Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

We start off with a very tired, defeated, sad looking Spiderman, dropping and throwing away his suit in an alley...
Yu is an awkward high school student, the typical teenage "high school sucks" kinda life. He ends up finding the suit and figures it is a good way to get social media likes. He quickly finds out putting on the suit is more than pictures. Almost immediately he is called to help rescue a boy in a fire and almost messes that up! Good thing he is a pro rock climber!

The book has the story of Peter Parker and Yu going on at the same time. Seeing the parallels with Peter's real struggles with Yu figuring out what he wants to do with his new found suit and webs. We come across our favorite characters MJ, Aunt Mae, Peter's crazy editor in Chief Jamenson.

We meet Emma, a girl who Yu saved and she figures out who Yu really is and takes it upon herself to become his aide. She is pushy, but has good intentions. A new villain appears a woman named Screwball who plants a bomb and challenges Spiderman to find it on her livestream. Yu decides to show up and we see Peter is watching the livestream along with another mysterious new character. Ends up Screwball set him up to livestream them kissing and get more views as an e-Girl.

Meet Silk! A completely bad ass girl who has Spider power! She is on the search for Spidey herself an tells Yu she has his back and they can find him together.
Meanwhile Emma confesses her love for their friend Sarah to Yu throwing him for a loop! She is afraid of what he might think of her being gay but of course he is totally cool with it, but still hurts a little since it was obvious he had a crush on her. However he realizes they are besties and now is extremely excited to have a true friend that he can count on.

Silk finds Peter transformed into what looks like Venom and calls Yu for help. (Cindy Moon is Silk's real name) They figure out it is Peter inside the monster. Together they find a way to seperate the Venom from Peter and Yu passes the mask to Peter telling him he is his hero and the true spiderman. It works and Peter is back!

In come the Sinister Six! Oh my villians! Doctor Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Scorpion, Mysterio, Shocker, and Vulture all show up. Together they defeat them and Peter announces to everyone that Yu is a true Spiderman.

Gorgeous artwork.

Who doesn't like Spiderman? This graphic keeps the reader engaged with the exceptional artwork and nonstop action.

VIZ Media is killing it with its recent Marvel collaborations. I enjoyed Marvel’s Secret Reverse and Deadpool Samurai, even if they had some undercooked stories. The art was magnificent however, and I always saw myself coming back to it. Spider-Man: Fake Red is no different, offering some spectacular art and visual pizzaz with an underwhelming story.

Yu Onomae is your normal Japanese high school student, a rock-climbing enthusiast that has issues with self-esteem. While he works up the courage to interact with fellow classmate Emma Pearson, his life suddenly changes. Yu encounters a Spider-Man suit in the garbage. With its owner mysteriously absent, Yu wonders how it would feel to wear the suit. Thinking fast, he wears the suit and is thrust into a tale that tests his beliefs. With great power comes great responsibility indeed.

I appreciate that Peter Parker is still in the story, albeit as a symbiote-struggling supporting character. Yu also goes toe-to-toe with some classic Spider-Man villains like Scorpion, Mysterio (and technically the rest of the Sinister Six). He also has a small fight with Screwball (who is a relatively modern minor villain in the main Spider-Man franchise). The story beats are expected and feel like something out of the early MCU Spider-Man films. Not a bad thing, but it’s not going to be in a Top 10 list of best Spider-Man stories.

If there’s one thing Spider-Man: Fake Red excels in, it’s the art. This manga style works perfectly with Spider-Man, and I can see how much effort Yusuke Osawa puts into this work. The black-and-white art contrasts perfectly with colored pages sprinkled within the story. This reminds me of Secret Reverse’s art, and I wish we could have more American releases in a manga style.

While the story may be basic, Spider-Man: Fake Red is a great manga adaptation of classic Spider-Man characters. I would consider picking this one up for manga fans getting into American comics.

I absolutely LOVED this when I read it. It had me on the edge of my seat and many times, the tension was so great, I had to put it down and pick it up after I had calmed down some.

The premise is an average teen (who rock climbs, so maybe not THAT average) happens upon Spidey's suit and dons it, with the predictable results. Trouble with a capital "T". But he is game and really does try to help while waiting for the real spidey to get back and take up his suit and mantle.

I really loved the MC, he was so earnest and was a sincerely good person at heart. Have to wonder what would have happened if someone less sincere found the suit.

The artwork was gorgeous, the storyline believable and the characters were all great. 4.5 stars, rounding down until I get my own physical copy of this so I can re-read again in print and see if it should be bumped up to the full five.

4, SO CLOSE, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this to read and review.

As with many of the recent stories about Spider-Man in the Spider-verse, another newcomer develops spider powers and puts on a spider-suit, is found by a villain, struggles with identity and powers, and ultimately defeats the villain in a decisive fashion. Predictable, but still a fun ride, with a good story line, an interesting main character, and crisp, clean artwork. Recommended for anyone who enjoys the genre.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Why did I read this book? Why did I bother trying to review it? It’s so out of my element. But that was part of it. I wanted to push my reading and writing boundaries. And I love superhero books! I’m just intimidated by trying to delve into iconic characters who have a rich history. So whenever I see a book where they try to rework the classic character for a new audience, I try to grab the moment. And a Spider-Man manga? Did that exist before? (I found a Wikipedia article that said there was a manga version back in the70s.) I’m not a huge manga fan…

Boy, was I surprised at how much I enjoyed the book! It will be interesting to add this title to my collection and see how students react to it.

Yu is in a new high school and is not having an easy time adjusting. He’s failing his classes. He’s not really making friends. His father is riding him hard about his grades. And Yu is obsessed with Spider-Man. He relishes the idea of meeting him or being like him. He works out in a gym, trying to climb just like his hero.
But Yu isn’t like Spider-Man. He won’t stop injustice when he sees it. He witnesses a classmate being bullied and he just stands by. Feeling awful about it, Yu skulks away and happens onto a discarded Spider-Man costume. But it’s not a fake. This is the real deal. And where has Spider-Man been? Spider-Man has been missing in action.

Yu does try to be like the superhero, as he dons the costume, but it’s hard work and he doesn’t have superpowers. A girl from school, one he is crushing on (sorry Yu, you’re not her type), figures out his secret but thinks he’s the actual Spider-Man. Will Yu be a good enough fake Spider-Man? Where is Peter Parker? When will he be back to save the city?

Filled with lots of action and classic manga-style artwork, this was a really interesting blend of manga and the iconic superhero world. I think today’s young readers are ready for a mash-up of styles. And it isn’t just re-creating the Spider-Man story in a manga style but instead takes a whole new spin on the story.

While I’m neither an expert in manga nor superheroes, my untrained eye in these formats felt like it all worked. The story starts slowly… but quickly builds up and I was surprised at how much detail was in the story. This is also longer than the typical Viz title – longer than a single volume of Naruto or Demon Slayer. But the story builds and works together. The final battle – was epic.

The classic style black and white line drawings all feel like manga, but unlike manga, I did read it from left-to-right. I’m used to seeing Spider-Man in full color, yet… the black and white gave a feel of excitement and newness. This is a great addition to the Viz line.

Thank you to VIZ Media and Netgalley for an early egalley in exchange for an honest review.

First: I love Spiderman, and so I knew it was pretty much a guarantee that I would enjoy this one. Yu, our main character discovers Spiderman's actual suit near a dumpster and ends up using a his bouldering skills to fill in for the absent Peter Parker, all the while, questioning his worth both in this suit and outside of it. Overall this was an enjoyable read, and like the author, I hope it's given a chance to continue as a series. Lots of action and Easter eggs which are noted at the end of the manga

With great power comes great responsibility and that theme is carry over heavy with Spider-Man: Fake Red. A story from a civilian eyes on what it's like to be the webslinger. Highly recommended.

From a copyrighted review in The Cullman Times, The Athens News-Courier, St. Clair News-Aegis, Mountain Times

By Tom Mayer
tmayer@cullmantimes.com

In continuing to “pack the beach bag … with books” — June is upon us and the waves are beckoning — are nine new titles, including two crossovers from our May 9 (https://tinyurl.com/24rwb2mr) round up and a couple of freebies you’ll want to find room for.

From the wildly, internationally famous (Justin Cronin, Christopher Paolini) to more than a few who deserve to be in that camp, this list is not only long on story, it includes the one beach book you can’t ignore (“until it swims up and bites you on the …”).

Bon appetit.

'The Ferryman' by Justin Cronin (Ballantine Books, 530 pages)
Few books, and their authors, can earn attention from the likes of Stephen King (“totally satisfying”), Chris Bohjalian (“brilliant hybrid”) or Andy Weir (“mind-bending”), but Justin Cronin is one of the elect. And “The Ferryman” shows us why (or to be more precise, why again: Cronin is the best-selling author of “The Passage” trilogy and a world-building style unique to his oeuvre). But as good as his current canon is, "The Ferryman" is better. Cronin's latest tops the charts in the "post-apocalyptic-science fiction" category, but it's not really that public consensus that shows its worth; it's more than that.

Prospera, founded by the mysterious Designer, is an archipelago hidden from the ravages of time and an outside world. Those who live there enjoy inordinately long lives, and when they retire (as determined by implanted health monitors) they take a ferry ride to the Nursery, where their bodies are rejuvenated, their memories wiped and life begins anew.

You can imagine the story lines that develop from here, but it's unlikely you'll see what Cronin has planned. A long, engaging book, the story moves as fast as the movie it certainly will be from an author who keeps improving, even as he, like us all, inches toward his own ferry ride.

'Below the Line' by Lowell Cauffiel (Arcade Crimewise, 311 pages)
Lowell Cauffiel's "Below the Line" won't be the most intense book you bring to the beach this summer, but it could be the most fun. Part Hollywood noir, part comedy of errors, Cauffiel's Tinsel Town crime caper joins a corrupt Hollywood producer, an ex-cop with regrets and career criminal in a satisfying (well, once you add in the roller derby queen, anyway) romp that's more than part Hollywood hustle.

The story of a former Detroit homicide detective, Edwin Blake, trying to break into the movies could turn out to be the lark of the summer as the author pits the dark side of Hollywood with an everyman-dream of striking gold in California.

‘The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (The Library Trilogy 1)’ by Mark Lawrence (Ace, 571 pages)
Stories spiral, clash and whirl through time in this first offering of a fantasy trilogy poised to enthrall anyone who loves books.

After wolf-men destroy her desert village, Livira comes to Crath City as a refugee. Though young and uneducated, based on her aptitude she earns a position as a trainee in the city’s vast and voluminous library — the same library that serves as prison for Evar and home to the Mechanism, a mysterious structure that can bring any book to life.

Escaping the Mechanism a decade after it had entrapped him and his “siblings,” Evar mounts a quest to track down a mystery woman he can barely remember, one also lost to the Mechanism years before.

When Evar and Livira cross paths, they join forces with the new refugee taking on Evar’s quest as her own. A taut, tightly drawn series of ensuing stories interlock, gradually spooling out thread by thread in this masterfully woven tale.

‘Silent Came the Monster’ by Amy Hill Hearth (Blackstone, 354 pages)
Jaws before “Jaws,” Amy Hill Hearth’s historical thriller is a fictional treatment of a real series of deadly shark attacks that taunted and terrified beachgoers on the sandy shores of New Jersey’s coast in 1916. Replete with sourcing — Hearth is noted for her nonfiction works and those research skills are well adapted here — the real-life reporting and ear for period language is brought brutally to life under the author’s pen.

Though the story is laced with fact, Heath advances a fictional protagonist, Dr. Edwin Halsey, whose secretive past ties him to the current attacks. Besieged with conspiracy theories — German submarines patrolling the coast, for one — Halsey, like his future counterpart, Hooper, has a hard time getting anyone to believe his theory that a shark is responsible for the assaults.

A well-told story, including an addendum of books, newspapers and websites to explore further, not only fills a historical gap, but is perfect for that gap between Tuesday to Tuesday of July 11-18 — aka, Shark Week.

‘Fractal Noise: A Fractalverse Novel,’ by Christopher Paolini (Tor Books, 304 pages; Macmillan Audio, 9 hours 57 minutes)
In this throbbing masterwork, Christopher Paolini returns us to the Fractalverse for a second installment in a sweeping space opera that launched the author’s science fiction foray in 2019.

Building on ship-minds and xenobiology, Paolini takes us aboard the Adamura with Alex Crichton, a scientist whose troubled and recent past includes the death of his wife, Layla, to the maul of a wild animal on the planet where the pair were colonists. Working through his grief isn’t easy, as he’s not the only one aboard the ship with significant baggage. As the crew travels toward the remote Talos VII and an enormous, unworldly crater there that is giving off a continuous series of timed pulses in a mysterious message, Crichton and the others are tasked to evaluate and understand the source.

As with his earlier journey into the Fractalverse (“To Sleep in a Sea of Stars,” review and interview at https://tinyurl.com/4km3j6np) Paolini offers hard science mingled with mystical storytelling, though here some light edits (“0800 at night” should be 2100 hours; and “1,500 kcal” is a really, really lot of calories) would polish the brass. Still, “Fractal Noise” is a worthy successor to “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars,” and it’ll more than fill out your own universal reading list.

And a last note on the audio format reviewed here: a sound suggestion is to get both the hardcover (you’ll want this series on your shelf) and the audio version. As she did with “To Sleep,” Jennifer Hale does a masterful reading of the novel, and — kudos to the sound effects team — the constant, rhythmic thrumming of the pulsating hole will jar you in a way not felt since taking a long shower while reading “The Long Rain” (tip, to avoid soggy pages, try a haunting version of Ray Bradury's short story at https://tinyurl.com/4uxc2yce).

'Love Follows Murder: In the Land of Enchantment,' by Maryrose Carroll (Big Table Books, 112 pages)
Self-described as "transformed into a writer and poet" by following the path of the "love of her life," the poet Paul Carroll who lost his battle with cancer in 1996, Maryrose Carroll is no stranger to nonfiction: "Beats Me: Love, Poetry, Censorship from Chicago to Appalachia," "Tales From Beaver Dam" and "The Secret of Contentment" are among her myriad titles.

In “Love Follows Murder” she shifts her pen, although, as she said, “It took 60 years to turn the memory of murder into my first fictional book.” The wait was worth it.

Carroll’s murder cum love story fictionalizes the real account of a 1962 killing: “Sixty years ago, I saw the victim of a gruesome murder wheeled in Embed Hospital in New Mexico.”

Today, the hospital no longer remains, but the story lingers as the author’s brief rendering of the blossoming love between a white sheriff and American Indian deputy while tracking the path of a killer on horseback in the surroundings of Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, is a twice-told tale — but one presented as fresh as the trail Luke and Ava travel together.

Knowing a bit of Carroll’s own background as offered through her nonfiction certainly informs the narrative, but “Love Follows Murder” is a worthy successor to her earlier works, capturing the imagination of a land, a love and the evil that threatens to separate two heroes.

‘Spider-Man: Fake Red’ by Yusuke Osawa (Viz Media, 328 pages, graphic novel)
And speaking of heroes: Few are the young boys and girls who don’t fantasize about having superpowers — and super adventures — of their own. Yu is no different. His new high school is … troubling … and he’s not making the grade either academically or socially. So, when he finds what appears to be a very realistic Spider-Man costume, he doesn’t hesitate to try it on for size. Predictably, photo ops and social media likes ensue. At that point, it’s all fun and games — until it isn’t.

With the real Spidey no where to be found and trouble lurking down every dark alley, Yu is thrust into the limelight as the city’s super savior — should he chose to take the mission.

Ably and enchantingly written and drawn by Yusuke Osawa — the Japanese artist who has written and illustrated, among others, manga adaptations for “The Mandalorian” and the “The Ninth Jedi” — the author’s take on an age-old hero’s tale is presented fresh for a new generation of graphic readers.

And before I leave ...

How about a pair of freebies to get the summer off to a great literary start?

John Hood, whose new historical fantasy series is as fresh as anything you’ll find today, is offering a wonderful taste of the feast that is "The Folklore Cycle" with two free novelettes: “The Bard: A Mountain Folk Tale” and “The Pixie Light: A Forest Folk Tale.”

Find both at folklorecycle.com and click on the link, Tales in the Series. There, you’ll be transported to a world that makes reading about our nation’s past as much fun as watching the movies these books are destined to be.

If you haven’t read Hood’s magnum opus in process, you’re in for a surprise. Read a review of Book 2 in the series, “Forest Folk,” at https://tinyurl.com/y4dk4wns.

When high schooler Yu finds Spider-Man's suit, he decides it will be fun to pretend to be the superhero. But when a building is on fire and he's begged to help, Yu decides to try his hand at being the hero. It's harder than he imagined - especially since he only has strength from rock climbing. A fun read that opens the door for more about Yu and his non-superhero heroism.

I'm too old for the target audience of this book, but if you find yourself in a "the kids will read anything as long as it's a Marvel tie-in" situation or in need of a "it's not the suit or the gear that makes the hero, it's your heart" title this will do the job. You don't have to know the lore to get into this, and it doesn't get too crazy with the multiverses. The art is good; the manga artist shows through how New York high schoolers still manage to get a Japanese-style private karaoke room scene.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. Is this perfect? No. Is it the perfect love letter to Spider-man? Yes indeed. The thing about Spidey is that he does what he does because it is the right thing to do. He tried hard. He fails all the time. This book, while hardly featuring Peter, is all about what Spider-man is, who he can be, and why he is a beacon of hope. What a great

Spider-Man: Fake Red isn’t your ordinary story about Peter Parker and his internal struggles of being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Instead, this is about a young high school student, Yu Onomae who found the original Spider-Man’s suit in a garbage can. Spider-Man No More anyone? And how he responsibly uses the suit by helping people and not for his selfish gain.

Magna author Yusuke Osawa creates a new version of the Web-Slinger while making a new likable character embodying the relatable character concept but with differences from his hero. Yu’s grades aren’t great and he’s not much of a bookworm but like Peter before he was bit by the spider, he wasn’t the most physically fit either. His life is boring and is determined to do the right thing but is afraid of danger. But after finding the Spider-Man suit, he learns the responsibility of putting it on.

Read It: Want to read Spider-Man: Fake Red? Find it here!

The Story

With every great Spider-Man comic, or in this case, manga, comes a great story. Usually in some cases, there are too many spider people, but Yu Osamae is different from other versions of Spider-Man. This kid is just a huge fan and a wannabe who just so happens to find his hero’s costume. In doing so, he embarks on numerous dangerous scenarios that include saving a child from a burning building, a carjacking, and of course, you can’t forget Screwball screwing with the city and Spidey, Yu in the suit, for her internet fame.

Without giving away too many spoilers about the story, there are guest appearances who help further the story’s plot of a missing Spider-Man. The result is an exciting adventure that introduces a new character for the Marvel multiverse: Yu Osomae.

No Power, Great Responsibility
Despite having Spidey’s suit, Yu doesn’t have radioactive spider abilities or any other special powers, and this is what stands out from other webheads like Peter Parker and Miles Morales, but this doesn’t stop him from trying to do what Spidey would do. This is what makes Spider-Man: Fake Red a great story, it’s not the power that makes Spider-Man a great superhero but his actions and the sense of duty he has to do the right thing. The story supports the fact that Spider-Man is a source of hope in the city as well.

RELATED PlayStation Plus: The Largest Cut to The Catalog Is Happening Very Soon.
Yu wanted to help people before wearing the mask but was too afraid to act. However, when putting on the suit, he was still scared, but he put on a brave face to help the ones who needed help. What he does with it is what makes him a good person.

When Peter gained extraordinary powers, he used them for selfish fame and money but Yu quickly realized he had to use that suit to help others. The impact Peter has had on people as Spider-Man has sent the right message of great responsibility. It provided Yu with the push he needed to overcome his fears and help others.

My Thoughts

As a long-time Spider-Man fan of both comics and films, this book was worthwhile and a fun read. There are some things that needed more development between certain characters and other things I would’ve done differently but despite those flaws, Spider-Man: Fake Red is what a good Spider-Man story should be.

It highlights the fact that anyone can wear the mask if they are willing to do the right thing and put on a brave face for others to follow. The story also references other Spider-Man films and combines those film’s themes and the author’s creation to make an all-new original Spider-Man story.

As I said before, there are many Spider-People in the multiverse but what makes Yu Osomae particularly a little more unique is the fact that he doesn’t have any powers or doesn’t go through a tragic event that pushes him to become a hero. He does it because he has the will to and he even tells himself what Spidey would do.

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The story makes clear that Spider-Man is an inspiration and a responsible figure, which Peter aspires to be after losing his Uncle Ben to a burglar he could’ve stopped but decided not to. In my opinion, Peter has already lived up to that aspiration a long time ago and is inspiring others like Yu through his actions and selflessness. The story makes it clear that that’s the case with Peter.

What about Yu? What does he take away from putting on Spidey’s costume? He did run into danger, he risked his life, and almost died a couple of times doing what the original Spider-Man would’ve done. But despite that, he still did what he could for his city and its people. And that’s what being Spider-Man is about. Power and Responsibility.

Spider-Man: Fake Red is available June 13, 2023.

Spider-Man: Fake Red

Yusuke Osawa (2023) Marvel

A Thank-you

Thanks to VIz Media and Marvel for giving me a review copy of the book.

Release date

20 July 2023 (Amazon, n,d)

Blurb

There’s a new Spider-Man in town! And he’s got a lot to learn about being a hero!

An awkward teenager puts on Spider-Man’s suit, but quickly learns being a hero isn’t all photo ops and social media likes.

Yu’s new high school is kind of awful. He’s failing his classes and striking out socially. Everything changes when he finds one of Spider-Man’s costumes abandoned in an alleyway. At first, it’s fun to put on the costume and play hero, but when powerful enemies appear, Yu quickly realizes he’s out of his element. Still, with the real Spider-Man nowhere to be found, the city needs someone to save it… (simonandschuster, n,d).

About Yusuko Osawa

"Yusuke Osawa began his professional manga career with the publication of the one-shot “Majo to Megane to Mahojin” (A Witch, Her Glasses, and a Magic Circle) in the July 2009 issue of Magazine Special, and won honorable mention in the 82nd Weekly Shonen Magazine New Manga Artist Awards. Spider-Man: Fake Red ran in Magazine Pocket from July 2019 to March 2020. In 2022, Osawa turned his attention to creating a manga adaptation of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian for Big Gangan." (Google Books, n,d).

Spider-Man

With great power, comes great responsibility.....We have all heard that phrase, it's probably one of the most famous superhero phrases of all time. The theme is explored in this story, but the phrase also applies to Yusuke and his writing. Spider-Man is a heavyweight when it comes to superheroes. As I have already said, the phrase we all know, the hero we all know. There have been multiple major films released throughout the 2000s and the present time. He's a hero that won't be going away anytime soon and with good reason. Everybody loves our friendly neighbourhood Spider-man. As this is Yusuke's first time with the hero, it was a big challenge. But reading the story, you would not be able to tell. This is a great story and it is not your average swinging spider story. Yusuke weaves a complicated web in which you have so many questions, you NEED to read the book until you find them out. Where is Spider-Man? Will Yu be alright? What’s going to happen next?

I felt for Yu. He was just like you and me - no super whatsoever. He is the protagonist of this story. What’s it like to be a hero without the super? Can anybody do it? Or does it take someone special? Read Fake Red and find out

Style

This is not your average marvel comic. Fake Red takes the style of a manga and the black and white art style was refreshing. The entrance of colour in chapter divisions enunciated the art, is the choice a literary one. Yu has no superpowers, does the black and white art style reflect this absence?

Recommend

This is a great story, written by Yusuke Osawa, and reading the afterword I would say, buy this comic even more. Yusuke is building his career and this Spider-Man story is a great one. I'm a fan of Yu and would like to see what happens as his story develops. After all, Yu has had a taste of great power and great fame, what would that do to anyone?

Note

Keep in mind, this book reads from right to left!

References:

Amazon, (n,d). Spider-Man: Fake Red. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-Man-Fake-Red-Yusuke-Osawa/dp/1974738787

simonandschuster, (n,d). Spider-Man: Fake Red. Accessed via: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Spider-Man-Fake-Red/Yusuke-Osawa/Spider-Man-Fake-Red/9781974738786

Google Books, (n,d). Accessed via: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Spider_Man_Fake_Red.html?id=_C92zwEACAAJ&source=kp_author_description&redir_esc=y

IGN, (2016). The Top 25 Best Spider-Man Comics. Accessed via: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-25-greatest-spider-man-stories

A Special Thanks Goes to NetGalley and Viz Media for the opportunity to review this title.

With the premiere of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in a couple of days, let’s review Yusuke Osawa’s Spider-Man: Fake Red. This is another collaboration involving Viz Media and Marvel Entertainment.

Our story begins with a young man named Yu, who is not having a great experience in High School. He is striking out socially, failing classes, and lacking confidence in himself, but that changes when he happens to come across one of Spider-Man’s costumes abandoned in an alleyway. He puts the costume on and pretends to be the Wall Crawler until he comes face-to-face with the responsibility and the power that Spider-Man carries. No, I am not referring to Spider-Man’s Spider-Abilities. I am referring to the ability to have the strength, and the resolve to be the hero that New York and the World need. Even though he is out of his element, Yu has to rise out of the dark depths of his despair and save the City from whoever threatens it.

That is one of the important things people liked about the hero that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created is that anyone could be Spider-Man. He was a teenager that people could instantly relate to. Spider-Man was a character that dealt with the struggles of adolescence and financial issues, ultimately considered to be a flawed superhero with everyday problems. Fake Red gives readers that similar type of situation and wish fulfillment to Yu, who faces the pressure and expectations from his father and himself. He happens to come across an abandoned Spider-Man Costume and puts it on, thinking he could be like the Web-Slinger, but it would be fate that would make the fanboy face the most difficult question he has evaded, do I have the power to change my destiny?

Another thing that works for this book is having an author that can balance the superhero genre with fantasy. Osawa gives readers a story that stands out and plays on the strength of what Spider-Man is and can do. If you notice in this story is that Yu mirrors Peter Parker in many ways, even having what fans call the Parker Luck. The Parker Luck is a phrase that has been used a lot, meaning when Spider-Man succeeds at something, it usually doesn’t bode well for Peter’s Civilian life, this scenario is used in our protagonist’s current situation when it comes to meeting a girl he likes. While it doesn’t play out like he thought it would, Yu perseveres and sees the silver lining behind it, that he made a new friend and that his life is changing for the better.

Spider-Man: Fake Red has great artwork, which includes well-drawn action sequences, and is filled with plenty of easter eggs that fans of Marvel will be quick to catch! It also includes unique character designs that give Spidey’s Rogue Gallery a feel of nostalgia and a shōnen touch, a nod to Toei’s approach to Spider-Man (No, I’m not saying this has Giant Robots, but it has the same sense of wonder that we have come to love about the webhead.)

A fun manga adaptation of Spider-Man. This story is Peter Parker adjacent; while he does factor into the story the main character is the "fake" Spider-Man. A nice addition to the canon and another entry into the popular topic of 'what happened after Peter thew away his spidey suit". Yu gains confidence and makes friends through imitating Spider-Man as well as feeling the burdens of the job. Overall, a fun, quick read ideal for a teen audience.

Spider-Man: Fake Red isn’t your ordinary story about Peter Parker and his internal struggles of being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Instead, this is about a young high school student, Yu Onomae who found the original Spider-Man’s suit in a garbage can. Spider-Man No More anyone? And how he responsibly uses the suit by helping people and not for his selfish gain.

Magna author Yusuke Osawa creates a new version of the Web-Slinger while making a new likable character embodying the relatable character concept but with differences from his hero. Yu’s grades aren’t great and he’s not much of a bookworm but like Peter before he was bit by the spider, he wasn’t the most physically fit either. His life is boring and is determined to do the right thing but is afraid of danger. But after finding the Spider-Man suit, he learns the responsibility of putting it on.

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The Story

With every great Spider-Man comic, or in this case, manga, comes a great story. Usually in some cases, there are too many spider people, but Yu Osamae is different from other versions of Spider-Man. This kid is just a huge fan and a wannabe who just so happens to find his hero’s costume. In doing so, he embarks on numerous dangerous scenarios that include saving a child from a burning building, a carjacking, and of course, you can’t forget Screwball screwing with the city and Spidey, Yu in the suit, for her internet fame.

Without giving away too many spoilers about the story, there are guest appearances who help further the story’s plot of a missing Spider-Man. The result is an exciting adventure that introduces a new character for the Marvel multiverse: Yu Osomae.

No Power, Great Responsibility
Despite having Spidey’s suit, Yu doesn’t have radioactive spider abilities or any other special powers, and this is what stands out from other webheads like Peter Parker and Miles Morales, but this doesn’t stop him from trying to do what Spidey would do. This is what makes Spider-Man: Fake Red a great story, it’s not the power that makes Spider-Man a great superhero but his actions and the sense of duty he has to do the right thing. The story supports the fact that Spider-Man is a source of hope in the city as well.

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Yu wanted to help people before wearing the mask but was too afraid to act. However, when putting on the suit, he was still scared, but he put on a brave face to help the ones who needed help. What he does with it is what makes him a good person.

When Peter gained extraordinary powers, he used them for selfish fame and money but Yu quickly realized he had to use that suit to help others. The impact Peter has had on people as Spider-Man has sent the right message of great responsibility. It provided Yu with the push he needed to overcome his fears and help others.

My Thoughts

As a long-time Spider-Man fan of both comics and films, this book was worthwhile and a fun read. There are some things that needed more development between certain characters and other things I would’ve done differently but despite those flaws, Spider-Man: Fake Red is what a good Spider-Man story should be.

It highlights the fact that anyone can wear the mask if they are willing to do the right thing and put on a brave face for others to follow. The story also references other Spider-Man films and combines those film’s themes and the author’s creation to make an all-new original Spider-Man story.

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As I said before, there are many Spider-People in the multiverse but what makes Yu Osomae particularly a little more unique is the fact that he doesn’t have any powers or doesn’t go through a tragic event that pushes him to become a hero. He does it because he has the will to and he even tells himself what Spidey would do.

The story makes clear that Spider-Man is an inspiration and a responsible figure, which Peter aspires to be after losing his Uncle Ben to a burglar he could’ve stopped but decided not to. In my opinion, Peter has already lived up to that aspiration a long time ago and is inspiring others like Yu through his actions and selflessness. The story makes it clear that that’s the case with Peter.

What about Yu? What does he take away from putting on Spidey’s costume? He did run into danger, he risked his life, and almost died a couple of times doing what the original Spider-Man would’ve done. But despite that, he still did what he could for his city and its people. And that’s what being Spider-Man is about. Power and Responsibility.

Spider-Man: Fake Red is available June 13, 2023.

I'm hoping this Galley copy is waiting for color. There were specific story moments that called for it, yet the art was in black and white.
It also couldn't really decide if it was a Peter Parker story or not. It was hard to differentiate between the two Spider-Men in the story.
We will probably purchase, as our students enjoy Manga, but as a Marvelite, this librarian was disappointed.

What do you do if you find a Spider-Suit discarded in an alley? If you are Yu, you put on that suit and take on the responsibilities of Spiderman. No matter who is wearing the suit the problems are the same love life a disaster, time management skills not happening and where is Spiderman?

Yu is one of us - a kid with perceived monumental pressure and high expectations from his father and for himself - how could he ever be Spiderman? All he thinks he can do is hit that like button and carry on with his meager existence. But fate has a different plan and Yu rises to the challenge over and over again not with ridiculous acrobatics or glorified hero-antics but by doing what he can with what he knows. Beautiful artwork cohesive story, easter eggs throughout for the superfans. In full color this is gorgeous.