Ken Tucker reviewed J. Michael Stracynski's first issue of Spider-Man (Amazing Spider-Man #30) in the April 20th issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands this week.  The review, which leads off the 'Books Section' (page 66) is quite favorable and includes a sample panel of art from John Romita, Jr.  Tucker praises 'Stracynski's storytelling (which notably tweaks Spider-Man's origin),' saying that it '...adds flourishes of despair and menace more subtle than most comics attempt.' Tucker also singles out the art by John Romita, Jr., which he says hearkens back to the work of the first Spidey penciller, Steve Ditko.

 

Given Stracynski's rather high media profile (thanks to his creation of the Babylon 5 science fiction TV series), this additional exposure in the popular Entertainment Weekly should make sure that even more of his Babylon 5 following will learn of his efforts for Marvel Comics.   Although superheroes do get a good deal of play in Entertainment Weekly, it is generally due to the movies made about them, so it is good to see them getting reviewed in their natural, four-color habitat.