Spider-Man: Reign

(Marvel, 2007-2008)
™ and © 2006 Marvel Characters, Inc.

Writer-artist Kaare Andrews gives Peter Parker the Dark Knight Returns treatment and takes a look at what Spider-Man might be up to in his AARP years. With Reign, Andrews quite obviously pays homage to Frank Miller’s landmark work, even using the same narrative device of television news reports. Just like Dark Knight, Reign places a familiar character into a dark, pessimistic future that is sorely in need of a hero. And just as Batman came out of his superhero retirement to fight crime and inspire the masses, Spidey must also do battle with old foes and demonstrate what it means to be a hero. But while the two series might share a similar setup, the typically guilt-ridden and neurotic Peter Parker is much different from the psychotically assured Bruce Wayne, and Reign possibly represents the bleakest Spider-Man tale ever told.

— Colin Chan

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