Spiderman the next chapter series worth picking up?

[Rogue07]

I never read any of the issues back in the day so I was wondering what the general consensus was on Spiderman The Next Chapter. I really liked John Byrne back in the day (Uncanny X-Men and Man of Steel) so thought i might pick up the trades. Notice 2 are already out and a 3rd is coming out soon. Are these good enjoyable stories or are they terrible and I should just save my money? Thanks in advance for the advice/reviews!

[oldschool]

I never read any of the issues back in the day so I was wondering what the general consensus was on Spiderman The Next Chapter. I really liked John Byrne back in the day (Uncanny X-Men and Man of Steel) so thought i might pick up the trades. Notice 2 are already out and a 3rd is coming out soon. Are these good enjoyable stories or are they terrible and I should just save my money? Thanks in advance for the advice/reviews!

I thought it was horrendous. I don't mean to be so negative but I honestly think it was among the worst interprestations of Spidey ever; bad characterizations, pointless revisions to his story and an overall bad narrative. His art was OK but nothing like his 70's/80's heyday. I think most agree that it is best skipped altogether.

[Mister Mets]

I'd skip it.

The art is good (it's probably the reason this stuff is being collected), but the writing is horrendous. And the collections are expensive.

Here are some reviews from the period.
http://www.spideykicksbutt.com/Yeari...erman1999.html
http://www.spideykicksbutt.com/Yeari...erman2000.html
http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/titl...mazing_v2.html
http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/title/spiderman_v2.html

[Zombies8MyDingo]

I've recently tried reading a few issues. Consider it the first attempt of OMD and just as bad. I know that with any character that's been around for 50 years there are going to be a few origin revisions, but this really didn't work for me. John Byrne's art tends to feel a little dated for me lately but the issues I read did look good.

[SJNeal]

I've seen/read plenty of negative reviews of the "Chapter One" mini series, but are you guys saying the horrendousness continues into the monthly series after that...? And was Byrne writing/drawing all the titles during this period?

[Mister Mets]

I've seen/read plenty of negative reviews of the "Chapter One" mini series, but are you guys saying the horrendousness continues into the monthly series after that...? And was Byrne writing/drawing all the titles during this period?

Byrne drew the first 18 issues of the post-relaunch Amazing Spider-Man.

Howard Mackie wrote both of the monthly books. Byrne is generally considered a better writer than Mackie.

[Cheesedique]

I finally read through this period a few months ago, for the first time.

While the early issues were indeed generally awful, I thought it got better around the time of the evil Spider-woman. Mattie Franklin even grew on me quite a bit.

The Flash Thompson as hero story I liked, but I usually like those types of stories.

"The List" was an interesting concept with bad resolution.

I liked the "Another Return of the Sinister Six" story the first time, but reading it twice it doesn't hold up as well.

The art is often fantastic. And I'm able to read these and enjoy their merits knowing full well that they reverted back from Mackie / Byrne's misguided intentions.

If you're curious you should check them out. I feel like they're some of the last old-school style Spider-man comics before the decompressed style took over comics.

[Venomous Mask]

The Sinster Six storyline was awful. All those epic villains in one place and nothing was done with them.

[ngroove]

Myself, was a gullible Spider-reader too, around the time of those relaunch issues (I was thirteen around early 1999). One hand, was somewhat excitement, of buying new issues of Spider-Man, early issues of Amazing Spider-Man anew (started with issue 4, then 5, then so on). To me when I first got them month-by-month off the stands, new issues of Spider-Man, with Fantastic Four, Sandman, Trapster, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Vulture, Blob, and even NEW Spider-Women! Mary Jane was as BABE as usual, even a couple issues with her half-dressed or even only in a towel! Aunt May got a new "do"! Even cute when Pete was Jill Stacy's "escort" on Valentine's Day!

BUT, I shall say, for the record, as someone who read Sandman stories prior as him as a HERO, as I thought it was logical "learning" for his character, since we all know all villains will do is LOSE anyways, I resented his regression back to being a BAD guy, just for the sake of having him a bad guy again! And just as HATED Electro's new "old" costume, as worn in "Chapter One" and fitted into AMAZING; c'mon, those lightning bolts on his mask were CLASSIC! And Senator Ward; while his corrupt backer of something evil was gripping enough to pique the next issue(s) to see where it was going, its resolvement(s) just ....from some energy being who zapped the whole Sinister Six...to some goopy alien hybrid...WHAT WAS THAT????!!!! Just as "WHAT THE???" on whoever was "Captain Power" - this stereotypical Superman-Captain Planet clone, whom looked like a DUDE, but was actually a WOMAN!!!

And...there, I said it....JOHNNY ROMITA JR'S VENOM IS TOOOOO SCRAWNY!!!!!!!

[whiteshark]

I would say Spiderman the next chapter series is more for the completist fans of Spider-Man stories.

[Spidey_62]

I'd say great art on these but not so good writing at all.

[Kymeric]

Basically it was a failed dry run for Ultimate Spiderman. They made some pretty horrible mistakes (mainly letting Byrne have any story control). But they learned from it and shortly after started the extremely successful Ultimate Spidey. 10 years later all of the successful new things from the ultimate series have been incorporated into the regular line. While Crapter One back issues sit in the 10 cent bin.

[Venomous Mask]

I'd say great art on these but not so good writing at all.

John Romita Jr. was okay, but John Byrne's pencils really depended on who was inking them.

[Noronha]

If you want to experience how bad SM can be written, then yes!

I think it can be a way to appreciate even more the good stories