Story By: Dan Slott
Artist: Ramon Perez
Cover Art: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
So, we've reached the end of Learning to Crawl, and I have to say the final issue has been by far the best issue. Now I may come across as a bit harsh in the next few sentences but. I haven't really seen the point of this Mini-series. it's not really shown us anything new.
In fact I did almost drop the book half way through as it was just starting to drag in places. I'm kind of glad I didn't though as then I would've missed this last issue. The saving grace of the overall story arc was the artwork by Ramon Perez, which was so fresh and reminiscent of the Ditko art from the early issues of Amazing Spider-Man and also the brilliant Cover art provided by Alex Ross.
As for the story arc, it just left me feeling a bit meh! a case of did we really need to go over this again?
When the storyline was announced, I thought it sounded an interesting premise. a look at what drives Peter Parker into wearing the webs every day. Following his failure to act leading indirectly to his Uncle's death. The whole concept of the exploration of grief and guilt which often leads us to second guessing our own lives. However in the arc Peter Parker just more often that not comes across as being selfish and moody and using Ben's death as an excuse to act out over. yes yes i know most 15 years old's are this way. it's just his actions didn't really sit right with me.........
That is not until pt 5 of a storyline that was sort of stumbling along. really takes off. Just as Peter appears to have said goodbye to being Spider-Man before he's really even got going. Slott informs us that it's all down to Aunt May for the reason Peter becomes the wisecracking hero that we all know and love. with a moment that veers into melancholic drama only to flip the situation on it's head completely reminding us all just why Comic books should be fun. Some of the problem's I have with this story are it opens up a number of questions that never really get resolved. like what happens to "Clash"? a new character created just to act as the villain in this "un-told" tale. The resolution to the story offer's no explanation as to what happens to the character of Clayton Cole, nor does it give any indication as to why we've never heard from him since.
I guess that's just one of the problems with adding new characters into a retro tale. it's bound to throw up questions that inevitably won't be answered. You could argue that it's a book about Peter learning about how to be Spider-Man the balancing act of responsibilty, if thats the case then don't spend the entire arc switching between the Protaganist and Antagonist seemingly giving them equal footing within the storyline if the resolution is going to end so cheaply.
I have to give credit though for the final splash page in which gives a little satisfaction to the reader and brings a wry smile to the jaw and maybe a little tear in the eye.
That is the genius of Dan Slott though, just when you're feeling a little let down by the story, he manages to pull a rabbit out the hat and leave you feeling (Pardon the pun) Amazing.
I enjoyed this final issue and a couple of others in the arc. it's just that i didn't really feel it was a necessary tale that needed to be told.
My score for "Learning to Crawl" as a whole would be 7.0. Not really essential and raises more questions that it answers. but an ok story overall.
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