles, dealing with Hobgoblin, and others, was just great.
The standout: Web of Spider-Man, although the artwork wasn't the best of the collection, the story wrapped up nicely the previous events.
All in all, this is a great collection, although it has very little to do with the Black Costume until the end. Still a great time to be a spidey fan!
Also, I didn't realize that Team-Up ended and Web began as the follow-up.... the things you learn.
The bad: The Marvel Team-Up books were mediocre, and the villains there were subpar. I enjoy seeing Spidey work with other heroes (even if it is reluctant), but overall, this was blah.
The good: The Spectacular Spider-Man portions, dealing with Black Cat, Cloak & Dagger (some of my favorites), The Spot, Kingpin, and Silvermane were solid storytelling, and good artwork and writing!
The great: The Amazing Spider-Man titles, dealing with Hobgoblin, and others, was just great.
The standout: Web of Spider-Man, although the artwork wasn't the best of the collection, the story wrapped up nicely the previous events.
All in all, this is a great collection, although it has very little to do with the Black Costume until the end. Still a great time to be a spidey fan!
Also, I didn't realize that Team-Up ended and Web began as the follow-up.... the things you learn.
September 18, 2018
So this was a fun romp through my youth. I always like Spiderman, and the day to day struggles that he would get into. Fighting super villains is no joke, but also juggling two women, making rent, and maintaining a relationship with your aging aunt...he's got a lot going on...
And while we get to see the symbiote suit act in it's true nature a bit more in this volume, its not really the main focus. Ultimately, this is a good lead into the Venom comics, but we haven't learned much about it yet.
Either way, this was a fun read.
And while we get to see the symbiote suit act in it's true nature a bit more in this volume, its not really the main focus. Ultimately, this is a good lead into the Venom comics, but we haven't learned much about it yet.
Either way, this was a fun read.
Read
December 4, 2023Great art, writing hasn't aged perfectly
So much of the writing is flashbacks to previous issues or origin story level facts. It really bogs down the storyline pacing. Plus villains like THE ANSWER, BLACK ABBOT, PUMA, PIDGEON, & that guy with "super apes" were really lame.
Stuff with the alien costume, Scorpion, Black Cat, Kingpin, & Hobgoblin were great though.
So much of the writing is flashbacks to previous issues or origin story level facts. It really bogs down the storyline pacing. Plus villains like THE ANSWER, BLACK ABBOT, PUMA, PIDGEON, & that guy with "super apes" were really lame.
Stuff with the alien costume, Scorpion, Black Cat, Kingpin, & Hobgoblin were great though.
May 9, 2017
Totally loving 80's Spidey. I really enjoyed this collection but truth be told, it's barely about the alien costume. That plotline barely takes more than a handful of pages. Not that it really matters. It's a great collection, full of classic Spidey-ness.
May 22, 2024
A fun conclusion to Spidey’s time in the black suit. We see the origin of The Spot, which brings a couple very fun and silly bouts with Peter Parker. And then our little symbiote suit slithers away to become its own character.
Read
February 28, 2025A slow burn “slice of life” for Spidey where very occasionally the symbiote does something menacing for a panel or two in the background. It's good visual horror before shit hits the fan at the infamous bell tower. Onwards to Venom...
June 18, 2019
Spidey’s final battle with his symbiotic black costume and many other villains. A classic.
April 3, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
September 25, 2023
I bought all of this stuff off of the spinner rack at 7-11 when they were originally released between August, 1984 and the first week of January, 1985. I loved it at age 11, and it holds up as an adult read as well.
June 17, 2015
Not the concluding volume so wanted it to be, but fun. It felt more like a romp through being a subscriber to the monthly Spider-Man titles during this time period, and that was actually an unexpected and pleasant education for me. I know what TPB I'm buying next...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews