Can someone PLEASE tell me why Slott's run is any good.

[whiteshark]

Wow, a topic like this,while one of the best Dan Slott story arcs in Amazing Spider-Man is being published just proves that there is no run in a comic book that all comic book readers will enjoy reading.

[Chris S.]

Wow, a topic like this,while one of the best Dan Slott story arcs in Amazing Spider-Man is being published just proves that there is no run in a comic book that all comic book readers will enjoy reading.

Best and great are terms that get thrown around far too often in our society. I was once told as a teacher not to right "Best" or "Great" on papers because it made students think they didn't have to work hard if you think this is their best work or great work.

Slott is writing a solid story that is without a doubt fun. Is it the best of ASM? Not by a long shot. I don't even know that it'd be in the top 20. Heck, almost every story arc by Ditko/Lee and Romita/Lee top it. Conway had some great arcs. Roger Stern had some great arcs. JMS had some great arcs.

Of course, "Great" is an arbitrary term that can be thrown around. It is all the eye of the beholder.

I wouldn't say, by a long shot, that this is one of the best arcs in ASM history.

[USERNAME TAKEN]

Best and great are terms that get thrown around far too often in our society. I was once told as a teacher not to right "Best" or "Great" on papers because it made students think they didn't have to work hard if you think this is their best work or great work.

Slott is writing a solid story that is without a doubt fun. Is it the best of ASM? Not by a long shot. I don't even know that it'd be in the top 20. Heck, almost every story arc by Ditko/Lee and Romita/Lee top it. Conway had some great arcs. Roger Stern had some great arcs. JMS had some great arcs.

Of course, "Great" is an arbitrary term that can be thrown around. It is all the eye of the beholder.

I wouldn't say, by a long shot, that this is one of the best arcs in ASM history.

I think it boils down to personal preferences.

The last time I really enjoyed Spider-man this much was during the Micheline era. Slott's work has been much more rewarding than JMS's IMO (the other and Sins past were boring as heck) and Mr Slott really seems to enjoy writing a fun Spider-man comic.

Something a lot of writers don't get IMO.

[USERNAME TAKEN]

Slott's run is considered good because of the following reasons:

• Progression: Unlike a lot of comics which are written in arcs, where random things happen, get resolved and then the next thing happens, Slott weaves his narrative like a TV series or a book. A few panels in one issue might set up something later on. His mysteries last a while and when something big happens it is rarely out of nowhere, because he had been planting the seeds for a while.
• Continuity: Slott has found a balance between old and new continuity. He can reference events from the early days of ASM, but also from the BND run and his own era. Spider-Island is the perfect example of a story that is pleasing for longtime fans, recent (BND onwards) fans and new fans just picking up the story.
• Character: There may be a case for his writing of some characters, but as this is the why its good thread I'll focus on the positives. He turned Carlie from a rather bland and irritating character into a fully developed individual who is flawed and interesting and actually made me interested in her, which I wasn't until Big Time was into swing. He has also taken Jonah, Otto and Connors to new places and has created some interesting characters in Max Model and the new Hobgoblin.
• Tone: Slott's work is described as 'fun', and it is. There are lots of jokes and witticisms, but it can also get pretty dark at times. The end of Ends of the Earth and the Marla/Massacre issues stand out in my mind, but I think the Vulture arc was pretty dark too. Slott can find a balance between the light-hearted and the really serious.
• Slott himself: He's not some inaccessible creator. He's on twitter, facebook, formspring and message boards. He takes time out to interact with the fans and I think that adds to the enjoyment of the run. It does for me anyway.

The "Superior" thing isn't lazy, either (was Brubaker or Morrison "lazy"? or Knightfall?)

You can't base it off things you read, you need to read it for yourself and it isn't simply 'replace Peter so I don't have to write him 'cos it's hard,' it is a story that has been building for 52 issues and which was seeded long before that.

I like this post.