Spider-Man: The Fantastic Spider-Man Premiere HC [2011] by Dan Slott

SPIDER-MAN: THE FANTASTIC SPIDER-MAN PREMIERE HARDCOVER

Following the events of Fantastic Four Three, the Fantastic Four has been replaced by the Future Foundation and Johnny Storm asked Spider-Man to replace him on the team. The Fantastic Four have retired the name as well as the number. Spider-man is also on both Avengers and New Avengers teams. His other life as Peter Parker allows him to have a career at Horizon Labs courtesy of the late Marla Jameson and date C.S.I girl Carlie Cooper.

The Future Foundation’s first mission with Spider-Man includes sealing three rifts in the space-time continuum occurring in the Microverse, distant future, and Paris. First up was the Paris where a mime makes fun of Ben Grimm however Susan Storm teaches him a lesson. Next FF travels to the Microverse to heal Superego, the Living Atom, before she starts another Big Bang. Watching in the background is the Psycho-Man who has his own diabolical plans. The final stop is around Earth’s orbit to dock at the Future Foundation Headquarters made up of Baxter Buildings based on a palindromical architecture design in the Year 3,141,592,653.

Valerie triangulates the three anomalies to a location in the Caribbean which happens to be where Doctor Doom sent the Fantastic Four on their first trip through time. Doom sent them back to collect the treasure of Blackbeard. The team arrives on the island facing an army of zombie pirates and discovering portal causing the rifts in the space-time continuum.

Writer Dan Slott comments of Spider-Man looking like Anti-Venom shows how much love he has brought into the book. He is also setting himself up as the next Fantastic Four writer following Jonathan Hickman. Along with help from writer Fred Van Lente the story with the FF brings together the sense of family that Peter has been longing and the subplot of Doctor Octopus planning something devious from the beginning of Big Time excels the book to new heights.

FANTASTIC SPIDER-MAN

- Peter promises Reed Richards he will not use anything he has seen as inspiration at Horizon Labs

- Carlie discovers Peter is lying to him about being on a business trip for Horizon Labs

- Ben Grimm reprises his role as Blackbeard as Carlie gets a Green Goblin tattoo

- The army of zombie pirates is an illusion masterminded by Mysterio

- The real Doctor Octopus, Rhino, Sandman, and Electro infiltrate the Baxter Building

- The Caribbean triangulation was a trap set up by Doctor Octopus and Mysterio

- Mr. Fantastic, Susan Storm, and Ben Grimm all switch powers as well as FF children

- Spider-Man switches between Spider-Woman and Kaine costumes due to the unstable portal

- Spider-Man officially becomes a family member of the FF facing the Sinister Six together

- Carlie shows off her Spidey tattoo to Peter and gets laid

SPIDER-MAN MEETS AVENGERS ACADEMY

- Spider-Man volunteers to teach the Avengers Academy cadets however is in over his head

- Spider-Man and the Avengers Academy cadets faces the Psycho-Man while on patrol

- Psycho-Man uses his ability to influence emotions on the Avengers Academy cadets

- Spider-Man takes on the Avengers Academy cadets by stop fighting them

- The Avengers Academy cadets realize that they hate being controlled and fight back

THE ROAD TO SPIDER-ISLAND

Stage I: An army of spiders bites the citizens of Manhattan orchestrated by Miles Warren

Stage II: Miles are empowering New Yorkers with the powers of Spider-Man for unknown reasons

Stage II:Spider-Man can’t be at two places at once as he saves one family while another perishes

This hardcover collects

Amazing Spider-Man #658-662

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5