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Product Description
Product Description
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. While Spidey battles killer robots and attempts to solve the riddle of their origins, Jameson's manipulation of public opinion damages the hero's reputation and his idealism, leading to a dual showdown that will change both men's lives forever.
About the Author
Christopher L. Bennett lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended University for a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. with high honours in History. Prior to his X-Men endeavours, Bennett focused his love for science fiction into Star Trek novelizations for Simon & Schuster, including Star Trek: Ex Machina and Star Trek S.C.E Aftermath.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I am a big fan of the Marvel franchise, having read it for a few years as a 10-12 year old and now, catching up 25 years later with these new movies and the novels. I always admired Stan Lee's vision for his characters and Spider-Man epitomised the reality factor he wanted. Here was a man who could crawl up walls but get his costume soaked, catch a cold, and have trouble with the laundry.
The kitchen sink is therefore an essential component of Spider-Man stories, and in this pot boiler, you get a good pinch of Peter Parker's persona (but not picking a pickled pepper). All the P's are matched with all the J's, because JJJ, J Johah Jameson (like the whiskey) is the key to the whole plot and the misunderstanding between them is writ large. You have to try and work out what is going on, but you just know that these two will bark up as many wrong trees as they can find.
There are two villains lurking in the pages and I will reveal neither. They are well used, but the mystery of what is affecting PP's Spider-sense is pivotal to the plot. It makes some fascinating scenes as it affects his ability to tell friend from foe and crosses over into how he trusts others around him.
Bennett gets inside the heads of his characters well, but that is taken for granted in Spider-Man where the innver voice of these novels is a critical factor. He does not quite get around it as well as Butcher or Decandido in my opinion, but he does well nontheless and he makes several interesting minor observations such as the common mis-spellings of Spider-Man.
If I have one criticism, it is that geometric battle scenes that involve working out what robotics are doing and how something operates that is unfamiliar looking, is not easy for the mind's eye. I don't believe Bennett describes the mechanics well enough to create a strong mental image of what he himself is visualising. Of course, the imagination crosses many barriers and yours will cope as mine did.
So, enjoy it you will, and more will you want.
The kitchen sink is therefore an essential component of Spider-Man stories, and in this pot boiler, you get a good pinch of Peter Parker's persona (but not picking a pickled pepper). All the P's are matched with all the J's, because JJJ, J Johah Jameson (like the whiskey) is the key to the whole plot and the misunderstanding between them is writ large. You have to try and work out what is going on, but you just know that these two will bark up as many wrong trees as they can find.
There are two villains lurking in the pages and I will reveal neither. They are well used, but the mystery of what is affecting PP's Spider-sense is pivotal to the plot. It makes some fascinating scenes as it affects his ability to tell friend from foe and crosses over into how he trusts others around him.
Bennett gets inside the heads of his characters well, but that is taken for granted in Spider-Man where the innver voice of these novels is a critical factor. He does not quite get around it as well as Butcher or Decandido in my opinion, but he does well nontheless and he makes several interesting minor observations such as the common mis-spellings of Spider-Man.
If I have one criticism, it is that geometric battle scenes that involve working out what robotics are doing and how something operates that is unfamiliar looking, is not easy for the mind's eye. I don't believe Bennett describes the mechanics well enough to create a strong mental image of what he himself is visualising. Of course, the imagination crosses many barriers and yours will cope as mine did.
So, enjoy it you will, and more will you want.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
The best Spidey adventure in a long time
10 Jan 2008
Format:Mass Market Paperback
And not just in novel form, either; Christopher L. Bennett's DROWNED IN THUNDER is better even than most stories told in the comicbooks lately.
The fight scenes are great, the humor is great, and the characterization is spot on.
Best of all, it's so continuity-rich you'd swear Mark Gruenwald wrote it from beyond the grave. There's references to things like Aunt May hitting Spidey with a vase and MJ trying to hit him with a pillow (from a little BACK-UP story in an ANNUAL!). And even better, there's references to the previous novels, not just "Down These Mean Streets" by Keith R.A. DeCandido and "The Darkest Hours" by Jim Butcher, but even the novels from the previous series, including the ones by Diane Duane and Adam-Troy Castro. And a direct quote from the 1960's Batman movie.
And even a nickname for JJJ that's taken from the 90's animated series!
Pick it up, you will not regret it.
The fight scenes are great, the humor is great, and the characterization is spot on.
Best of all, it's so continuity-rich you'd swear Mark Gruenwald wrote it from beyond the grave. There's references to things like Aunt May hitting Spidey with a vase and MJ trying to hit him with a pillow (from a little BACK-UP story in an ANNUAL!). And even better, there's references to the previous novels, not just "Down These Mean Streets" by Keith R.A. DeCandido and "The Darkest Hours" by Jim Butcher, but even the novels from the previous series, including the ones by Diane Duane and Adam-Troy Castro. And a direct quote from the 1960's Batman movie.
And even a nickname for JJJ that's taken from the 90's animated series!
Pick it up, you will not regret it.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Drowned in Bennett
1 July 2010
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book isn't as good as it should have been.
I understand that Marvel novels and novellas aren't typically the height of literary genius but if I learned to write better sentences in my sophomore fiction class, Bennett should definitely write better. There are simply too many sentences that you could read anywhere, as though Bennett typed up the book in a hurry and didn't bother to edit it more than once, as though his editor didn't care to make the prose tighter and more powerful.
On a plot level, it's not bad. The twists work. Bennett obligingly introduces the major bad guy early on and then dismisses him, only to bring him back at the end with enough logic to make it work. Agatha Christie style, though not as good. There are some plot points that seem a little stretched, like Peter's reaction to his aunt and wife when he begins to distrust everyone, but for the most part, the plot works on a fun level. There's nothing too surprising but then again most people who read this are looking for a slightly more in depth version of the comics. There's certainly nothing soul-shaking in here and, unlike the comics, there are no powerful drawings to catch the eye and mind.
It's okay but I feel Bennett could have done better.
I understand that Marvel novels and novellas aren't typically the height of literary genius but if I learned to write better sentences in my sophomore fiction class, Bennett should definitely write better. There are simply too many sentences that you could read anywhere, as though Bennett typed up the book in a hurry and didn't bother to edit it more than once, as though his editor didn't care to make the prose tighter and more powerful.
On a plot level, it's not bad. The twists work. Bennett obligingly introduces the major bad guy early on and then dismisses him, only to bring him back at the end with enough logic to make it work. Agatha Christie style, though not as good. There are some plot points that seem a little stretched, like Peter's reaction to his aunt and wife when he begins to distrust everyone, but for the most part, the plot works on a fun level. There's nothing too surprising but then again most people who read this are looking for a slightly more in depth version of the comics. There's certainly nothing soul-shaking in here and, unlike the comics, there are no powerful drawings to catch the eye and mind.
It's okay but I feel Bennett could have done better.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Fun read.
11 Mar 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the first Spider-Man novel I've read, and though I wish I'd read the other novels that preceded it, I found the story fun and action-packed.
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