This is a review of the Spider-Man novel "Drowned in Thunder" by
Christopher L. Bennett. In this review I am mentioning the more recent
Spider-Man history meaning what J.M. Straczynski wrote and what happened
afterwards. I am not sure what trade paperback reprints are out there -
if you first of all buy those, please keep that in mind. Otherwise, the
review contains spoilers but I tried to keep them vague.
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I bought this book quite a while ago and although I was close a few
times to start reading it, each time something new came in that took
preference. But I finally put this book on top of my to-read list for
one main reason: I learned that this book is not taking place in the
time frame after the people who make the big decisions in Marvel decided
to press a magical reset button, undoing everything that I enjoyed in
Spider-Man. I felt the need to read a new Spider-Man story with
everything intact that I now miss so much.
“Drowned in Thunder” is taking place in a time frame that was the ideal
one for Peter Parker. In this book he is married to Mary Jane, Aunt May
knows his identity and he is a teacher. It is before his rebirth and
change, before when Peter unmasked himself, before Tony Stark used him,
before he had to leave his job as a teacher and was forced to go into
hiding, before Aunt May was shot. I think readers like me who started
reading Spider-Man when J.M. Straczynski wrote the series were cheated
in a worse way than what happened in Dallas. Not only did what he wrote
never happen, I never got the op****tunity to read an ending of that
story. The emergency brake got pulled and a reset button got pushed
which magically put things back the way they were but still, with
changes that can only be explained by magic.
I am aware of it that also Christopher L. Bennett has to move within the
Spider-Man “canon” universe and can`t undo the decisions made behind
Marvel`s doors. I think it would have been more interesting to explore
the time frame after Peter`s rebirth and his new abilities but I can
imagine that also Marvel prefers to see the original Spider-Man with
mechanical web shooters and without the stingers in book form. Therefore
I am grateful that I could at least read another story in which Peter is
married to Mary Jane, with Aunt May as his mentor and him being a
teacher, someone who is able to have a lasting relation****p and who is
able to earn his own living.
I was impressed how well the author knows the Spider-Man universe and
how he used that knowledge in the book. I am certainly not an expert
because I hardly read any Spider-Man before JMS started writing the
series. I learned a lot about his history and enjoyed the way he handled
the many layers Peter`s personality has. It felt like reading Spider-Man
as JMS has written him – and that is meant as a big compliment.
Spider-Man is often about Peter dealing with self-doubts, with the
consequences of mistakes. Also in this book he is doing the best he can
but although Peter is definitely a hero, he is far from being perfect.
But this is what makes him interesting. He is not perfect but he is able
and willing to learn and to grow as a person. What makes this book so
enjoyable are the relation****ps in this story, the strong bonds between
him and his wife and the one between him and Aunt May. Both women are
giving him the guidance and sup****t he needs. My favourite part of the
book is the powerful discussion between Peter and Aunt May. “And the
truth gets drowned out in the thunder of accusations”.
This is what happened in the battle between Peter and Jameson. It was
not a battle fought with weapons but with words with someone else
pulling the strings and manipulating their weaknesses. I never liked the
press much. Before I moved to England many years ago I already told my
then-fiance that one day the press might be responsible for Princess
Diana`s death. I am still not buying any newspapers except the local
paper. Although JJJ is an interesting character and I can understand
where he comes from, I detest what he stands for. Also when reading this
book, I had to force myself to put my personal feelings aside and just
look at his point of view. I had much more sympathy for Peter but didn`t
overlook that he wasn`t right either.
When I read more of JJJ`s typical rants about Spider-Man hiding behind a
mask instead of showing his face and that people get killed when he is
around, it just angered me. The history that got erased now shows so
very well what would have happened if Peter would have done that. And
how many more people would get killed if no one would bother to fight
the super villains?
I found this personal battle to be very well written and it kept me
thinking and wondering how far things will go. The book also offers
other aspects that make Spider-Man books and comics enjoyable, like the
humour and his fantastic abilities, the fights with powerful enemies,
like the robots in this book.
This is Spider-Man at its best. It is an excellent book, not only for
people who know the series well.
Baerbel Haddrell
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