Spider-Man / Red Sonja 1

Issue 1 of 5
Written by Michael Avon Oeming

Everything seems ordinary in New York City as Spider-Man swings around town and fights a group of bad guys ... all while talking on his cell phone to MJ! At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Senator Thomas is attending a major art exhibit while battling his conscience over some shady dealings with his confidant, Reilly. J Jonah Jameson welcomes the Senator to the exhibit with kind words, hoping to score an interview. Thomas agrees to it, but his eyes are drawn to a unique necklace on display. Though the curator, Professor Jones protests, Thomas puts on the necklace. This in turn releases the imprisoned spirit of the sorcerer Kulan Gath. Using his vast powers, he reshapes New York City into his own medieval/Hyborian version of itself. Spider-Man seems to be the only one unaffected by the spell.

People are still in need of help, though, so he springs to action to save the commoners. As he does so, Gath wishes Professor Jones to be his scribe. Refusing, Gath kills him and then requests Jameson to take over the duties. Gath then conjures up a sword and tells about how Spider-Man and Red Sonja foiled his plans before when they teamed up. This time he wishes to pit them against each other so they will be occupied. He calls forth Mary Jane to claim the sword and become Red Sonja. Spider-Man continues to fight his assailants, who have somehow become goblins in the meantime. Even though he saves the people, they fear Spider-Man as a demon. Getting away, he sees what used to be the Met and a strange glow. He goes to it to investigate and sees Mary Jane climbing the walls to get to the sword on the roof. Confronting her after she grabs it, he is instead face with Red Sonja.

I must say that I really enjoyed the artwork for this issue as well as the scripting for Spider-Man. He felt spot on, even though he wasn't in Marvel's hands. Makes me want to check out Red Sonja comics or other works by these staff to see what I am missing. As for the rest of the store, it really is a primer for things to come, but I still have high hopes, especially whenever Venom shows up. The only thing that really irked me was the manner of Jameson ... he allows himself to be bossed by Kulan to easily. Granted, he saw what happens when someone protests, but I still think he would be a bit more defiant. Looking forward to issue two.

Score: 3 / 5