Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours

By: Jim Butcher, Marvel

Narrated by: Jack Meloche

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Peter Parker's life has hit a peaceful stretch. No evildoers have tried to flatten him in weeks, his marriage to Mary Jane is stronger than ever, and he's enjoying his job as a high-school science teacher. Life is good. Naturally, that doesn't last.

When Peter learns that his old enemy, the Rhino, is on a rampage in Times Square, he suits up as Spider-Man to stop the destructive villain in his tracks. But he's unexpectedly foiled in his attempts by the Black Cat, a former ally and old flame. The Cat informs Peter that the Rhino is just a distraction - the real threat comes from a group of Ancients, members of the same race as the being called Morlun, who Spidey defeated in battle years earlier. The Ancients are now looking to exact revenge - and hope to steal Spider-Man's life force in the process.

To defeat such powerful beings, Spider-Man is going to need all the help he can get, especially from the Black Cat. But what will Mary Jane Parker have to say about that? Peter isn't sure which is worse - the Ancients trying to drain his life force or the wrath of a jealous wife....

©2019 Marvel (P)2019 Marvel

Jim Butcher's Spider-Man. What were you expecting?

It's exactly what you think it is, Jim Butcher had the chance to write Spider-Man and took it because of course he did. If you like Jim Butcher and Spider-Man, this one is easy.

I'd read the book a long time ago, and like a lot of people I'd been patiently waiting on an audiobook. While the story is great and makes clever use of the Marvel universe and Spider-Man's relationship to it, the narration was subpar. It wasn't awful, not by any stretch, but the voices often bled together and every woman sounded nearly the same. As a voice for Peter Parker, it was lacking. I'm not hung up on any one Petet Parker voice, I think everyone from Nicholas Hammond to Jake Johnson to Yuri Lowenthal and many others have been great and varied, but to me this was just a guy reading a Spider-Man story, it wasn't Spider-Man.

All that said, absolutely get this audiobook. The narration is a little flat, but not offensive and the story carries any of the other shortcomings by far.

might be my favourite Spider-Man story

I'm a Jim Butcher fan to begin with and him tackling Spider-Man was an absolute treat. Highly recommended plus and excellent audiobook performance.

Webhead

Highly recommended! It is a different experience than reading a comic book myself and I would definitely do it again!

Spider-Man, short and sweet.

Do you like Spider-Man? Are you a fan of Jim Butcher? A yes to either of these should be incentive enough to pick this one up.

The writing is pure Jim Butcher: Decisive, punchy, and laced with exactly the right tinge of humor in the right places. I could see Peter Parker and Harry Dresden talking shop over a pizza anytime.

The narrator. My god, I don't know how Jim Butcher always manages to snag the perfect narrators for his audiobooks, but he did it again with this one. Jack Meloche is an Amazing Spider-Man. Yes, I really said that.

Get this book. It's short, but absolutely quality.

Butcher captures Spider-Man

Jim Butcher, best known for the snarky and wise cracking wizard Harry Dresden takes his turn at the comic book icon, and succeeds in capturing the essence of the character. His portrayal of the now grown and married Peter Parker is a logical extension of the character in the classic comics. Not the high school student we've seen in the MCU nor the Toby Maguire college kid trying to make it, but a young science teacher trying hard to help kids who need it, be a supportive husband to his wife and be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. All the wise cracking and fragile self confidence we've loved in the comic is present along with a legitimate confidence born of having "been there, done that" experience. Peter does come across as a bit of the trope of "science vs. magic", and as some one who gained superpowers (!) by being bitten by a radioactive spider not as accepting of things beyond his ken as you would hope, I do think Butcher wrote the character true. I hope he is able to play in this universe with these characters again. I really enjoyed this story.

The Rhino steals spideys thunder.

I really enjoyed Jack's reading. He does a very good Spidey.
Honestly, as the book went; it was fine. it very much felt like it should be part of a series. As a stand alone, it feels like there should be more. Could definitely tell it was Jim's work; it felt like an early dresden book. The most surprising part was that I came out of the book wanting more Rhino.

Amazing Story & Narrating

Definitely got hooked and wanted to always keep listening. Great writing and the narration was fantastic. It was fun getting to hear the inner thoughts of Spiderman on this journey.

great audio book

I really enjoyed this book. I never really was a big spiderman fan but this all grown up spidey was really interesting. it definitely reminds me of the 90's cartoon as others have stated

Fun!

This was just a fabulously fun superhero story. Witty, sexy, smart. Great action. Ominous bad guys. Not great art, but a great way to spend the day.

As fun as it gets.

This had a decent amount of action and fun! Exactly what we expect from a Spider-Man novel.