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Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Negative Exposure #1-5
Spider-Man/Dr. Octopus: Negative Exposure
A Daily Bugle photographer, jealous of Peter Parker's photographs, may hinder Spider-Man as he faces off with Doctor Octopus.
120 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2004
3 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,056 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 2, 2014
Read this today at the library with my 2 cute little nieces. They wanted to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and some Beatrix Potter (I was impressed with their taste). This I read in between readings. I did a double take when I saw Brian K. Vaughn's name attached, because I had no recollections of him doing Spidey titles.
Well here's the gist: It's a decent idea, but the art is on the weak side. Kinda Childish/Cartoony in my opinion.
Other than the art letting it down, the execution of the idea isn't as strong as it could be.
A Bugle Photographer is trying to figure out how Peter Parker keeps getting these great pics, yet is just a college kid, working for peanuts.
Eventually, he makes it to a Spidey/Doc-Ock showdown and takes great pics, but finds out PP already beat him to it.
How does he do it?? He couldn't find him anywhere! Then it happens again, and this time he just can't believe it. Doc-Ock takes advantage of this frustration, and manipulates the photographer into freeing his arms from holding, and they break Doc out of prison.
Long story short, PP comes out smelling like roses, and we learn a valuable lesson...about...um...photography? Trusting Super-Villains? Not being mean to your girlfriends?
The idea of someone following the PP/Spidey combo up has been done before, and I had hoped BKV would be able to do more, but there were decent moments, just not a winner overall.
More of a curio from BKV's early days. (I think).
Probably skip unless you're a big Spidey fan, or you want to see what BKV was like just after the turn of the millennium.
Well here's the gist: It's a decent idea, but the art is on the weak side. Kinda Childish/Cartoony in my opinion.
Other than the art letting it down, the execution of the idea isn't as strong as it could be.
A Bugle Photographer is trying to figure out how Peter Parker keeps getting these great pics, yet is just a college kid, working for peanuts.
Eventually, he makes it to a Spidey/Doc-Ock showdown and takes great pics, but finds out PP already beat him to it.
How does he do it?? He couldn't find him anywhere! Then it happens again, and this time he just can't believe it. Doc-Ock takes advantage of this frustration, and manipulates the photographer into freeing his arms from holding, and they break Doc out of prison.
Long story short, PP comes out smelling like roses, and we learn a valuable lesson...about...um...photography? Trusting Super-Villains? Not being mean to your girlfriends?
The idea of someone following the PP/Spidey combo up has been done before, and I had hoped BKV would be able to do more, but there were decent moments, just not a winner overall.
More of a curio from BKV's early days. (I think).
Probably skip unless you're a big Spidey fan, or you want to see what BKV was like just after the turn of the millennium.
March 10, 2011
"Va entretenido. Simpático guión y dibujo aceptable. Seguro termine con tres estrellitas."
Fah, soy todo un profeta. Un laburo cumplidor de Vaughan, lo cual es bastante poco ya que hablamos de uno de los guionistas yanquis más talentosos de la última década y pico. El desarrollo de la historia está bueno, los diálogos son bastante ingeniosos y el final es predecible pero armónico y correcto. Ni una obra maestra ni una porquería ilegible, simplemente un comic pasatista y precindible. Leído de los números 35 a 38 de los tomos recopilatorios de Panini de a un capítulo por día.
Fah, soy todo un profeta. Un laburo cumplidor de Vaughan, lo cual es bastante poco ya que hablamos de uno de los guionistas yanquis más talentosos de la última década y pico. El desarrollo de la historia está bueno, los diálogos son bastante ingeniosos y el final es predecible pero armónico y correcto. Ni una obra maestra ni una porquería ilegible, simplemente un comic pasatista y precindible. Leído de los números 35 a 38 de los tomos recopilatorios de Panini de a un capítulo por día.
October 17, 2016
2.5, proving that even Brian K. Vaughan can't win 'em all.
November 28, 2013
In the five issue Negative Exposure miniseries, Brian K Vaughn latches on to a little thought of part of the Spider-man legend. Peter Parkers earns money taking front page photos for the Daily Bugle as a freelance Photographer, but what about other professionals who find themselves being knocked off the front page by Parker's pictures?
Jeff Brasi is a staff photographer for the Bugle who fancies himself an artist and is tired of being constantly upstaged by Peter Parker. He's determined to get his work on the front page and achieve the prominence he deserves for his art. He gets to the scene of some great Spidey battles only to be scooped by Parker.
Doctor Octopus notices Brasi's obsession and plots how he can use it to escape from prison and defeat Spider-man once and for all.
The story reads like an old fashioned morality tale about the dangers of being too ambitious and willing to achieve anything to succeed. Brasi become almost a monomaniac in search of the front page picture: willing to risk his reputation, the lives of others, his girlfriend, and his life in pursuit of the front page story. The dangers of envy are also on display. The book also includes Vaughn learning a key lesson about his art---way too late.
Spider-man features in the story but shows mostly to battle the bad guys which include not only Dr. Octopus, but also the Vulture and Mysterio. If you have any prior exposure to Spider-man, you'll appreciate how brilliantly wrong Brasi is and how much he's twisted by envy as he imagines life as a bed of roses for the web slinger.
The art is solid, if not spectacular. The book r stares clear of any sexual content or graphic violence making it a decent read for even younger teens, but it will probably only be appreciated with a lot of prior exposure to Spider-man.
Jeff Brasi is a staff photographer for the Bugle who fancies himself an artist and is tired of being constantly upstaged by Peter Parker. He's determined to get his work on the front page and achieve the prominence he deserves for his art. He gets to the scene of some great Spidey battles only to be scooped by Parker.
Doctor Octopus notices Brasi's obsession and plots how he can use it to escape from prison and defeat Spider-man once and for all.
The story reads like an old fashioned morality tale about the dangers of being too ambitious and willing to achieve anything to succeed. Brasi become almost a monomaniac in search of the front page picture: willing to risk his reputation, the lives of others, his girlfriend, and his life in pursuit of the front page story. The dangers of envy are also on display. The book also includes Vaughn learning a key lesson about his art---way too late.
Spider-man features in the story but shows mostly to battle the bad guys which include not only Dr. Octopus, but also the Vulture and Mysterio. If you have any prior exposure to Spider-man, you'll appreciate how brilliantly wrong Brasi is and how much he's twisted by envy as he imagines life as a bed of roses for the web slinger.
The art is solid, if not spectacular. The book r stares clear of any sexual content or graphic violence making it a decent read for even younger teens, but it will probably only be appreciated with a lot of prior exposure to Spider-man.
March 6, 2021
Negative Exposure offers a unique look not at Spider-Man but at Peter Parker, the photographer. Most of the book follows Jeffrey Haight, another Daily Bugle photographer who is jealous of all the shots Parker takes. Fancying himself an artist, Haight sets out to beat Parker and make it to the front page. He winds up an accomplice to Doctor Octopus, hoping he can outsmart the genius supervillain to take a really pretty picture.
The art, aside from Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus themselves, is generic early-2000s artwork of mixed quality. Sometiems it can look really good, sometimes the faces look horrifying and inhuman. There are some neat tricks where the big panel we see in the comic is presented as if it's the picture the cameras are taking, and some cool action scenes with Spider-Man slipping around enemies and showing off his dexterity. But overall it's nothing to write home about.
I like how tangential Spider-Man is in this, he's not the main focus the way Peter Parker is. I wish we got more about how the comic is itself a series of pictures, following a photographer trying to take pictures as art. But this meta storytelling takes a backseat to Haight's corruption and greed, and the series doesn't end up saying anything too big or revolutionary. Instead we get a neat plot about Doctor Octopus being smart and this one dude trying to take pretty pictures. Which is fun, but I was hoping for more.
The art, aside from Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus themselves, is generic early-2000s artwork of mixed quality. Sometiems it can look really good, sometimes the faces look horrifying and inhuman. There are some neat tricks where the big panel we see in the comic is presented as if it's the picture the cameras are taking, and some cool action scenes with Spider-Man slipping around enemies and showing off his dexterity. But overall it's nothing to write home about.
I like how tangential Spider-Man is in this, he's not the main focus the way Peter Parker is. I wish we got more about how the comic is itself a series of pictures, following a photographer trying to take pictures as art. But this meta storytelling takes a backseat to Haight's corruption and greed, and the series doesn't end up saying anything too big or revolutionary. Instead we get a neat plot about Doctor Octopus being smart and this one dude trying to take pretty pictures. Which is fun, but I was hoping for more.
October 18, 2025
Clever title and fairly clever premise. A photographer who thinks a bit too high of his "artistic abilities", then manipulated into making decisions that go out of his control. It would have been nice to develop the characters some more, there was a good base to go on here. But this is a comic miniseries, so you can really only expect so much. (That is to say, not much.)
Despite somewhat growing up on it, I still despise the 2000's Marvel comic art style. It's still yuck.
Brian K. Vaughn obviously went on to write some MUCH more famous works. Kinda fun to see this earlier creation of his. (Even if it's a bit chronologically-ambiguous with the comics around it.)
Despite somewhat growing up on it, I still despise the 2000's Marvel comic art style. It's still yuck.
Brian K. Vaughn obviously went on to write some MUCH more famous works. Kinda fun to see this earlier creation of his. (Even if it's a bit chronologically-ambiguous with the comics around it.)
October 7, 2018
Shows how cunning Octavius can be, when it comes to observing and dissecting a person's behavior and desire at a glance. His skills at manipulating a person to do what he wants, while enforcing what they want.
On a side note, it's no wonder he can get villains to become members of his Sinister Six teams, if he can even lure ordinary everyday people to do his bidding so easily.
Anyway, the story is decent, and the main character's conceptualization and motivations are good and well depicted. I can appreciate the concept of the character, even if I didn't like his personality.
On a side note, it's no wonder he can get villains to become members of his Sinister Six teams, if he can even lure ordinary everyday people to do his bidding so easily.
Anyway, the story is decent, and the main character's conceptualization and motivations are good and well depicted. I can appreciate the concept of the character, even if I didn't like his personality.
December 19, 2019
With an update in visuals and modern day technologies this could be a "MASTERPIECE!" (said in a artsy snob voice obviously). As it stands now, it's equal to BKV's Doctor Strange work if not a bit better, yet still reeks of 90's aftermath with it's stupid characters containing 48 muscles per limb and ridiculous outfits. Fuck... does that decade ever linger with it's foul atrocities to artistic design choices.
March 17, 2021
I haven’t read much Spider-Man but I love BKV. This story is from the perspective of a fellow photographer at the Daily Bugle and gives us an opportunity to see Spidey battle Doc Oc and a couple of other classic bad guys while hiding a little morality tale behind the spectacle.
March 27, 2019
The art in this isn't my favorite; it feels too much like a cartoon. The story is all right. Doc Ock is still my favorite villain, but there are better storylines than this.
July 10, 2019
Pretty forgettable considering it’s written by Vaughn.
November 1, 2020
a really interesting story concept, this was actually very enjoyable to read
March 6, 2021
A change of focus to a supporting character features a new line of interest in the tried and true crime punching genre.
October 6, 2009
This is a surprisingly deep study of the creative mind. A photographer whose work is successful enough to make him a living, and to even get a book deal for one of his gallery exhibits, is frustrated. Why? Because another photographer, Peter Parker, seems to get more attention, even though Parker's photos have less technical skill behind them. Somehow, Peter Parker gets all the dramatic Spider-Man shots that make the front page. How can he compete with this?
At the heart of the story is the idea that an artist who is driven enough can go do dangerous extremes in the name of art. It's a powerful story, and for the most part a convincing one. The weakest part is the romance between the photographer and a female police officer, which never seemed convincing, but is integral to the plot.
At the heart of the story is the idea that an artist who is driven enough can go do dangerous extremes in the name of art. It's a powerful story, and for the most part a convincing one. The weakest part is the romance between the photographer and a female police officer, which never seemed convincing, but is integral to the plot.
February 11, 2009
Great fun little story about Spidey and Doc Ock. I particularly enjoyed the cerebral games Doc played with Parker's photography rival. Nothing mindblowing, but well told, and very fun.
December 6, 2015
Great take on photography and Dr. Octopus
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews