Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Vol. 2: Hostile Takeovers

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2019)

by Tom Taylor, Andrew C. Robinson (Cover Art), Ken Lashley (Artist)

Collects Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2019) #7-14.

Has one of Spider-Man's closest allies returned to his criminal beginnings? Aunt May is reopening the F.E.A.S.T. Center to help the homeless and needy of New York City! But things are rarely simple in the Marvel Universe — so it's no surprise when F.E.A.S.T. and May's new funding comes under attack by…the Prowler?! Can Spider-Man help bring Hobie Brown back to the side of the angels? Peter Parker has many skills, but he's no Sherlock Holmes. So the world's worst detective calls on his new ally, the Rumor, to help him uncover the truth! But what's the Rumor's secret history? And what does it all have to do with a villain who's been secretly plaguing the MU since World War II?! Plus: The Fantastic Four guest star — and Mary Jane saves the day!

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

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

Once a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.

He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.

He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great ending for Tom Taylor's slice of life Spider-Man story.



The whole comic is full of heart and love for Marvel's oldest web-slinger, and seeing his community rally around him was maybe one of the sweetest things I've read in a while.
The relationship between him and Mary Jane is just top-notch, as well.



In case you're wondering, these two volumes don't require you to have read or currently be reading any other titles. It's a great place to jump in and get a Spidey fix!



I really don't have any complaints and would recommend this to anyone who's a fan, or even someone who wonders why the rest of us are fans of Peter Parker.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taylor's an OK writer and the art split across two people isn't the best.. but Marvel needs to sop with the multiple books for one character or team, it rarely brings anything more to the table than diluting the brand... don't get me wrong, they've got so much better especially the last couple of years. Some retro-creativity sees a powered being from the past turn up in Parker's building and get caught up in an adventure. Hobie Brown, The Prowler guests. 6 out of 12, Three Stars.

2019 read

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvel, why do you keep ending all these great series from Tom Taylor? He's the best writer working for you today! Taylor keeps Spider-Man light and fun while still dealing with serious subjects like Aunt May's cancer diagnosis. I love the focus on Spidey's neighborhood. It warms my heart every time I see someone looking out for Spider-Man and recognizing how much he does for their community. I'm way past the days of the sad sack Peter Parker, who constantly gets treated like Lucy treats Charlie Brown. Look for the issue featuring your Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane come Eisner time. Yeah, it's that good.

The only down side of this book is the number of artists working on it. The book looks unfinished in places where they skimped out on an inker, relying on the colorist to finish the art.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prowler’s back on the… prowl… because of some baddie abusing crowdfunding… or something… Then Spidey’s back down in Under York to start a revolution with the Fantastic Four. Also, a day in the life of MJ and the continuing, er, adventures of May going through chemo.

Wow, this series went south FAST! The second (and final) volume of Tom Taylor’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a massive drop in quality. And I think I see why it got cancelled so quickly, as Taylor didn’t really have the material for a longer story - even getting a second volume out feels like a stretch.

It’s only been a day or so since I read this and I’ve already forgotten what the main story was about. Prowler’s back in action because some homeless shelter was being threatened by a literal Nazi (of course) who’s making money off fake crowdfunding accounts… what? It’s too convoluted, which is mostly why it’s so unmemorable, but it’s also just boring.

Ditto the Under York/Fantastic Four storyline - didn’t grab me at all. And the resolutions to these stories are so rushed and easy. Tony Stark swoops in to use his money - problem solved! Start (and finish) a revolution in less than an issue - problem solved! These are really complicated mechanisms that are vastly oversimplified for the sake of a dull story and they’re so unconvincing and silly to read.

The day in the life of MJ short was fine but nothing special. Similarly the blackout/May story that closed out the book. Taylor was probably trying to replicate that powerful closing chapter of the last book here but it didn’t land and felt forced. It was also another one of those “whiz-kid does something impossible” tropes - a teenager in the ‘burbs manages to black out a city as massive as New York from his home computer. Yeah, ok.

Ken Lashley’s art is fantastic and sells the action well, and Juann Cabal returns to draw some good-looking pages. Besides the art though there isn’t much to recommend this one. The storytelling is too contrived and uninteresting - if you enjoyed the first book, I’d leave it at that rather than finish out the run with this uninspired volume.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be where you need to be, 'Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man' . . . we're looking after your neighborhood tonight." -- Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four, kicking off a super montage of super-friends (Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, The Defenders) keeping watch over New York City

Continuing the heartfelt quality of sincerity established and deeply ingrained in Vol. 1: Secrets and Rumors, the almost-as-good follow-up and (sadly) conclusion Vol. 2: Hostile Takeovers presents Marvel's flagship character again fighting the good fight as the Big Apple's preeminent superhero, while trying to balance said activity with his troubled personal life. Whether riffing on the intricacies of grammar with his new police contact Detective Shari Sebbens of the NYPD (who provides a sort of sibling conversational outlet) or talking down an astute teenage wannabe supervillain (who has initiated a citywide power blackout, but not for the expected nefarious reasons, at the worst possible moment for Peter Parker), I wished this limited series would have had a substantial run.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Taylor wraps up his run with our Spidy hero. What the heck Marvel? You give this man only two books on and on. Superior Iron Man, X-Men Red, and now this? Why? All these series are good. Give us least 3 or 4.

Anyway, enough of that, what is this about? It's all about Spidy going through some crazy adventures. Covering things like going back to underground, teaming up with Fantastic four, dealing with Aunt May's disease, and even having a whole issue mostly around Mary Jane and her daily life with the web crawler.

The thing that works well with Taylor's Spider-man is it is light hearted and fun. It's also a easy read, with multiple characters making cameos and working well. I think the best issue is the last, and you could tell Taylor loved writing this series, but the sendoff was sweet, and made me tear up almost. The other stories range from good to great. It never reaches "Whoa amazing" status for me but it's good throughout.

It's a shame Taylor's run ends here. I know he's heading back into the X-men world soon with his dawn of X title announced. But I'd love to see him take on Spider-man again. A 4 out of 5.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was so good OMG!

Okay so the volume starts with May dealing with her disease and something with reopening FEAST but then problem with Crowdfunding and then we see Spider-man come into it and then he fights Prowler and thinks Hobie is behind it but its not and then we find some other enemy: Mr Helminth, the owner of that site behind it and we have the heroes fight against him and also I love how Taylor ties up the origin of "The Rumor" in it and uses Cap to hint at her long history which was so awesome and then come Iron man which was so good omg! <3!

It was a cool story but then there are some standalones which were so awesome like MJ being a hero even when she doens't have powers and it was so cute or Peter teaming up with the F4 to take down the leader of Under York, Carrick and ending the first storyline of the series in such a great fashion and I love the callback to their long running relationship which was so awesome and god its so cool to read about and Taylor really brings the emotion here!

And finally the big story of Aunt may's treatment and Pete's friends helping on a night off and its brilliantly written and Pete sort of helping a kid in another way which just goes back to the first volume and showing how awesome he is and then May and Pete in the end, mother and son! <3!

Its an amazing volume and just shows the various relations of Peter and like his connections to MU and the friendships and it uses the threat or enemies as a plot device to tell these human stories and Taylor excels at that and I love it, it just makes you tear up in the best way! <3!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strong start loses steam in the second and final volume as a dumb story about an evil crowdfunding organization puts us on a sidetrack with too much time spent on dull on-again/off-again villain Prowler. Major storylines about Aunt May's most recent illness and an underground city get abrupt wrap-ups with team-up help from the Fantastic Four and others.

The scripting is generally fine with the Mary Jane solo adventure standing out.

The art is mostly by Ken Lashley and is much less interesting than what Juann Cabal provided in the first volume.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm heartbroken that this excellent run has come to an end. Tom Taylor is one of the best Spidey writers I've seen for a long time; I'd have been excited to have a ten year run on the book from him but, alas, eighteen issues is all we're going to get.

Taylor really GETS Spidey. He realises that he's not actually a buffoon; he pretends to be an incompetent wally to put people at their ease, because he's a nice guy and he is humble. All these writers who are portraying Spidey as an idiot recently are REALLY misunderstanding the character.

Anyway, the only thing that let this volume down (only slightly, mind) was the constantly changing artists merry-go-round. If this book had one art team throughout, this would have been a 5 star book, easily.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a secondary title to Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man run, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – the title itself derived from a trademark self-referential comment often made by Spidey himself – doesn’t so much take the character back to basics, but explores his friendly neighbourhood persona via a different corner of New York, specifically “Under York”. No matter how outlandish the first volume was, writer Tom Taylor maintains the humanity towards the hero and the people he sets out to protect.

The best new character to come out of recent Spidey comics is Marnie AKA The Rumor, whose backstory is explored more in the opening four-issue arc in this volume. When Peter helps his beloved aunt who, whilst going through her cancer treatment, is funding the charity organisation F.E.A.S.T., disaster strikes with the return of the Prowler, specifically Hobie Brown, not Miles Morales’ uncle, who is alive and also the Prowler.

Throughout these first four issues, there is a lot going on, with multiple characters participating, including Boomerang whose briefest role here doesn’t add to anything. Once the main villain is revealed, who turns out to be a whole new character that has a wicked design, he is there to serve the backstory of the Rumor. Essentially Japan’s answer to Captain America, she moved to America and became an ally of Cap during World War II, until she was equally deported, like all the other Japanese-Americans who were sent to prison camps. Tom Taylor shows that at times of war, where equality is neglected, there is still time to do something good that isn’t about picking up a rifle and go to war.

Although the pacing can be sloppy with the many gears occurring, at least Taylor still makes this an entertaining read. For starters, Taylor knows how to write Spider-Man, in terms of quips and sympathy towards others and standing up against bullies. His brief partnership with Hobie Brown has plenty of banter and drama as the Prowler is struggling to maintain his own sense of justice, which is dangerously close to the harsh vigilantism that Spidey fears.

Much of what’s great in this comic is the good nature towards the cast, which brings me onto what I think is the best issue of this volume, centring on everyone’s favourite comic book redhead. With her web-slinging boyfriend returning home exhausted after fighting a troll, Mary Jane finds herself in a crashed subway train as she saves people from that same troll. Ever since Nick Spencer brought Peter and MJ together, there are only a handful of issues showcasing her side of the story, including this issue that showcases her bravery as well as coming up her own brand of funny, including mocking Peter’s haircut that has remained the same since the 60s.

The final arc that lasts for three issues, wraps up the “Under York” storyline with Spider-Man being targeted by the dictatorship of the underground city and seeks the help of the Fantastic Four and together, a revolution will take place to create the freedom for the civilians of Under York. Considering this is concluding a narrative from the very beginning of this title, you would think that Taylor would set up an epic finale that span over the course of several issues, but due to the book’s sudden finish at #14, the writer does wrap things up too neatly with the short time he’s given.

With multiple artists into the mix this time, the quality can dip here and there, based on the distinct art-styles. Drawing only one full issue (the MJ issue) and a flashback sequence in #9, Juan Cabal’s hyper-detailed art reigns supreme with his expressive character designs and panel layouts that make the pages look grand and yet intimate. Artists such as Ken Lashley fair as well with his kinetic style of action and character beats, but because there are issues can artistically change from one page to the next, the transition can be jarring at times.

All good things must come to an end, even if a title as great as this comic book concluded sooner than later, perhaps because Tom Taylor’s commitments at DC. Although this volume doesn’t reach the perfect score as its predecessor, due to wrapping everything up too quickly, the book still ends on an upbeat note that really puts the “friend” in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

[bri &#x1f9f8; · Rating 5 out of 5]

science five 😭

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another series cut down in its prime, unfortunately. Tom Taylor does some wonderful stuff here, although the single issues far out-shine the longer form stories. The Mary Jane spotlight issue is especially good, as is the flashback issue for The Rumor (who I want to see again!).

It does definitely feel like Taylor was cleaning house as the series came to a close. He ties up all the loose ends in the last few issues and puts his toys back in the box fairly quickly, including dealing with Underearth almost entirely in one issue. The Prowler story feels almost entirely forgotten by the end, as does Aunt May's cancer story, although that could possibly resonate out into Amazing Spider-Man instead.

The art gets a bit of a hodgepodge later on as well, with multiple artists across the 8 issues (even if they're all pretty good in their own right). Ken Lashley, Pere Perez, and Margarite Sauvage to name a few all pop up, but it's a shame we didn't get a fixed rotating team once Juann Cabal disappeared.

Farewell Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, you will be missed.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

On 2nd read through I realised that GR had logged this book’s issues incorrectly - not 6-10 but 7-14. So this time around I got to read issues 11+ - and that MJ issue, this dude obviously admires the hell out of a three-dimensional MJ. Last time we saw this good of a portrayal was Joe Kelly’s “Renew Your Vows” run, which was just as unnaturally shortened as this was.


=====first review=====
Well that was friggin heartwarming. An interesting take on the crowdfunding craze, and definitely took a page out of Denny O’Neill & Neal Adams’ Green Lantern drugs comics. I’m sure there’s some fake outrage been logged against Tom Taylor pandering or some bullshit, and I enjoyed it so y’all can take your curmudgeonly bile and shove it under a crook webbed up with a “friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man” note stuck to his chest.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Taylor é um carinha em quem podemos confiar. Ele não decepciona mesmo. Seja escrevendo Star Wars, Injustiça, a Novíssima Wolverine, X-Men ou aqui neste Amigão da Vizinhança ele se sai bem. isso porque ele usa aquela velha fórmula de não subestimar os leitores e também não superestimá-los. Se no primeiro volume Taylor trabalhou com arcos curtos e histórias únicas, neste segundo e derradeiro encadernado ele investe em dois arcos mais longos e uma história em que Mary Jane salva o dia no lugar do Homem-Aranha. Isso provavelmente deve ter inspirado a série regular da fogosa ruiva que a Marvel colocou nas lojas pouco tempo depois. Um dos pontos baixos deste segundo encadernado é a ausência dos maravilhosos desenhos de Juan Caball, que é substituído pelos desenhos de Ken Lashley, cujo estilo não me agrada, e muitos outros artistas de estilo de desenho diverso. O segundo encadernado dá destaque para a personagem Rumor, criada por Tom Taylor e também dá espaço para o Quarteto Fantástico. Na minha opinião, como no encadernado anterior, a melhor história é aquela que fecha o encadernado e que mostra, também, de modo bastante humano, os dilemas e os perrengues de um garoto. Só que desta vez, do outro lado da lei.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own this book.

Hey look, I read the second volume of something.

This is the end of this run, and genuinely, I don't think there was an issue I didn't enjoy. Peter Parker in this book is back to his roots, taking care of New York, burning himself out but continuing to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. We see Rumour again, we get to see Jasper and Terra again, Under York has made it's come back. We get cameos from Iron Man, Fantastic Four and I just URGHHHHHH. It's so good. The art is good, the stories are good. I feel like this book really shows the heart of Peter Parker, how he feels he always needs to be doing more and that he is at the end of the day the friendly neighborhood spiderman.

[Jess Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best Spiderman series I’ve ever read. Tom Taylor does not disappoint as usual!

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series continues to be the best hidden gem of recent years. Tom Taylor delivers a Spider-man that borders nostalgia with earned emotions. The stories tend to be more basic but don’t require being overly clever or involved to be a great read. The Mary Jane centric issue is excellent writing that puts over how integral Mary Jane is to Spider-man and her coaching of Miles is a nice touch. The final issue with Aunt May and the rest of the heroes in Spidey’s life is a great touch.
It’s a shame this run is so brief because it was excellent.

[Geoffrey Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taylor is knocking is out of the park on this book! It has the perfect balance of seriousness, silliness, and action. 5 out of 5.

[Beelzefuzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excruciatingly fun.
Make sure you read the posters in the subway during the MJ issue.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally got around to finishing this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Taylor is one of the best writers around, and this is easily my favorite Spidey run. 5/5 stars

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art style seems to change just a little bit but it doesn’t look nearly as bright as the first 6 issues- a bit of a downgrade.

Spider-Man is still a great guy doing heroic things outside of literally saving people/the city. The man controlling a Gofundme-esque site is terribly realistic, harvesting the terror and pain of people begging, or even dying, for money.

The opposite NYC is just an okay storyline that feels like it has a backstory planned (or that I’ve perhaps missed). It’s just ok and a bit corny. Science-five!

[Trike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE feel-good comic of this century. It’s just positive vibes from start to finish, top to bottom, and I love every single page of it.

[Lenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s criminal that Marvel cancelled Taylor’s Spider-Man series after only two volumes. I’ve yet to find a more consistent author who strikes the perfect balance of Peter’s snarky one-liners and his deep love for the people of New York.

Unfortunately, both stories felt like trade-volume arcs stuffed into a few issues – a problem I attribute to Marvel, not Taylor, who had to wrap up all of his plans far too soon. The first arc is earnest, and some might say “political,” but it’s a clear extension of Peter’s values that the government should work for everyone and provide basic necessities. It’s a storyline that has echoes of comics from the 60’s, including Spider-Man’s, that isn’t afraid to bridge comics with our own need for equity today. (For more about how politics have existed in comics since the beginning, see here.) Marnie returns, and it was phenomenal to see her origin as Rumor include the history of WWII internment camps for Japanese Americans. The second story has Spidey teaming up with the Fantastic Four and returning to Under York, a place I couldn’t care less about – the story was rushed and had no payoff, but Peter’s banter with the team was so fantastic, I could have read a whole volume of it.

Taylor writes an excellent Peter Parker, but the book isn’t without its issues. Issue 11 is a standalone, and stand out, issue featuring Mary Jane; but otherwise, MJ and Aunt May are still in the background, continuing to only serve Peter and his story, and not have any character development on their own. (Half of MJ’s issue is even narrated by an absent Peter.) It’s less forgivable this time around as May opens a homeless shelter while having cancer. Speaking of senior women, it’s strange that there’s time spent on Marnie’s backstory, but no interesting or emotional development with May at all. Taylor had to pick and choose what made it in these final issues, but as much as I love Marnie, giving May some very past-due focus might have been more important. Even the final issue, a heartwarming though rushed story where New York’s superheroes give Peter the night off as he stays with May during her surgery, still uses May’s cancer as an impetus for Peter’s story.

The art is also a major problem. The revolving door of artists both during and between issues, was jolting and aside from one flashback didn’t add to the story at all. Aside from Juann Cabal and Pere Pérez, the art wasn’t particularly inspiring either. I really struggled with Lashley’s work and many panels, by him and other artists, felt sloppy and rushed.

And for a book with double the senior women usually found in comic books, the way they are treated visually in this book is horrible. Marnie has excessive wrinkles and lines you’d never see on Lex Luthor or Magneto. And I was honestly offended by Lashley’s final page when May wakes up from her surgery. With her face gaunt and eyes blackened, it looked more like a villain reveal than a genuine and vulnerable moment between May and Peter.

I wish Taylor had more time (with better artists) to give his Spidey stories more justice, because there were some real home runs in this series. Hopefully he’ll write more Spider-Man in the future – or even better, a Spidey/F4 book.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Taylor wraps up this good-natured Spider-Man series in decent fashion. I found the street-level antics of the first volume, Secrets and Rumors, to be great fun, and this follow-up is similar in tone, if less exciting.

Most of Hostile Takeovers is spent foiling an evil crowdfunding operation. Admittedly, the villain at the heart of the operation is pretty cool/scary looking, but the generic action wasn't particularly memorable. Hostile Takeovers also wraps up the Under York storyline in extremely fast fashion - the ruler of Under York is overthrown in like, two pages. Really, the only memorable plot from Hostile Takeovers is a look at a day in the life of Mary Jane.

Despite not being thrill-a-minute, this volume was at least a reminder that Tom Taylor is an excellent Spidey writer. His Spider-Man felt like a young adult in a realistic way - uncertain of himself, big-hearted, and quick to crack a joke.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointed that this is the end of Taylor's run. He wrote a great Spidey, one that does a great job of balancing his sense of fun and his overwhelming sense of responsibility, while highlighting the relationships that I think really make the character. That all comes together best in two issues with one-off stories. One is a Mary Jane feature, and it's fantastic. Mary Jane is a formidable character even without powers, and it's great to see her get the spotlight. And then there's the last issue: May is having surgery, and Peter needs to be with her, so all his superhero friends pitch in to take care of the city for him so he can be. It's incredibly moving, and makes for a sweet farewell to Taylor's run on this book.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Taylor just writes great character comics, whether it's a solo title or a team book. When Spidey is presumed dead, we get one of my favorite character moments in recent years of Pete and MJ.


Also, you go May Parker, speaking up to the elite and re-opening a homeless shelter. I love when May is a badass.

[Ant Tellez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2/5.0

This was a very well done Spider-Man series that displayed a sincere image of who Peter Parker is from within. From themes of people-pleasing and burnout, we see the unfiltered humanization of one of comic book's most notable faces of all time.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man Tom Taylor and Nick Spencer just keep spoiling us Spidey fans with great Spidey stories! Absolutely loved this volume!

[Eli Seibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spider-man we all need, know, and love. Tom Taylor finishes his (way too short) run on Spidey wonderfully.

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I preferred the first one, but this was also sweet and funny in parts. Very inconsistent art, though.