Marvel, which has been operating excellently on the comic book market for years, and has not disappointed in the film industry recently, has also been trying to reach literary fans since then. After the Civil War and the Dark Saga, Phoenix decided to send another superhero into battle. And this is how Spider-Man came into our hands . Forever young .
The source of youth
Spider-Man. Forever Young tells the story of one of the icons of the world of comics and pop culture, i.e. Peter Parker, who, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, acquires extraordinary powers and becomes Spider-Man. In the book, our Spider-Man has been working in the industry for several years and is now entering adulthood. He’s in college, moved out of Aunt May’s, and works as a reporter for the Daily Bugle. By the way, his relationship with Gwen Stacy develops. However, when necessary, he puts on a Spider-Man costume and fights crime. Of course, private and “superhero” matters are difficult to reconcile. Peter is often sore, sleepy or has to cancel meetings. Criminals do not intend to make his life easier. Two mafia bosses, Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, and Silvio “Silverman” Manfredi, are currently waging a war over a tablet that supposedly has magical abilities and can rejuvenate people. Both gangsters want to get her and defeat their competitor. However, our friendly neighborhood spider stands in their way.
A story told anew
By Spider-Man. Stefan Petrucha is forever young , an author known in Poland mainly for writing short stories from the series From the X Archives . . His novel, in turn, is based on the 1963 comic – Spider-Man: The Lifeline Tablet Saga . It is a notebook that a self-respecting fan of Peter Parker and Marvel knows perfectly well, but in the wider circles not everyone will associate it. Perhaps it is due to the fact that other stories related to the Spider-Man have already been touched several times, that the creators chose a slightly less known title. I must admit that the choice of both the writer and the story was very accurate. Petrucha opted for a style slightly different from that of Stuart Moore, the author of the previously published Civil War andThe Dark Phoenix Saga . If someone is familiar with these two positions, he will immediately notice that in this Spider-Manfinally, we are not dealing with describing every single drawing known from a comic book. The writer does not bore us with an accurate description of the interiors or costumes of individual characters. Thanks to this, the action does not stand still, but keeps on going all the time. Petrucha can also skillfully accelerate, throw in a quick duel, during which we feel as if we are watching a boxing fight, but when we need to slow down, it gives us a moment of rest, and at the same time develops the personality of individual characters. In addition to Parker himself, he portrays very well, for example, Aunt May, Flash Thompson or Silvio Manfredi. He also deserves a big plus for showing Gwen Stacy in a positive light. The thing is, in the 1960s, when the original comic was released, Parker’s girlfriend was quite annoying and bland. She lacked personality and character, and her life was mostly about going to discos, shopping and complaining. In the book, we get a modern, self-confident girl who pursues her own goals. Instead of fashion and beauty, she focuses on her own career. Another interesting character is Wilson Fisk. We have the opportunity to get to know a character that some probably associate with NetflixDaredevil . If you are interested in his story and his relationship with Vanessa, here you will have the opportunity to learn much more. As for Spider-Man himself, here too Petrucha fulfilled his task and showed us the Spider-Man we know from comics. He is brave, intelligent, and at the same time distracted and tormented by a double life. Most importantly, he does not lack a sense of humor all the time and he can amuse the reader with a sharp retort, just like on the pages of notebooks. It is also worth adding that the writer slightly modernized his novel. In a comic book published in 1963, there were certainly no cell phones, digital cameras or laptops. To reach a modern audience, they have been added to the story. A slight change, but still noticeable and most needed.
Who will invite Spider home?
Spider-Man. Forever Young is a novel addressed primarily to comic book fans and Peter Parker himself, as well as to young people. It is written in simple language and the plot is not complicated. It is quick and pleasant to read. You don’t have to delve into it and focus on it. Marvel wanted to take advantage of the popularity of the Spider-Man, which was revived with his appearance in subsequent films, and at the same time attract new people who would like to start reading comics or visiting cinemas. He has also not forgotten about previous Parker fans. They have the opportunity to recall their favorite adventures and get to know them in a newer, refreshed version. In this way, everyone should be satisfied.
