Spider-Man Unlimited (3rd Series)

    (Marvel, 2004-2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

A new, bi-monthly Spider-Man comic book may seem unnecessary, but the format, at least so far, is a welcome change from most other titles being published today. Like countless Silver Age comics of yore, Spider-Man Unlimited features two Done in One stories, both of which are easy to get into and easy to enjoy.

“Human Interest” is a touching, deftly told tale that fans of Roger Stern’s classic “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man” (Amazing Spider-Man #248, Jan 84) will appreciate. Spidey doesn’t reveal his secret identity to the terminally ill child this time around (as he did in the Stern story), but he does give the little girl the thrill of a lifetime. The story is elegant in its simplicity, and its surprise near the end and heartwarming resolution will bring a melancholy smile to readers’ faces. The art will appear crude to some, but it fits the overriding sadness of the story—and the girl, who is bald from chemotherapy, looks charming in her little pink hat.

Switching gears from teary-eyed to tongue-in-cheek, “Slyde into Destiny?” isn’t quite a farce but it is a fun time with slickly detailed art and a healthy dose of comic relief. Equipped with a costume that is coated with a non-stick, well, coating, Slyde is a bumbling near-parody of a super-villain. He’s got a modern makeover, an inferiority complex, and an amusing brand of unwarranted cockiness.

Neither story is particularly original, but each is entertaining in its own way.

— Brett Weiss
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
#1

March, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
8 copies available from $1.75 		Joseph Goodrich, Brian LynchTakeshi Miyazawa, Sean Chen
#2

May, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
12 copies available from $0.99 		Adam Higgs, J.T. KrulRick Mays, Paul Azaceta
#3

July, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
7 copies available from $1.75 		Tom McLaughlin, Brandon ThomasScott Kolins, Alé Garza
#4

September, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
5 copies available from $2.98 		Robert Kirkman, Allan JacobsenCory Walker, C.P. Smith
#5

November, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
7 copies available from $2.85 		Kim Howard Johnson, Martin SweeneyStaz Johnson, Alex Sanchez
#6

January, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
7 copies available from $0.99 		Sheldon Allen, Scott M. GimpleJim Cheung, Stuart Immonen
#7

March, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
6 copies available from $2.00 		Bill Rosemann, Matthew K. ManningMike Perkins, Karl Moline
#8

May, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
2 copies available from $7.00 		Joshua Ortega, Joe HillRyan Sook, Seth Fisher
#9

July, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
7 copies available from $2.99 		Christopher Yost, Petar BridgesDrew Johnson, Cully Hamner
#10

September, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
6 copies available from $2.25 		Marc Sumerak, Maria-Emiko MacuagaGreg Tocchini, Pia Guerra
#11

November, 2005
Cover Price: $2.99
3 copies available from $3.56 		Brian Reed, Jason MillerMichael Lark, Alberto Dose
#12

January, 2006
Cover Price: $2.99
7 copies available from $3.00 		Christos Gage, Tom BelandMike McKone, Sean Phillips
#13

March, 2006
Cover Price: $2.99
6 copies available from $3.50 		Aaron Williams, Lenar ClarkCasey Jones, Tim Smith III
#14

May, 2006
Cover Price: $2.99
2 copies available from $4.00 		C.B. Cebulski, Joe ReitmanDavid Finch, Ron Garney
#15

June, 2006
Cover Price: $2.99
11 copies available from $1.80 		Klaus Janson, Merrill HaganKlaus Janson, Adam DeKraker