Author: David Liss
Cover Art by: Alexander Lozano
Published by: Titan Books
Released on: August 21, 2018
Genre: Fiction and Literature
Print Length: 264 pages
Cinemabooks rating: 6/10
About The Author
David Liss is an American writer born in 1966 with 14 novels, short stories, and novellas. He has won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. This first novel was Conspiracy of Paper in 2000 and is a historical mystery novel in London in the 18th century. However, David Liss has written many types of genres and superhero stories. Examples include three Black Panther novels, Mystery Men, and the most iconic detective Sherlock Holmes.
Plot Summary
Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover is a prequel novel to the fantastic video game Marvel Spider-Man by Insomniac games. In David Liss’s book, Spider-Man is caught in a complicated scenario against Wilson Fisk and the new deadly imposter who possesses Spider-Man’s own powers and equipment. With Spider-Man busy with both powerhouses, Peter Parker seems to be even more trouble. Trying to balance both personas, Peter struggles to be reliable and responsible with his job.
Working more than 40 hours a week in a lab project that could save and improve millions of lives sure comes with its difficulties, especially when you report to Theodore Peyton. A J Jonah Jameson 2.0 but less lousy, sassier, and with humor as dry as Sandman. However, even with copycats, nefarious business people, and a horrible superior, there is a ray of hope in the form of MJ. The only person who understands him and helps him navigate through the ups and downs of the superhero life. Even though things are great with MJ, there seems to be a pressing matter that gets postponed every time they talk. With all of these events unfolding simultaneously, will the hero succeed, or will the consequences be too much even for our super strong, friendly neighbor?
What you’ll learn in this book
In Spider-Man Hostile Takeover, readers will learn about the events that lead to the confrontation seen in the first 10 minutes of the game and get to know characters in Insomniacs Universe and how their relationship with Peter Parker and Spider-Man unfolds. This includes potential villains and allies that we would love to see in future games. We also get to see and explore what makes Spider-Man stand out from all Marvel’s heroes in terms of heart and mind. This trait includes Screen Rant’s belief in where Spider-Man’s real power lies. As well as another quality that shows us what makes Insomniacs take on the character one of the best versions.
You will feel like you’re getting to know Peter Parker and his alter ego, but you will also analyze and grasp his powers. Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense is the first one that comes to mind and is the most interesting because it could track villains, as stated in this blog post. However, other effects of the spider bite are also touched upon as Spider-Man’s enhanced metabolism, durability, and how his powers and intelligence influence his unique fighting style. Peter’s genius-level intellect and experience are also displayed in Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover. We see a more confident and level-headed Spider-Man who makes fewer mistakes and can anticipate events quickly.
Atmosphere and Characters
If you are a true Spider-Man fan, you should know that quipping is a significant part of the character. In Spider-Man Hostile Takeover, it’s done beautifully. David Liss’s writing makes Spider-Man feel as natural as other comic book variations of the character. David Liss perfectly combines the humor and awkwardness of being Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Giving the story an entertaining and light atmosphere despite all the chaos that New York possesses. Not only that, but Peter’s relatability factor is on another level making the character’s core values and problems hit home. I found myself relating a lot to the everyday issues of Peter’s young adult life.
The story is fun, relatable, and interesting, but it also presents its darker sides. This comes in its villains and how well developed they are. The primary villains of the story are Kingpin and The copycat. Wilson Fisk’s essence and mannerism are identical to Vincent D’Onofrio’s Daredevil Portrayal. He is ruthless, rageful, manipulative, and yet possesses a soft side. I can’t help but wonder if David Liss’s used Vincent D’Onofrio’s example to create Insomniacs Wilson Fisk.
However, the lethal copycat steals the show on how dark the atmosphere can become. This villain’s story, combined with David Liss’s careful wording, uses the imagination to understand and feel the horrors of its past. It’s impressive how immersive you can get within this character’s history and completely forget that the story’s main atmosphere is light, humorous, and hopeful. This can be a great relief to fans who hate a sun and rainbows superhero story.
The Good
Spider-Man Hostile Takeover has great and negative aspects. However, one of the best aspects lies in the protagonist’s essence. Peter Parker’s life is as enjoyable as Spider-Man’s. Not sacrificing Peter Parker’s persona to give Spider-Man more development is one of the best things in the novel. Making Peter Parker as important as Spider-Man was a bold move by Insomniac that resulted in one of the greatest superhero games ever created. This novel is no exception, and as such, you will love reading both Peter Parker’s daily life and Spider-Man’s night patrol.
The side characters are almost as well developed as the main protagonist. Mj is not a damsel in distress and is crucial in helping Spider-Man analyze his opportunities. The villains have great motives and possess their unique skill set that rivals Spider-Man mentally and physically. David Liss created a rich and emotional background for both heroes and villains that audiences will love.
The Bad
Although Spider-Man Hostile Takeover is a great novel, it does have its flaws. One of the flaws is that it doesn’t create enough suspension in the first chapters of the story. This can result in people giving up on the novel and not reading it through to the end. Even though it starts slow, it eventually becomes easier to continue reading and becomes even more suspenseful. Another thing that bothered me is that Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense sometimes doesn’t work. At times the Spider-Sense gives Spider-Man’s an advantage against surprise attacks, but sometimes it doesn’t.
This can be because David Liss molded aspects of the spider-sense to fit the novel. It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened because the Spidey-Sense has always been inconsistent, as the CBR article states. This doesn’t happen as much in the story, but it was worth mentioning. Another flaw I found was that sometimes I couldn’t identify whose perspective I was reading fast enough. It was frustrating because I had to reread it when I discovered who it was. Finally, another thing that could have been better was the plot. It wasn’t bad, but it could have been better. This could improve by adding a minor subplot for Spider-Man or one of the villains. This could have spiced things up even further in those beginning chapters and then disappeared near the story’s climax, giving more room for the main plot.
Conclusion
Spider-Man Hostile Takeover is a great Spider-Man novel, but it’s not the best. In my belief, David Liss’s novel ranks 6 out of 10. The plot is good, and the writing is precise in describing vividly the environment of Insomniacs Universe. The story’s atmosphere is funny and hopeful but dark and sinister at the same time, meaning it is more realistic than other superhero novels. Now who shines the most in David Liss’s novel is the characters themselves. This includes the interactions with one another, their personalities, goals, ambitions, and the values that make them. Their struggles are real and relatable to both teenagers and young adults. Also, the values presented by its heroes are inspiring in ways that could empower both teenagers and young adults to be better. This is truly a book worthy of Spider-Man fans because it does its characters justice.
