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Marvel Pocket Books Novels
Marvel Classic Novels - Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours Omnibus
Collecting three classic fan-favorite Spider-Man novels together for the first time in a brand-new omnibus edition. THE DARKEST HOURS by Jim Butcher When Black Cat foils Spider-Man’s attempts to stop the Rhino rampaging through Times Square, she informs him the Rhino is just a distraction. The real threat comes from a group of Ancients, members of the same race as the being called Morlun, seeking revenge for Spider-Man defeating them years before. Spidey must rely on Black Cat if there’s any hope of stopping them again, before they can steal his life force. DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS by Keith R.A. DeCandido A mysterious drug known as Triple X has been giving users super-powers as well as rendering them mentally and physically unstable. Only by teaming up with a police force that hates him can Spider-Man find the source behind this lethal drug and protect people from those using it. But one of Spider-Man’s most fearsome enemies may be behind it all as part of a greater scheme to bring down the city. DROWNED IN THUNDER by Christopher L. Bennett. The ongoing conflict between Spider-Man and his longtime outspoken nemesis, crusading newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson, reaches a whole new level when JJJ exploits several mysterious attacks on Manhattan island in his propaganda war against the web-slinger.
644 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2021
71 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Marvel Comics
9,813 books403 followersMarvel Publishing, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media. Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, owns Marvel Publishing (since 2009).
Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, Wolverine, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Daredevil, Thor, the Sub-Mariner, the Punisher, Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer; antagonists such as Dr. Doom, the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom, Magneto, Sabretooth, Galactus, the Red Skull, the Kingpin, and Bullseye; and others. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locales set in real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
The comic book arm of the company started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, with the company later that year launching Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel has since become the largest American comic book publisher, surpassing its longtime competitor DC Comics.
On December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion.
--from Wikipedia
Note: Although currently owned by the Walt Disney Company, this author is kept separate due to it's long history prior to it's acquisition - over 70 years.
Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, Wolverine, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Daredevil, Thor, the Sub-Mariner, the Punisher, Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer; antagonists such as Dr. Doom, the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom, Magneto, Sabretooth, Galactus, the Red Skull, the Kingpin, and Bullseye; and others. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locales set in real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
The comic book arm of the company started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, with the company later that year launching Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel has since become the largest American comic book publisher, surpassing its longtime competitor DC Comics.
On December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion.
--from Wikipedia
Note: Although currently owned by the Walt Disney Company, this author is kept separate due to it's long history prior to it's acquisition - over 70 years.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 14, 2021
600 pages of web-slinging. What more can you ask for? This is my first novelization, it won’t be my last. Ahh, sweet nostalgia…(Best Jim Butcher story I’ve read.)
March 16, 2023
This is just not the format I want to consume superhero stories in, and that is on me for not checking the format before accepting it. I'm also not a Spidey diehard, so that probably didn't help.
The Darkest Hours: I did not like this story. It would have been a 1-star. I'm not a fan of Jim Butcher's writing style, and I really hate the way he writes women. MJ and Felicia just being constantly jealous of each other sucked to read. And that's pretty much all MJ did (at least to my memory - I've been reading these for about a month, probably). I also just am not interested in the villains in this one. It might have been okay as a comic.
Down These Mean Streets: This one is my favorite of the group. I'd have given it three stars. The premise is good, and it translates well to this medium. The shifting perspectives keep things interesting. The characters are better developed, which the perspectives help with. It's a solid story.
Drowned in Thunder: I really did not like this one for the longest time, but in the end, it would have been two stars. Peter and Jameson circling each other was fun to read, and the reveal at the end was interesting.
The Darkest Hours: I did not like this story. It would have been a 1-star. I'm not a fan of Jim Butcher's writing style, and I really hate the way he writes women. MJ and Felicia just being constantly jealous of each other sucked to read. And that's pretty much all MJ did (at least to my memory - I've been reading these for about a month, probably). I also just am not interested in the villains in this one. It might have been okay as a comic.
Down These Mean Streets: This one is my favorite of the group. I'd have given it three stars. The premise is good, and it translates well to this medium. The shifting perspectives keep things interesting. The characters are better developed, which the perspectives help with. It's a solid story.
Drowned in Thunder: I really did not like this one for the longest time, but in the end, it would have been two stars. Peter and Jameson circling each other was fun to read, and the reveal at the end was interesting.
December 2, 2025
I honestly really enjoyed all of these stories. Butcher’s is probably my favorite, but I’m a little biased since I love The Dresden Files and Codex Alera. I liked how he had spiderman deal with an unconventional villain. DeCandido’s story read like an episode of the Wire overtop a Spiderman storyline, I think he nailed the vibe he was going for. Lastly, Bennett’s tale involved a lot of cool robotics and an interesting plot with electro and other tech based villains. I think the biggest strength of this last story was the character analysis of spiderman vs JJJ, as their relationship (often volatile) is at the crux of the story here, and it was fascinating to see them admit to themselves how similar they can be.
May 30, 2023
I know i’m most definitely biased but still:
- That’s the moment of truth, Peter. There, in the darkest hours, not in whatever comes after. Because it is there that you choose between music and silence. Between hope and despair.
- “You are Spider-Man”, he said, as if the phrase embodied some kind of answer.
- I counted birdies and stars. At least she hit the other side of my head. That way, my brain could be equally bruised on both sides.
- Okay, so he was talking to himself. It was a habit he indulged in when he got nervous. He talked to himself quite a bit.
- Power isn’t evil - it’s just powerful. Whether it does good or harm depends on how responsibly you use it.
- Sometimes his sides still itched in recollection of the four extra arms he’d briefly owned.
- Haircut like a shaving brush, a moustache that went out of style with Eva Braun’s boy toy, a cigar as foul as his expression - it was J. Jonah Jameson alright.
- The longer Spidey kept him talking, the less dying Spidey did in the immediate future, and the more time he had to think of a way to avoid that fate altogether.
- And after being enslaved, imprisoned, chained inside his own skull, made a patsy by a Game Boy with delusions of grandeur? Oh, this was going to be good.
This omnibus is a collection of 3 stories by different authors, but it all flows so incredibly smoothly and feels like 1 coherent idea by a central writer. I really really love Spider-Man (clearly) and this book embodies his charm, wit, character, and determination beautifully.
Would most definitely read again and recommend to others :)
- That’s the moment of truth, Peter. There, in the darkest hours, not in whatever comes after. Because it is there that you choose between music and silence. Between hope and despair.
- “You are Spider-Man”, he said, as if the phrase embodied some kind of answer.
- I counted birdies and stars. At least she hit the other side of my head. That way, my brain could be equally bruised on both sides.
- Okay, so he was talking to himself. It was a habit he indulged in when he got nervous. He talked to himself quite a bit.
- Power isn’t evil - it’s just powerful. Whether it does good or harm depends on how responsibly you use it.
- Sometimes his sides still itched in recollection of the four extra arms he’d briefly owned.
- Haircut like a shaving brush, a moustache that went out of style with Eva Braun’s boy toy, a cigar as foul as his expression - it was J. Jonah Jameson alright.
- The longer Spidey kept him talking, the less dying Spidey did in the immediate future, and the more time he had to think of a way to avoid that fate altogether.
- And after being enslaved, imprisoned, chained inside his own skull, made a patsy by a Game Boy with delusions of grandeur? Oh, this was going to be good.
This omnibus is a collection of 3 stories by different authors, but it all flows so incredibly smoothly and feels like 1 coherent idea by a central writer. I really really love Spider-Man (clearly) and this book embodies his charm, wit, character, and determination beautifully.
Would most definitely read again and recommend to others :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
The Darkest Hours: ☆☆☆☆ 4.5 Stars
Down These Mean Streets: ☆☆☆☆ 4 Stars
Drowned in Thunder: ☆☆☆ 3.5 Stars
So glad I found this omnibus and picked it up a whim, because how could I pass up on three good new (to me) Spider-Man stories! There's something I enjoy so thoroughly about reading my favourite comic characters in novel formats so I am very glad to have been exposed to this and expanded my Spider-Man reading, especially since he's always been a favourite of mine since I was a little kid and these stories just reminded me of why I love him so much 🥰 Couldn't recomend enough for any spidey fans, especially Jim Butcher's The Darkest Hours, an absolutely amazing read!
So glad I managed to get the Venom Factor Omnibus, can't wait to read more Spidey!
Down These Mean Streets: ☆☆☆☆ 4 Stars
Drowned in Thunder: ☆☆☆ 3.5 Stars
So glad I found this omnibus and picked it up a whim, because how could I pass up on three good new (to me) Spider-Man stories! There's something I enjoy so thoroughly about reading my favourite comic characters in novel formats so I am very glad to have been exposed to this and expanded my Spider-Man reading, especially since he's always been a favourite of mine since I was a little kid and these stories just reminded me of why I love him so much 🥰 Couldn't recomend enough for any spidey fans, especially Jim Butcher's The Darkest Hours, an absolutely amazing read!
So glad I managed to get the Venom Factor Omnibus, can't wait to read more Spidey!
December 19, 2022
The Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher: ☆☆☆☆ 4 Stars
Down These Mean Streets by Keith R.A. DeCandido: ☆☆☆☆ 4 Stars
Drowned in Thunder by Christopher Bennett: ☆☆☆ 3 Stars
These three stories take place during the J. Michael Stracynski era of Amazing Spider-Man after Aunt May finally learned that Peter was Spider-Man and before M.J. and Pete's marriage was blown up by One More Day.
The first story is a Spider-Man story by Jim Butcher of The Dresden Files fame. He's right there in my list of favorite authors. This is, of course, great since Spider-Man is basically Harry Dresden without the magic. In this Spider-Man has to fight Morlun's immortal siblings. They rear their heads again later in all the Spider-Verse stuff but this felt full of danger.
Then, the next story is about Spider-Man trying to track down who is behind a new drug on the streets that's powered by gamma radiation, with some killer side effects. I like how Spider-Man has to work with the police to get this drug off the streets.
The final story was the weakest of the three. J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man both think the other one has crossed the line in order to take the other out. Meanwhile the bad guy are just robots for the most part. Peter Parker plays a big dummy for a lot of this.
Down These Mean Streets by Keith R.A. DeCandido: ☆☆☆☆ 4 Stars
Drowned in Thunder by Christopher Bennett: ☆☆☆ 3 Stars
These three stories take place during the J. Michael Stracynski era of Amazing Spider-Man after Aunt May finally learned that Peter was Spider-Man and before M.J. and Pete's marriage was blown up by One More Day.
The first story is a Spider-Man story by Jim Butcher of The Dresden Files fame. He's right there in my list of favorite authors. This is, of course, great since Spider-Man is basically Harry Dresden without the magic. In this Spider-Man has to fight Morlun's immortal siblings. They rear their heads again later in all the Spider-Verse stuff but this felt full of danger.
Then, the next story is about Spider-Man trying to track down who is behind a new drug on the streets that's powered by gamma radiation, with some killer side effects. I like how Spider-Man has to work with the police to get this drug off the streets.
The final story was the weakest of the three. J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man both think the other one has crossed the line in order to take the other out. Meanwhile the bad guy are just robots for the most part. Peter Parker plays a big dummy for a lot of this.
February 15, 2023
DNF . I tried. I kept pushing and couldn’t finish it which was disappointing after two great Spider-Man books. The “Dresden” style writing did not fit Spider-Man and the way he wrote the two females,especially MJ, wasn’t very nice.
November 28, 2023
Oops forgot to log this. The stories are well written and handle Spidermans movement, fluidity and the drama of his personal life well. I think the villains could've done with being more fleshed out though
June 11, 2025
Bought this book primarily to check out Jim Butcher's story and wasn't disappointed by that one. Butcher knows how to write first-person stories.
The last story was way too technical. The twist at the end was nice, but overall it dragged on a bit.
The last story was way too technical. The twist at the end was nice, but overall it dragged on a bit.
September 28, 2021
it was good
January 16, 2023
SPIDER MAN :D
January 29, 2023
Generally forgettable media tie-in book
December 27, 2023
and after nearly a year i have finally finished this book. acc regret spending my £20 voucher from work on this
January 9, 2024
🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️
November 27, 2024
Interesting and captivating novels
Read
August 16, 2025First book is meh
Second book is bad
Third book was good!
Second book is bad
Third book was good!
August 27, 2022
DNF
Butcher's usual style is overwrought trying to stretch Parker into a full book. Also, I'm intensely tired of "smart" heroes being intensely negligent in absorbing clues until the situation has gone critical.
Butcher's usual style is overwrought trying to stretch Parker into a full book. Also, I'm intensely tired of "smart" heroes being intensely negligent in absorbing clues until the situation has gone critical.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews