{"id":27185,"date":"2021-11-13T22:00:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T03:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/?p=27185"},"modified":"2021-11-23T01:09:37","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T06:09:37","slug":"amazing-spider-man-301-saber-rattlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/amazing-spider-man-301-saber-rattlin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Spider-Man #301: &#8220;Saber Rattlin'&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Silver Sable takes on a private security contract that only Spider-Man can save her from. Plus, Peter Parker goes back to school, and &#8212; a Nazi!<\/em>  <em>But will Spider-Man get the chance to punch him?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Credits Dressed All in Silver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_cover_digital_400px.jpeg\" alt=\"Amazing Spider-Man #301 cover by Todd Mcfarlane with the classic red and blue uniform\" class=\"wp-image-27942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_cover_digital_400px.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_cover_digital_400px-193x300.jpeg 193w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div id=\"credits\">\n<strong>Writer: <\/strong>David Michelinie<br>\n<strong>Pencils: <\/strong>Todd McFarlane<br>\n<strong>Inks: <\/strong>Todd McFarlane<br>\n<strong>Colors: <\/strong>Bob Sharen<br>\n<strong>Letterer: <\/strong>Rick Parker<br>\n<strong>Publication Date: <\/strong>February 9, 1988<br>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s Going On?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>David Michelinie\u2019s script only has a couple of pages\u2019 worth of soap opera this month, as Peter Parker thinks about going back to school, only to get cornered into teaching a class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mary Jane doesn\u2019t get along with another model. That&#8217;s building up to something in future issues, but I\u2019ll let you know when we get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The majority of the issue is split between Spider-Man and Silver Sable. Sable\u2019s Wild Pack has been reduced to taking on private security contracts that she thinks are beneath her, but the economy of Symkaria depends on that business. So off she goes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her new contract comes from an overzealous security chief at a new New York City high rise who\u2019s vowing security, but hiding a secret agenda. Spoiler: He\u2019s a Nazi out to get Sable, who comes from a Nazi-hunting tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_wild_pack_military_men.jpeg\" alt=\"Silver Sable's paramilitary Wild Pack and their matching uniforms\" class=\"wp-image-28276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_wild_pack_military_men.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_wild_pack_military_men-253x300.jpeg 253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Wild Pack gives McFarlane a chance to go back to the drawing board to create another pack of paramilitary guys wearing lots of bandoliers, pouches, armor, boots, and jumpsuits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We get a lot of variations on this combination over the years with McFarlane\u2019s art. We saw straight-up paramilitary guys already, but now we\u2019re venturing into more of the fantasy\/comic book military\/security organization types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are, as Avi Arad might say, very toyetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security, Security, Security<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"869\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_pruett_developer_security.jpeg\" alt=\"Mr. Pruett, a legitimate NYC real estate developer with a super secure building\" class=\"wp-image-28278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_pruett_developer_security.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_pruett_developer_security-104x300.jpeg 104w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption>The glasses are uneven, but it&#8217;s so small on the page that you don&#8217;t notice.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>They&#8217;re the three buzzwords in the real estate market of the Marvel Universe.  Only a couple of issues ago, it was Carlton Drake trying to secure his suburban survivalist bunker. In the last issue, Peter and Mary Jane left their apartment after a security breach. And now, in this issue, it&#8217;s all about a real estate developer, Mr. Pruett, trying to prove he has the most secure skyscraper in Manhattan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He goes to some extreme ends to make that so.  The windows can be armored shut at the slightest provocation from outside. Hallways are lined with guns firing paintballs that could be filled with acid or a particularly nasty gas.  A drone flies through the hallways with hypodermic needles on its two arms.  And elevator shafts are protected by lasers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_building_security.jpeg\" alt=\"Silver Sable's Wild Pack test a building's security\" class=\"wp-image-28280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_building_security.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_building_security-300x290.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption>Bonus points for using the word &#8220;escutcheons&#8221; in a sentence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I can&#8217;t imagine what the HOA fees must be like on a location like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Silver Sable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"375\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_todd_mcfarlane.jpeg\" alt=\"Silver Sable, just before entering the building's security gauntlet\" class=\"wp-image-28281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_todd_mcfarlane.jpeg 375w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_todd_mcfarlane-164x300.jpeg 164w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I know this likely has something to do with that enchantment you have with all comic book characters when you&#8217;re new to comics.  I just think Silver Sable is a great, under-used character. She appeared in &#8220;The Amazing Spider-Man&#8221; during the first summer I read comics, and she seemed pretty cool there.  I had no idea that she was a relatively new character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of &#8220;The Amazing Spider-Man&#8221; #301, she had appeared in very few comics.  Maybe 3? (There is a &#8220;Silver Sable&#8221; trade paperback that contains all her earliest appearances through the McSpidey issues.)  David Michelinie takes a couple of panels on page four of this issue to give her enough thought balloons to explain her story to any new reader instantly.  You&#8217;re all caught up at that point and can move on with the story.  As a new reader, I appreciated that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She&#8217;s cool as a cucumber and can put Spider-Man quickly in his place.  She&#8217;s an ally, but a difficult one.  There&#8217;s an antagonism between them that&#8217;s fun to watch.  It&#8217;s not annoying.  It&#8217;s a strong combination of character &#8212; she&#8217;s looking out for her country&#8217;s interests, and he is always looking out for everyone else&#8217;s.  They want to work together towards common goals, but it pains either to give the other any credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>True to her name, you&#8217;re as likely to find her in a black-tie event wearing the fanciest silver-colored dress as you are to see her in the field plying her trade.  She has no superpowers; she&#8217;s just really good at what she does, which includes the darts strapped to her body and some strong gymnastics powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hey, wait a second, this is Dart from &#8220;The Savage Dragon&#8221;, isn&#8217;t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any case, I enjoy this character.  I think she and Spider-Man have great chemistry.  It shows in this issue.  And McFarlane gets to play fashion designer for her in every scene, too.  Then she can go jump through lasers and scale a rigged skyscraper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s fun comics stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She&#8217;ll be back after this for the &#8220;Assassin Nation&#8221; summer bi-weekly event that we&#8217;ll talk about starting in issue #320.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evolution of McFarlane: Some Stumbling Blocks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Todd McFarlane wasn\u2019t entirely new to inking when he started \u201cThe Amazing Spider-Man.\u201d He had done some of it on \u201cThe Incredible Hulk\u201d just before it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/the-amazing-spider-man-300-venom\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27188\">\u201cAmazing Spider-Man\u201d #300<\/a> was a great introduction to the young inker\u2019s skills, but issue #301 is a step back in some ways. It doesn\u2019t look quite as finished. I wonder if #301 had to be done in a hurry to catch up from any excesses in getting out the bonus-length #300 on a monthly schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s inconsistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are definitely moments and lines in this art that scream the McFarlane style that we all know and love, but it\u2019s always uncertain. It\u2019s still looser than you might remember. The art is a little shakier and a little less perfect, but the inks aren\u2019t helping it at all. Fast forward a year or so and you can see a vast difference in the final line, in both the superhero scenes and in the \u201cnormal people\u201d pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In particular, watch Spider-Man\u2019s legs as we go through this evolution of McFarlane\u2019s Spider-Man style. It\u2019ll eventually grow to be a really tight, thin line-laden technical style. Here at the beginning of the return to the red-and-blue costume, McFarlane is feeling his way out. The black on Spider-Man\u2019s legs is much smoother and more rubbery than what it will eventually become. There\u2019s very little, if any, feathering of his lines the way there would later be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are more solid blue areas on his costume without the thin little lines to outline every muscle in the shadows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s also using an angle on Spider-Man drawn directly head-on that isn\u2019t flattering to his head. The head looks small or the neck is too wide. The webbings make his head look flat from the front. It\u2019s apparent in a couple of panels this issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_flat_faced_spider-man.jpeg\" alt=\"Flat Faced Spider-Man by Todd McFarlane\" class=\"wp-image-28282\" width=\"450\" height=\"253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_flat_faced_spider-man.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_flat_faced_spider-man-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s something McFarlane quickly gave up on. You can look towards later issues to see how the three-quarter angle on Spider-Man\u2019s head worked a lot better for McFarlane. He stuck to it religiously and to great effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Spider-Man poses are no doubt McFarlane\u2019s, and you\u2019d recognize most of them from a mile away even if he had done just the layouts. It\u2019s the final line that looks more variable in this issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sable\u2019s face also morphs across the issue, never quite looking like the same person from panel to panel. Sable fills many roles in this issue, from superhero to diplomat to high-end fashion plate. McFarlane looked more comfortable in his art with the men than the women at this point, with the possible exception of Mary Jane, who he seemed to have a lock on from very early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My overall thesis of The McFarlane Chronicles is that this is the series where Todd McFarlane found his artistic voice.  We have a lot of growing pains to get through in order to get there.  McFarlane was just learning to ink comics. This was his third monthly assignment, but the bi-weekly issues also wreaked havoc with his ability to add all the detail he&#8217;s famous for.  There are moments in these early issues where you recognize The Todd McFarlane Style, but there&#8217;s also a lot where it&#8217;s a young artist trying to make it through to the next issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All in all, the issue makes for a nice action set piece, focusing on the secure high-rise towers where Spider-Man and Silver Sable fight it out. Michelinie strains to fit the soap opera parts in, but we still get a page of Peter and Mary Jane at home, so it\u2019s par for the course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McFarlane\u2019s art is a step back from the last issue but is not without its moments where it still shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_spider-man_vs_silver-sable.jpeg\" alt=\"Spider-Man versus Silver Sable\" class=\"wp-image-28289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_spider-man_vs_silver-sable.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_spider-man_vs_silver-sable-300x172.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The panels where Spider-Man and Silver Sable have their little battle are filled with great poses and angles.  They&#8217;re not all drawn perfectly, but they&#8217;re laid out well and continue to define how McFarlane&#8217;s Spider-Man moves, even when in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Comedy and the Credulity of Silver Sable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The climax of the comic is when Silver Sable enters the skyscraper alone, as a test to survive the new security system.  We see her facing off against multiple defense systems, all of which she bests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Except&#8230; she never looks behind her, and she always assumes the best-case scenario.  When the red light beams make contact with her backpack, but no alarm rings, she assumes she just got lucky.  She never notices that the other defense mechanisms are all doing live fire rounds.  Plants die around her from the hypodermic drone.  Acids sears into the walls from where the &#8220;paintballs&#8221; missed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_satchel_laser_burn.jpeg\" alt=\"Silver Sable misses evidence of security tampering\" class=\"wp-image-28284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_satchel_laser_burn.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_silver_sable_satchel_laser_burn-300x72.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption>First, &#8220;escutcheon.&#8221; Now, &#8220;satchel&#8221;.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She&#8217;s missing all the evidence she needs that there&#8217;s something wrong with this &#8220;test.&#8221;  Not that she would have any cause for concern, but a head of a nation&#8217;s security should be slightly more suspicious\/cynical.  It&#8217;s almost funny how she keeps just missing the one bit of proof she&#8217;d need that she&#8217;s in bigger trouble than she thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trouble is, it starts to undercut her.  She&#8217;s super smart and good at the security thing, but she doesn&#8217;t catch on to this?  She shrugs her shoulders and ignores it when she has evidence that something is going wrong?  I get that it&#8217;s necessary for the plot, but it feels like a bit of a cheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s all setting things up to get Spider-Man to come in and save her, though only after one last friendly altercation.  I think if this story was written today, she&#8217;d realize what was going on just before Spider-Man burst through the window.  Then she&#8217;d be able to smugly call him &#8220;late&#8221; to join the party.  They&#8217;d still be able to trade barbs, then fight against the security systems together for the extra action. He&#8217;d still be able to break the news to her about the Nazi connection.  And she would still look smart and strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Win\/win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Original Art Watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three pages from this issue posted to the Comic Art Fans website.  That would include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comicartfans.com\/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=62975\">the opening splash page<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comicartfans.com\/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=625250\">page 13<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comicartfans.com\/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=62976\">the last page<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last page has Peter being offered a job far away from home. There&#8217;s not too much to be learned from that page, aside from a margin note just outside the last panel that says, &#8220;Fix MJ&#8217;s lips.&#8221;  I&#8217;m not sure what had to be done, but the final product looks good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at the original art on that splash page if you&#8217;re reading this in the Omnibus or digital editions. It&#8217;s the best example I&#8217;ve seen so far of how these scans aren&#8217;t perfect.  Most everything is OK, but the thinner lines are a trouble spot.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_speedlines_disappear_comparison.jpeg\" alt=\"The original art shows how the speediness were drawn.  Next to it is the digitally remastered comics\" class=\"wp-image-28286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_speedlines_disappear_comparison.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm301_speedlines_disappear_comparison-300x128.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at all of McFarlane&#8217;s burst lines and see how the new editions make them so thin that they break up.  Those lines are fragile, which is a shame.  Sometimes, to be fair, having breaks in the line makes it look more organic and interesting. But, mostly, they just look scratchy and slightly pixellated.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why I Bought Silver Sable&#8217;s Solo Series<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/silver_sable_1_cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #1 cover\" class=\"wp-image-28287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/silver_sable_1_cover.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/silver_sable_1_cover-200x300.jpeg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fun fact: The colorist of this issue, Greg Wright, would go on to write the \u201cSilver Sable and the Wild Pack\u201d series for 35 issues starting in 1992.  (That cover had a metallic silver cover, by the way. It was awesome.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a personal note: Remember Marvel&#8217;s attempt to restart the Epic line in the Bill Jemas days?  I was one of the people contacted for it.  While I wound up not submitting anything for it, I did do a little bit of research. I wanted to bring Silver Sable back. Nobody had done much with her in almost a decade at that point. That changed not too long after&#8230; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I went so far as to research it by buying the entire run of &#8220;Silver Sable and the Wild Pack&#8221; from a seller on eBay.  Turns out, it&#8217;s not that great a series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I didn&#8217;t have the fire in me to follow up on the Epic program, so I didn&#8217;t submit anything.  Also, I was one of the rare columnists of that era who wasn&#8217;t writing a column as a way of getting a job writing comics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given how many projects wound up unfinished or dead from the start at Epic, I like to think I saved myself some time. It&#8217;s a life lesson that cost me about $30. Plus shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"felix\">Finding Felix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This might be the most preposterously hidden Felix of them all. It&#8217;ll take eagle eyes and a bit of imagination to find it.  It&#8217;s kind of clever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s one panel of Peter teaching a class at Empire State University.  In front of the stage he&#8217;s teaching from, there&#8217;s a crowd of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_felix_watch_school.jpeg\" alt=\"Todd McFarlane hides Felix the Cat in the student body\" class=\"wp-image-28190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_felix_watch_school.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm_301_felix_watch_school-300x286.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you look just carefully enough, you&#8217;ll see Felix staring out at you from between the squiggles of the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I like David Michelinie&#8217;s main plot with the skyscraper penetration testing, even if it dumbs down Silver Sable just a little.  It&#8217;s not so bad that she can&#8217;t come back from it.  McFarlane&#8217;s artwork is wildly variable in this issue. Some of the inking feels unfinished, some of it just couldn&#8217;t save the art underneath it.  Yet, there are moments of classic McFarlane interspersed throughout the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it&#8217;s Silver Sable, so I can&#8217;t hate it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, the Nazi gets away in the end of this issue.  We&#8217;ll get back to him in a couple of issues, don&#8217;t you worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> <br>BD Recommendation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you liked this issue, I have a recommendation for you from the world of <em>les bandes dessin\u00e9es<\/em>, or Franco-Belgian comics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/harmony_vol1_cover_400px.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Silver Sable is a butt-kicking heroine with steely blue eyes and very light-colored hair.  She reminds me of an adult version of Harmony, the teenage star of the series of the same name written and drawn by Mathieu Reynes.  Harmony actually has telekinetic super powers, though, but will definitely still kick plenty of adult butt on her way to figuring out where her powers came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a great series with amazing art by Reynes. <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3xe3WT2\">Insight Comics even did a print edition<\/a> [affilite link] collecting the first three albums in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/the-amnesiac-girl-with-telekinesis-harmony-v1-memento\/\">a review of &#8220;Harmony&#8221; volume 1<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/where-it-all-began-harmony-v2\/\">volume 2<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/harmony-v3-ago\/\">volume 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm302_cover_HEADER.jpeg\" alt=\"Detail on The Amazing Spider-Man #302 cover by Todd McFarlane\" class=\"wp-image-27966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm302_cover_HEADER.jpeg 790w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm302_cover_HEADER-300x110.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm302_cover_HEADER-768x282.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s one of the most ludicrous issues of its time. We get to have fun talking about the man imbued with the proportionate strength and skills of &#8212; a jackrabbit?!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Silver Sable is in town to secure a new skyscraper. But Spider-Man thinks there&#8217;s more going on than she realizes.  There is. It&#8217;s a Nazi!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"above","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,7],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-27185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue","category-reviews","tag-silver-sable"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm-301-cover-HEADER.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27181,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/amazing-spider-man-303-dock-savage\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":0},"title":"The Amazing Spider-Man #303: &#8220;Dock Savage&#8221;","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"November 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Spider-Man joins Silver Sable and Sandman in a Nazi hunt, plus Peter Parker and Mary Jane make a serious career decision.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issue&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issue","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/reviews\/issue\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Amazing Spider-Man #303 cover detail by Todd McFarlane","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm303_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm303_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm303_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm303_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27633,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/digital-mcspidey-collections\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":1},"title":"How to read Todd McFarlane&#8217;s &#8220;The Amazing Spider-Man&#8221; Digitally","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"October 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's your guide on how to collect the entire run of The McSpidey Chronicles digitally. Yes, it's complicated enough to need a guide.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Resources&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Resources","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/resources\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A small sample of Amazing Spider-Man issues on sale at Comixology.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/comixology_mcSpidey_singe_issues_HEADER.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/comixology_mcSpidey_singe_issues_HEADER.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/comixology_mcSpidey_singe_issues_HEADER.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/comixology_mcSpidey_singe_issues_HEADER.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27183,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/amazing-spider-man-302-mid-american-gothic\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":2},"title":"The Amazing Spider-Man #302: &#8220;(Mid) American Gothic&#8221;","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"November 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Peter Parker heads to Kansas to look at a new job. While there, he meets a man with the proportional strength of a jackrabbit. No, I'm not joking.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issue&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issue","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/reviews\/issue\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Amazing Spider-Man #302 cover detail by Todd McFarlane","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm302_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm302_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm302_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm302_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27179,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/amazing-spider-man-304-california-schemin\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":3},"title":"The Amazing Spider-Man #304: &#8220;California Schemin'&#8221;","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"November 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Peter Parker goes to California on a book tour, where he runs into his old adversary, the Black Fox. WIll he let him get away with it again?","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issue&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issue","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/reviews\/issue\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Amazing Spider-Man #304 cover detail by Todd McFarlane","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm304_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm304_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm304_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/asm304_cover_DETAIL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27188,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/the-amazing-spider-man-300-venom\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":4},"title":"The Amazing Spider-Man #300: &#8220;Venom&#8221;","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"November 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"McFarlane inks himself. Venom has his fourth first appearance. And just who did create Venom, anyway? I have an idea.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issue&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issue","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/reviews\/issue\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Amazing Spider-Man #300 cover detail by Todd McFarlane","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm-300-cover-DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm-300-cover-DETAIL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm-300-cover-DETAIL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/asm-300-cover-DETAIL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27197,"url":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/amazing-spider-man-310-shrike-force\/","url_meta":{"origin":27185,"position":5},"title":"The Amazing Spider-Man #310: &#8220;Shrike Force&#8221;","author":"Augie De Blieck Jr.","date":"January 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Peter is back in college, and finds trouble on his first day between The Tinkerer and Killer Shrike.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Issue&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Issue","link":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/category\/reviews\/issue\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Amazing Spider-Man #310 cover detail by Todd McFarlane featuring Spider-Man and the Shrike","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm310_cover_digital_HEADER.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm310_cover_digital_HEADER.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm310_cover_digital_HEADER.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/asm310_cover_digital_HEADER.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27185"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28505,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27185\/revisions\/28505"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipelinecomics.com\/mcspidey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}