Tomes of Costumed Adventurers: Spider-Man--Valley of the Lizard

Tomes of Costumed Adventurers

Welcome to the land of "reality", where scientific experiments, accidents, genetic heritage, and alien influences affect the lives of ordinary mortals. Join me as I observe the superhumans of planet earth and their struggles against equally powerful foes.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Spider-Man--Valley of the Lizard
Author: John Vornholt
Publisher: Boulevard Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1998

The Lizard has always been one of Spider-Man's deadliest enemies, because while the Lizard can attack the Wall-Crawler with all his might, Spidey can never forget that underneath that reptilian visage is the soul of a friend. So when the Lizard strikes Aztec art exhibits and disappears with only a single journal as a clue to his whereabouts, it's up to Spider-Man and Peter Parker to track him down and bring him back to those that love him. But the Lizard isn't about to let that happen, and this time he has the remnants of a dying race to back him up. Because the chupacabra have only one chance at revitalizing their species, and that is the intellect locked within the Lizard: Doctor Curt Connors. Now the only question is what will happen first: Connors quickens the chupacabra eggs, the chupacabra devastate the human species, Spider-Man comes up with a witty remark in a bad situation, or the Lizard kills Spider-Man and destroys Connors once and for all! What's a web-slinger to do?

Spider-Man--Valley of the Lizard takes Peter Parker into the wilderness of Mexico in search of creatures from Mexican folklore. Considering that Spidey's been to outer space, battled alongside the Fantastic Four, stopped psychotic killers cold, and still been home in time for dinner, this particular story might have seemed almost mundane, except you know anything involving Spider-Man and the Lizard could never be that.

I admit, one of the reasons I liked this novel is because it does utilize the chupacabra, which I first heard about via X-Files. Remember that episode? This was a different take on the myth than the one on television and I have no idea which one is closer to the original stories. However, I also liked this novel because it reminded me a lot about Gargoyles, which was one of my favorite animated television series. The similarities between the chupacabra and the gargoyles are amazing, and seeing the chupacabra being mistaken for gargoyles--albeit the ordinary stone ones perched on building ledges--was great!

Spider-Man--Valley of the Lizard sets Spidey against a sometime friend, and it's filled with all the angst and hardship long-time readers would expect from the characters, whether it's Curt Connors' despair of ever curing himself of the curse of the Lizard or Peter Parker's dilemma of whether he can save his friend or must resort to lethal force before the Lizard kills him instead! You've just got to read it!

Rating: Thumbs up! One giant reptile was bad enough: how about a whole army of them, Spider-Man?

Buy this book in paperback or visit the Cosmic Tomes Bazaar for other titles.

Looking for something that's no longer here? Check in the Archive to search for it.

Comments? Suggestions? Just click here to send me e-mail. Also, if this review prompted you to read the book, then let me know. I appreciate knowing I made a difference in somebody's life.

You are the

th visitor to this page since April 16, 2000.

Back Home Back to Starfire Reviews

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page