Marvel's Trouble Reviews (ALL IN ONE) - Atop the Fourth Wall

[@starwarsnerd100]

I’m hindsight, the first video calling these comics “poorly conceived” has a double meaning!

[@danielbrant6740]

"Dear KZbin, How do I like a comment more than once? Also, how does Stong Bad type with boxing gloves on?"

[@jordanloux3883]

May: And that's the story of how me and Ben got together. Peter: ...please tell me this is another one of Norman Osborn's schemes to break me... please...

[@DaveMiller6042]

*later that day* The sinister six are currently robbing a bank when they discover spiderman Doctor Octopus: ah, spider-man. We've been expect- Peter: *falls on the ground* you guys win. Please kill me. Electro: oh wow. I'm sorry, come again? Peter: you all win. I give up. Claim your final victory and end me. Mysterio: are.... are you okay dude? Peter: no. No I am not, mysterio. I've just got done listening to a story that has broken my spirits. *starts crying* Sinister Six:.......... Sandman: guys..... I don't feel like robbing this bank anymore. Vulture: same here. Kraven: I honestly feel bad just by making him put his costume on.

[@mitchellalexander9162]

Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha.

[@ramirezserranodanielaaron5724]

Peter: help me misterio

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

Mysterio: Uh... *Walks over to comfort him* it gets better, man? Not gonna lie, but I don't have the full story so I don't really know how to go about this. Peter: My aunt just got done telling me the story about how she met my uncle... Mysterio: Okay, that doesn't seem so ba- Peter: And revealed that she is actually a sex-crazed sociopath, had an affair with my dad, manipulated my mom (who was dating my dad at the time), into covering for her by not telling her she was cheating on my uncle with her then boyfriend, revealed that _she_ was actually my biological mother, and forced the woman I thought was my birth mother to live a lie just to cover her own ass. Sinister Six: 0_0... Mysterio:... OKAY, that is a lot to unpack. You know what? We're calling this whole thing off to help you get your mind off things. Peter: R-really? Sinister Six: *All give gestures of affirmation* Peter: T-thanks, you guys. I really need this. *Cries tears of joy* *Cue cheerful montage*

[@biggeek2256]

*After the cheery montage ends.... and being stared at by citizens, police and Jameson going on about how he was right about Spider-Man* Peter: Thanks guys! You helped out a lot! Mysterio: No problem! Electro: How about we try to kill you next week? Peter: SURE! The Sinister Six: SWEET! See ya then!

[@ckd8520]

Ya know what’s the worst part of Trouble? There was already a marvel teen-drama book that starred Spider-Man side characters in the 2000s. Mary Jane/Spider-Man loves Mary Jane. Only difference is SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE DID NOT SUCK

[@DinoDave150]

That series really deserves more love and attention.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@DinoDave150 indeed and as a huge fan of that couple nothing would make me happier but to see peter parker and mary jane get there own book again similar to that series

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Wait, what? I need to see that!

[@girlfan]

I just finished reading that series, it is so excellent.

[@alucardprinceofgayvampires8526]

That book is adorable

[@myriadmediamusings]

I’d like to think that this universe was visited by the villains of Spider-Verse and they left it alone because even they were disgusted.

[@pabloosset2533]

Honestly, I can imagine Morlun, hidden in the background, trying to gossip about the terrible story with his family, while the rest just kinda wait awkwardly to go home.

[@HyruleSwordsman94]

Look, I know we need to eat Spiders… But this one isn’t worth it.

[@jadenbryant9283]

@@HyruleSwordsman94 i really feel bad for trouble universe version of Peter especially after becoming Spider-Man well if he does at all someone should make a crackfic about it

[@oneovertwo1186]

Didn't that happen with the Spider-Man newspaper strip universe?

[@DaveMiller6042]

"Ew no." - Spider-Verse villains.

[@danielbrant6740]

I think Abridged Alucard best described May's biggest problem throughout the comic. _"Sleeping around wasn't the problem, being dishonest was."_ May (& the others) were _lying_ about being rich during their window shopping spree. May _lied_ about being faithful to Ben. May forced Mary to _lie_ for her. May _lied_ to Richie about being fine about their affair ending (and making a _lie of omission_ about carrying the Future Peter Parker). May kept _making lies_ to that random douchebag she lived with about the reasons for not wanting to sleep with him. And quite frankly the worst one of all, May got Mary to _live the lie_ of being a mother. *ALL OF MAY'S PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS COMIC WERE CAUSED BY HER **_LYING!_* May Whatever-Her-Maiden-Name-Was-Before-Changing-It-To-Parker is _easily_ the worst character is this godawful series. The fuckmothering vampire called it. *AGAIN!*

[@UberMcFailsauce]

May Reilly iirc

[@Nameless-ln5mr]

You mention Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, and I’m hooked on what you have to say!

[@someguy9345]

Reilly

[@mattway18]

That’s how Ben Reilly got his name. He used his uncle’s first name and his aunt’s maiden name.

[@cooldude2027]

Reilly, her maiden name was Reilly, it’s where Ben Reilly got the name from

[@MadnessHEROReverend]

The true irony is in an alternative time line, Ben and Richard become famous for their boardgames, meet Mary and May later, they all get together, then the CIA approach them to be field operatives (of which only Richard and Mary accept) leaving Ben and May in control of their board game company, the *Parker Brothers.*

[@MadnessHEROReverend]

@Linkara After 20-30 years pass, Mary and Richard return with an infant Peter in tow. They know it is too dangerous for an infant to accompany them on their missions, and they would have asked Ben and May to watch over the young Peter. From there the Spiderman timeline of earth 616 continues on to the present. I say 20-30 years as this could be enough time from when Peter was born (saying that Rich, May, Mary, and Ben are around 25-30 at the time) for Ben and May to look older by the time he got his powers in high school, maybe? It definitely would put May a lot closer to looking like she did by "One more Day". As for the Board game company, Ben probably would have sold it off after hearing about Rich and Mary "passing away" in the line of duty, making sure that they had substantial finances to make sure that Peter could go to college in the future.

[@skemono]

@52:04 "As if this was some kind of '80s college comedy" That's what really baffles me about this comic. For all the idea that this could "bring back romance comics", it's... not a romance comic. At all. It's an '80s-'90s sex comedy that halfway through swerves into melodrama.

[@robo-nidai4236]

So basically, it's the plot of the movie The Last American Virgin.

[@ronburgundy244]

​@@robo-nidai4236 except that movie's good.

[@Hulkzilla0]

Ah yes, the epic saga that confirms that Peter Parker's life sucks, even before he was even born!

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

Fate loves to screw Peter over as much as it can huh.

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

Peter Parker's Presence also seems to have sucked 40 years of life out of Aunt May. ;)

[@seansgamerevieworsomething655]

It’s a good thing it’s not really canon

[@Mr-Green0]

@@seansgamerevieworsomething655 Oh thank God. After Sins Past, One More Day, and Spider-Man Reign, I don't want any more bad stuff in any Spider-Man comics.

[@biggeek2256]

@@Mr-Green0Until the more recent Spider-Man runs came out and continued to DRAG Spidey’s name through the ground

[@DinoDave150]

I will never understand how this comic ever got greenlit. Did they seriously expect fans to be okay with the idea of Aunt May being Peter's biological mother?

[@lancerguy3667]

Comic writers SERIOUSLY underestimate how much fans can love non-traditional/found family stories. It’s like when Justice League pulled comic book shenanigans to establish that “um, well ACTUALLY, Bruce Wayne was Terry’s biological dad all along!!” Even as a kid I hated that twist... let families form on their own, guys.

[@thegayghost872]

I mean these are the people who thought we’d stop reading comics if Peter got divorced

[@DinoDave150]

@@thegayghost872 Or, heaven forbid, he actually STAYED married and started a family. But that's just nonsense! People don't grow up and start families! How could anyone possibly relate to that?

[@skibot9974]

@@lancerguy3667 apprently in that case it was because they realized genetically it would be impossible for Terry and his brother to have black hair when both of their parents were redheads… Guess they never heard of hair dye

[@Savagewolver]

@@DinoDave150 further evidence that marvel characters can have kids and still be awesome: Nick Cage and Jessica Jones with their daughter Danielle! Power Man is still awesome, Jessica makes a great mom despite the crap Purple Man put her through, and theirs is something of an extended family because Squirrel Girl is a nanny for their kid. We could have had a super sons situation by now with Spider Girl and Power Girl. Freaking hate one more day!

[@thegayghost872]

If Marvel wanted to make romance comics, why not just write romantic stories about their pre-existing couples, without the superhero stuff in it? Like a story about Peter and whichever one of his seven thousand love interests you prefer doing romcom stuff

[@Spike-Prime]

Funny thing is, DC did that a few times in the last couple years and it was pretty dang good. They ran a valentine's special in 2020 or 2019, I forget which. It was genuinely touching and well done.

[@MutaScale]

I mean, not a bad idea. But considering how many times relationships change in Marvel, could be awkward. :eyes Cyclops, Jean Grey, Emma Frost and Wolverine:

[@michaeliv284]

Or, a Wandavision situation. Couples with powers doing sitcom stuff

[@namedsomethingorother8316]

Exactly, a Mystique and Destiny mystery romance is all I want

[@Spike-Prime]

Literally, I just went to my comic shop and they currently have on sale another DC romance comic, and it's really good! Most of them are played for comedy, but they're fun and cute :D

[@mladenkulic446]

Linkara: This is the guy you chose to write romance?! Me: It could have been worse. Imagine if they chose Garth Ennis to write the comic.

[@matthewjarek3026]

The problem is that Mark Millar wasn't allowed to go Mark Millar, which would have at least been way more interesting than this. By that logic, Garth Ennis probably wouldn't have been allowed to go Garth Ennis either, just settling for a presumably much different, but still annoyingly safe and cliched YA romance story.

[@stcsuntzucreed]

From what I remember Garth while writing dark stories doesn't go into edgelord nonsense like millar does. And is capable of writing lighter stories so I would be VERY surprised if he botched it up this much, especially considering that besides Supes and Wondy, Spidey is the only superhero Garth likes. So having Garth write this would almost certainly have been a better choice unless of course if this stupid plot wasn't editorial mandate, and considering OMD was editorially mandated it's a distinct possibility.

[@carloszapata847]

@@stcsuntzucreed How do you think Garth Ennis handles romance in his stories?

[@stcsuntzucreed]

i think that Preacher had romantic plots(granted I read preacher when I actively read comics as much as possible so I might be confusing it with some other comics) Been a long ass time since I read his war comics and there is probably some shit romance in them. Regardless I consider him a better writer than Millar. Would troubles be better with him writing? Not necessarily. Would it be better that what Millar wrote? Probably. Either way there was no way to make a story of Aunt May's sexcapades good. I just think that the abortion and abuse parts would've been handled better if he wrote that. Even his Thor run is better that what we got in most of Millars work and that's astonishing

[@mladenkulic446]

@@stcsuntzucreed I'm the oposite i prefer Mark Millar over Garth Ennis. Ennis at least his early work The Boys & The Punisher Max tends to go more crazier & vulgar than Millar. He imo is the edgelord not the other way around.

[@TF2Fan101]

The funny thing is... I think I get what Mark Millar was trying to do here: A cautionary tale about how teenagers can make some big mistakes that can hurt them emotionally, and how it’s important to show restraint and hit the brakes before you do something you’ll regret. It’s just a shame that concept had to be involved with a story where part of the plot involves Aunt May being Peter Parker’s biological mother.

[@bthsr7113]

And, you know, that not being a topic to revitalize romance comics.

[@OnDavidsBrain]

Could you tell that this was the spiritual successor to Marville? Yes, it's just as bad as Marville but in a wholly unique way. Marville was just some dumbass on a soapbox going on about how little he knows about Religion, science and history and then being salty about how his ramblings weren't as popular as Peter David's Captain Marvel run. Trouble on the other hand is a bad romance comic that has unlikable asshole characters that showcases horrible views on teen pregnancy written by an Edgelord who was actually showing restraint when writing this trash.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

It was doomed to fail from the getgo the moment they said "We need someone to draw in young, female readers. GET MARK MILLAR!"

[@ckd8520]

Mark Millar, who as a joke , pitch DC a Rape of Wonder Woman story to Coincide with nightfall and the death of Superman. AS.A.JOKE

[@Tareltonlives]

"GET MARK MILLAR" is never a good sign

[@ckd8520]

@@Tareltonlives I dunno, I think “GET MARK MILLAR AWAY FROM THAT” Is a very good sign

[@shinyagumon7015]

@@ckd8520 Ewww

[@RAINBOWNIGTHMAREPRODUCTIONS]

He should write Doctor Who instead of RTD

[@shinyagumon7015]

Ah Trouble The teenage romance comic written by an edgy middle aged man that's more concerned with adultery and abuse than actual romance. I wonder if Millar only added the blatant Spider-Man connection because he realized that nobody would care for this comic without it.

[@somethingclever4297]

Focusing on the negatives could work if it explored them. But since it's written by an edgelord it's just there to be there. It's like a pizza cutter. All edge no point.

[@shinyagumon7015]

@@somethingclever4297 I think that's the general problem with a lot of Millars work frankly.

[@joserobertosolismerlin5527]

@AT Productions and thats saying something

[@Cdr2002]

@@somethingclever4297 I love that ending line

[@supertransistor8762]

I actually would read the first few comics without that connection, they don't seem that bad compared to all the weird internet comics. That being said, the othrr issues were clearly a waste of time

[@dvass7253]

No joke, this series officially made me reconcile with the Sandman/Uncle Ben retcon in Spider-Man 3 because, for all the issues that movie has, none of them come even close to this level of awful.

[@eamonndeane587]

I can't Hate it, especially for the Hilarious JJ Jameson Blood Pressure scene. "YOU TELL MY WIFE...... thank you...."

[@LadyPsychic]

Yeah, despite it's flaws I've always liked Spider Man 3.

[@Cyborcat]

1:03:25-1:03:33 - LOL, "Kingdom COME". I know that wasn't intentional, but it got a little giggle out of me.

[@ForrestFox626]

I didn't notice that, that was funny!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

The Wayne's World line "You know that scene in Scanners where that dude's head blows up?" nicely sums up the collective experience of those who are even so much as aware of this comic's existence.

[@NarwhalEntertainment]

Thanks for doing this one. I listen to you "All in one" videos while I'm working. Still my favorite reviewer, keep on keeping on, man!

[@rebornkusabi7264]

Comic Pop (shout out to another phenomenal comics channel) points out that there IS a good concept for a comic here. May Parker being a party girl makes total sense for a "it's like poetry, it rhymes" theme with Peter falling for Mary Jane AND it makes sense for the Mary Jane/May dynamic to be so close considering in 616 continuity, May was the one who hooked up Peter with MJ. Also as you mentioned, the artwork is great, and I always love seeing women draw women, even if it's a shard husband/wife duty- for one, they tend to make them look realistic, and also their eye for sexiness is more my speed- less "silicon-inflated porn star", more "realistically attractive woman". The problem is Marvel got Mark Millar to write this, and he decided to make several anachronistic choices that basically meant this was never gonna be in canon, on top of him making his "romance" comic have the plot of a really depressing porno.

[@Stormkrow280]

If anything the fact that this isn’t canon is this comic series’s only saving grace.

[@juniorsigala5028]

Tbh, I think this story has ZERO redeemable qualities, like NONE. The only thing I can say are redeemable is the sort of cute interaction between may and Ben in the issue 2 beginning like this guy says, but other than that this story is just filled with character assassinations just for the plot to happen, a plot mind you the original real characters wouldn't do, like honesty I see what you mean by may being a party girl reflects mj, but at the same time I don't think mj was that much of a party girl, not only that but things like may showing off her tits in front of every guy or fucking random people is something I don't see any version of aunt may doing and is something the original real aunt may wouldn't do and that also includes her sleeping with auto octaves

[@magitek09]

Oh my god, I can't believe I just realized this, but, they don't just look like them, they're basically them too! Mary IS Gwen Stacy: Virgin like, good girl too pure for this world and May IS Mary Jane Watson: Outgoing party girl, not wanting to get attached AND WITH AN ABUSIVE FATHER!!! God damn it! DX

[@joserobertosolismerlin5527]

Also mary died "young"

[@grantmoore8228]

What's terrible is I think you COULD do a story showing Aunt May and Uncle Ben's early romantic life. This series might suck but there's a germ of an idea buried under all this terrible-ness.

[@eamonndeane587]

The GOOD version of this concept could be part of a Valentine's Day anthology Comic.

[@TF2Fan101]

Any story has potential, regardless of the final product. Admittedly, there *are* some stories that are completely terrible with nothing to salvage. Something like the New New Warriors, as hilariously pandering as it is, has potential. You just have to throw out and change a LOT of the stupid stuff, such as ‘internet gas’, ‘magical backpack’, and the piece de resistance... ‘Snowflake and Safespace’.

[@skibot9974]

@@TF2Fan101 including Holy Terror?

[@mikegates8993]

@@skibot9974 A story about a Batman inspired character dealing with the fallout of a massive terrorist attack? Definitely. Obviously, remove the racism and get a better writer than modern Frank Miller and you've got the foundation of a pretty good story.

[@БогданГоранов-п9х]

Oh my god it's even worse when i watch them back to back. Because every time May is mentioned, I think of the sweet old lady in the 90s animated series.

[@biggeek2256]

Or May in the Insomniac Spider-Man games

[@fermintenava5911]

I think it's a good decision to put the mistakes-section into these compilations, since these are videos a casual viewer interested in this specific comic wouldn't check out automatically. Things need to be put into perspective.

[@Rabbitlord108]

Not to mention this could be seen by newer fans who didn't see the original uploads or the mistakes lists beforehand (Like me)

[@frogurtcremebrulee5252]

Oh god I had no clue that was Aunt May until he said it and went “oh god no”

[@TF2Fan101]

To quote Church from RvB: ‘Oh, SON OF A-‘

[@Tareltonlives]

Love the kitty in the background while the comic is inflicting pain. The joy of the illiterate.

[@dragonknight1560]

Just... a delightful compilation. Thank you Linkara. SPOILER SO DON'T READ UNLESS YOU HAD WATCH IT. I was watching this for the first time and I'm like "Ben, May? No-no, there's no way, no way would Marvel do this to him in this "story"... right? Right?" ... I was wrong... much worse Peter Parker: The punching bag of Marvel Comics. They don't hate him, they just want him to suffer, forever. No wonder the many of Spiderman Animated series and movies are amazing unlike the comics. The Clone Saga, Sins Past, One More Day... Marvel LOVES punching and beating up Peter so why not INTRODUCE how Peter's uncle and aunt AND his father and mother met and had SEX AND MAY AND PETER'S DAD?! Oh man... you can imagine Peter's face as he's told this story and screaming bloody hell insanely. I mean this isn't... canon, but the mere idea that "Trouble" is still a Spiderman comic... oof. AH GOD, THEY DO LOOK LIKE MARY JANE AND GWEN! WTF! WHY?! You know what I thought of... this would be a plan Norman Osborn would have done just because "I want to see you suffer Peter. Now, become my son!" *face palm* WELL... at least it's an alternative timeline... which should have never been created in the first place. So yea, thanks Marvel... for making Spiderman fans as mad as possible.

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

So, on top of all the obvious what-the-fuckery, they also add an implication that Peter has an Oedipus Complex... Fan-fucking-tastic.

[@baliyae]

So by this comic’s logic, Aunt May is both Peter Parker’s aunt AND his mother? Okay.

[@XanthinZarda]

Trouble: Screwing the character of characters you didn't want to see screwing in the first place. It's all pretty screwed up.

[@Xehanort10]

10:57 To be fair that might as well be the message of Twilight, 50 Shades, After, 365 Days and the like where randoms with no chemistry, no reasons to be a couple beyond looks and sex, nothing in common and no growth or development in their relationship at all and where abuse is portrayed as OK because the abuser's good looking.

[@Rabbitlord108]

50 Shades is especially gross since I know (Thanks to Dominic Noble's videos) that Gray said Anna looks like his mother.

[@d.j.mulcahy1657]

According to Wikipedia, Trouble is set in the Ultimate Universe, where Ben and May are younger. However, there are still issues that this creates. Even in the Ultimate Universe, May is too old to have had Peter at seventeen, and the period when Trouble takes place doesn't quite match up with Peter being a teenager in the year 2000, which is when Ultimate Spider-Man is supposed to take place. My guess is that setting it in the Ultimate Universe was a later addiction that the writers added to avoid any further backlash. Edit: So can disregard this claim because, after a little bit of research, the claim that Trouble is set in the Ultimate Universe has been debunked. Just goes to show that Wikipedia can’t be trusted and some of it’s sources might be wrong.

[@Tareltonlives]

I think the Continuity Alarm is in the corner weeping

[@d.j.mulcahy1657]

@@Tareltonlives Most definitely. It’s most likely completely broken and now Linkara has to get a new one.

[@fleetadmiralauto6506]

I thought it was its own universe

[@d.j.mulcahy1657]

@@fleetadmiralauto6506 I looked up the comic on Wikipedia, and it claims that Trouble is part of the Ultimate Universe. Then again, that might be false because Wikipedia can be wrong. Still, Bucky Barnes doesn’t die/become The Winter Soldier in the Ultimate Universe and lived out a regular life after Cap was frozen, similar to how Bucky was mentioned in Trouble. But this could just be a coincidence.

[@fleetadmiralauto6506]

@@d.j.mulcahy1657 Hm, Marvel Database says it's Earth-13003

[@LakinMae5]

“With no powers comes no responsibility” Uncle Ben in this universe.

[@shino4242]

Another to add to the looooong list of "WHO GREENLIT THIS!?!?!" comics.

[@DinoDave150]

Right up there along with Sins Past, One More Day, ASBAR, Avengers #200, etc.

[@Tareltonlives]

I am still in shock that this comic ever existed

[@bthsr7113]

Likewise. Everything about it is baffling at best.

[@skyslasher2297]

2:22 And here's something I found out recently that's relevant to Millars bad stories. Now this story was never made fortunately so I'm not sure if it should count as a blemish on his record but its still disgusting. In 1993 Millar pitched a story to DC called *sigh The Rape of Wonder Woman what would ostensibly be a 22 page rape scene of Wonder woman now according to Millar himself he pitched it as a joke He's been quoted saying "I pitched this to DC for a laugh years back. The idea was that, like 'Death of Superman', we had 'Rape of Wonder Woman'; a twenty-two page rape scene that opened up into a gatefold at the end just like Superman did." YEESH worst part apparently DC actually considered publishing this story even getting artists to sketch the first page before it was canned and it was only canned due to an increase in rape allegations in the media at the time instead of someone just vetoing the story as a bad idea

[@thetruewisegamer]

.............that's .............the fuck?! seriously the fuck?!

[@skyslasher2297]

@@thetruewisegamer I said it how I read it

[@thetruewisegamer]

@AT Productions oh God what nightmare fueled thing did they plan

[@bthsr7113]

Why in the flying fuck did they even tolerate it as a bad joke? I'd have threatened demoting on the spot!

[@Tareltonlives]

I think it's safe to say that Red Son was a fluke

[@CommanderShepard341]

Dont forget Mark Millar's proposed Wonder Woman story. 'The Violation of Wonder Woman'. Except instead of the word 'Violation' it's the R word

[@Shades14]

Classy.

[@Rivenstoneify]

@@Shades14 actually it is classy in the classical sense but still stupid

[@sockpuppy8811]

Apparently he said that as a joke... That's make the thing even worse.

[@jsb6975.ah.crapbaskets]

Considering WW 1984, maybe they kept it in mind and just decided to flip the script.

[@Rabbitlord108]

​​​​​@@sockpuppy8811Well to quote Galvatron "This is bad comedy"

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

29:00 Also, the Emmanuelle films started in 1974 so the reference in the 1st issue is also (possibly) anachronistic.

[@Magicghost23]

How I meet your uncle Ben.

[@vfvfq1279]

The only thing missing is Peter Parker disgusted and scared reaction to Aunt May telling the story

[@sliverfire7555]

@@vfvfq1279 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Magicghost23]

@@vfvfq1279 and that’s how Spider-Man became a supervillain.

[@eamonndeane587]

That's especially amusing since Neil Patrick Harris has actually voiced Spider-Man.

[@queenypie4543]

You know, I look back at this story and I have one rather obvious, albeit naive, question: how is this romance? Like, the first issue or two is sort of romance, in the most bland, generic way imaginable. There's basically no actual chemistry, just a bunch of horny people having sex. Starting with issue 3, however, it just becomes a drama story; the relationship between May and Ben, Mary and Ritchie basically becomes a non-entity as we take a right turn into wtfville with 100 years too young May being pregnant with Peter, and just sort of faffing about until the story reaches a conclusion. Hell, even before the story spiraled into edge-lord, holier-than-thou dumpster shite, the main focus seemed more on setting up the drama, with the romance being an obvious after thought. And that's not to say a romance can't have drama (or sex), but the actual romance part shouldn't be so damn thread bare.

[@becuaseimbored3481]

I'm convinced it was supposed to be a sex-comedy (but didn't want to admit it or they genuinely can't tell the difference), but then Millar Millar'd all over it.

[@florinivan6907]

'how come a cool chick like you settled for...unspectacular big brother?' and this is how you know this was written by someone who never ever said such a thing out loud to see how Riverdale on steroids it sounds like.

[@mserinquinn]

1. I'm sad the fortune teller wasn't revealed as Madame Web :( 2. I'm also sad that teenage Anna Watson wasn't at the resort trying to sell May cocaine or something, or that Richie and Ben weren't pushing around class nerd Otto

[@averagejoe5145]

I haven't read any of Mark Millar's works myself. The closest I've gotten to that is reading about how his stories originally went on TV Tropes. I've also seen adaptations of some of his work, like the animated adaptation of "Superman: Red Son." After I saw it, I read up on the differences between the comic & the cartoon & I think I prefer some of the changes made in the adaptation. Some examples I liked being: Red Son Superman being more of a morally grey character with good intentions (which don't always work out), how the animated film DIDN'T have Wonder Woman fall into the "woman scorned" trope like the original story, & Red Son Lex Luthor NOT being abusive toward Lois Lane who is his wife in both the comic's & the film's continuity. I also genuinely found it funny when Wonder Woman spelled out for Superman that she's a lesbian in the film after he mistakenly thought she was flirting with him. 🤣

[@eamonndeane587]

I recommend you read his Tie In Comics for Superman: The Animated Series. He GETS Superman in those comics. Hell Millar's writing style has become much less cynical Post 2013 in response to his Disgust at Man of Steel (the 1978 Superman film is his all time favourite Superhero film).

[@averagejoe5145]

@@eamonndeane587 I like that old movie myself. I also still like Superman Returns, even though it's been tainted by both Bryan Singer & Kevin Spacey. It's still better to me than Snyder's Superman by a LONG shot! I also obviously enjoy DCAU Superman as I feel he's been very faithful to the intended spirit of the character. I might give some of those comics a try. It's sometimes interesting to see an author change his/her writing styles or switch from darker & edgier fare to more light-hearted works.

[@battlion507]

@@eamonndeane587 So the best way to beat a popular controversal cynical creator... is an even BIGGER controversal cynical creator?! Jeez, that says something when you start hating what you've become and want to change that up, because they probably influenced another guy to become like them... but now it's more... accessable. Looks like Mark Millar is finally gonna get why Alan Moore changed his tone.

[@arellajardin8188]

Honestly, now I want him to review one of Millar’s “edgy” books.

[@geekforeverpixelgamingsurl5007]

I don’t wether or not I ever finished this series of review but I will gladly go through some comics awfulness as long as Linkara is here to guide me through it. You rock, good sir ! 🤘

[@sheepheadsez2229]

Now we need the inevitable prequel that nobody asked for: May and Ben Parker as kids, and when that fails we fill the time slot with Parker Family Babies.

[@bthsr7113]

Okay, but Peter's kids' antics could theoretically be amusing. You have to walk a very fine web line, but you could tell a story about his kids as kids with the emphasis on them and their peers.

[@TheZipding]

Honestly, seeing the story of how uncle Ben and aunt May could have been interesting to learn how they became so devoted to each other and their decision to take care of Peter after his parents disappeared. Too bad we got this story instead.

[@Bismuth83X]

I just wanna say I really like the Final Countdown-esque remix of your theme you used for the title cards here (in fact, I like a lot of the theme remixes you use for your title cards and think it'd be cool if longer versions of them were available as standalones).

[@ttgb2990]

I’ve always heard about Trouble and that it was a terrible romance comic, but I didn’t know anything else about. So it really was a surprise for me to learn that this was meant to be PETER PARKER’S HORNY CONCEPTION STORY. How have I never heard about this disaster before!?

[@shmee123ful]

God dammit it, the sholder spider gag made me chuckle really hard

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

47:18 Is Mrs Grey supposed to be some kind of relative of Jean Grey? Because she’s psychic in that she’s telepathic and telekinetic, not precognitive. Then again, her relative could have a different mutation.

[@christopherthibeault7502]

Fortune Teller (Spoony) - "Was it a 'Zombie Prostitute'?" "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?" Someone tell me where this wonderful exchange is from, please.

[@Webshooters1]

It's from the Nostalgia Critic's review of BloodRayne.

[@christopherthibeault7502]

@@Webshooters1 Thank you.

[@Webshooters1]

@@christopherthibeault7502 No prob. Despite everything it's probably the best review the three did together. "Guys I just killed a vampire!" "Was it a Nazi Vampire?" "No, it was just a normal vampire." "That's so pedestrian." "Yeah what you did is like the Bing search engine of vampire killings."

[@carlosalmonacid8958]

Bill Jemas often said that a cliched, overdone Spider-Man story would be the Rhino breaking out of jail and seeking revenge on Spider-Man for putting him behind bars. While that may be a cliched idea for a Spider-Man story, I think many fans would prefer it to this story. I will say though, a comic about Aunt May, Uncle Ben and Peter's parents when they were younger isn't necessarily a bad idea, it's just _Trouble_ took the idea in the wrong direction.

[@TheDarkVampire666]

So according to this the old lady Aunt May we saw was actually in her early to mid 30’s at very most when Peter got his powers

[@MyMagnificentOctopus]

Aunt May - A living reminder to always wear sunscreen.

[@Humbertcc1]

Come on, Linkara. You know why Mr Shelby has pointy ears. Who else could be there to ruin Spider-man's story before Peter Parker was ever born? The shadyness, the weird rules, the setting. Mr Shelby is Mephisto!

[@RaphBlade7]

You know some might find it odd Aunt May having a shoulder SPIDER, but think about it, this comic suggests she's SPIDER-MAN/Peter Parker's real biological mother, so SPIDER-MOM/MAY REILLY having a shoulder SPIDER makes perfect sense (a lot more than this comic's premise or MARVILLE ever did).

[@Magicghost23]

with great trouble comes great responsibility.

[@RaphBlade7]

So the recap page is suggesting the DEVIL got into Aunt May and that is why she cheated on Ben and slept with Richie which unintentionally (on Richie and May's part) resulted in May becoming pregnant with Peter. Hmm, yep sounds like something MEPHISTO would do (I'm starting to think this comic was made partially to make SPIDER-MAN's deal with MEPHISTO make sense!) especially in light of more recent Spider-Man books which seem to be trying to retcon MEPHISTO as a villain who's been messing with Peter and his supporting cast for years (which I'm kinda in favor of myself, as I'm sure a lot of Spidey fans would be pleased to see MEPHISTO become a recurring villain that Peter beats up regularly as Spider-Man). I could totally see Mephisto doing that just so he could tell Peter about it latter to add on to the layers of misfortune and misery!

[@RoundReview]

Considering the 600th episode's "marvel pretends Gwen and Peter neve had sex" together with "peter might be a bastard" thought on issue 4, I start to think the Avengers N. 200 company mightbe a bit messed up on their view of sex...

[@skyslasher2297]

That or they have this warped idea believing Peters a conservative Christian despite that never being apart of his character

[@RoundReview]

@@skyslasher2297 That is such an unfortunately common thing somewhat fanatical people do... "Hey, this dude must have the exact same world view as me. Otherwise, other views might be valid or something..."

[@carloszapata847]

Speaking of New York and bastards, would be the "bastard name" (like Snow in Game of Thrones) of New York?

[@the4thwallkid132]

We're in Trouble now... It was the best I can come up with😁

[@lancerguy3667]

Oh right! The “May cucked Uncle Ben!” Comic... wonder why my brain scrubbed it from my memory. 🤡 Nothing is more accidentally hilarious than listening to a conservative, middle-aged man trying to write in the voice of a teenage girl. That Angel/devil ‘abortion’ debate would have set me laughing if I weren’t cringing so hard.

[@Shellshock39]

Me before the review: Oh a romance written by Mark Millar? Weird but I'm interested. Me after the review: Mark Millar should be honored that he's somehow managed to absolute assassinate Aunt May's character.

[@Rabbitlord108]

I wonder what a comic done by both he and Frank Miller would look like.

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

12:22 what is "John Thomas" and euphenism for? 56:21 Bill Jemas sounds more dellusional every time I learn more about him

[@karaoconnoraliasraidra]

Judging by the context, I’m guessing it’s penis.

[@TevyaSmolka]

oh yeah trouble I remember these reviews these were tons of fun.

[@zexalbrony4799]

A lot of fun.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@zexalbrony4799 lol indeed

[@Kohdok]

I can't remember, but did this series bring up the notion that Romance comics are kind of donezo in America because they've been largely displaced by Anime and Manga?

[@thetruewisegamer]

Sort of but personally it more that it just shows that they are unwilling to truly experiment and give an honest attempt at it. Serious they should know mark millar was a terrible choice since he actually made a joke about making a comic of wonder woman being violated(which some say dc was behind on in some regard)......yea and this was the guy they brought into to bring back romance comics.

[@mathieuleader8601]

the Soap Opera or the dramatic prequel with kitchen sink realism to Spiderman

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

I knew you were trouble when you walked in... So shame on me for making a comic that never should have ever been... Now it's lying on the cold, hard couch!

[@richardgadberry8398]

1:07:45 Seeing Shoulder Spider on anybody but Janeway seems weird to me.

[@Spike-Prime]

This isn't remotely the biggest deal here, but I have one more laughable thing about this being "canon;" how goddamn old is Aunt May supposed to be?! She looks like a grandma, frequently depicted as 70+. And yet this is saying she was pregnant with Peter, at most, at age 19--more likely 16-17 given the dialogue. How the hell did she dramatically age 40-50 years in the 14 years between this, and Peter becoming Spider-Man?!

[@florinivan6907]

Well cocaine and heroin seems likely.

[@devlinburgess2463]

Which does everyone think is the worse totally unnecessary and gross sex-related Spider-Man retcon: this or Sin's Past?

[@bthsr7113]

Sin's Past is worse this one, but that's still comparing two failures that should never have seen the light of day.

[@DoctorKnow00]

Sins Past by a country mile. Because it was canon for 2 decades. A compromise to sidestep Peter and Gwen having children out of wedlock. By making Norman the baby daddy to Gwen’s retconned kids. Aunt May being a hoe at a summer resort, sleeping with two brothers and dudes at a party. Is gross but ignored and forgotten easy enough.

[@colinvandenberg3446]

I completely forgot the hotel managers were vehemently anti-sex. I guess Millar forgot too because that never comes up again.

[@awelcruiz]

My GF and I sat down to watch this. She made it through the first issue and peaced out. I can't say I blame her.

[@RaphBlade7]

My theory about May's shoulder DEVIL is that it is actually MEPHISTO battling with May's actual conscience. Ironically, May in this comic has the fortitude not to trust a freakin DEVIL that PETER sadly lacked in ONE MORE DAY (guess Peter's inability to grow up and inability to learn from his mistakes comes from his father Richie, with his morals coming from Uncle Ben who ironically did his best to teach his nephew/step-son how to be a MAN, as Ben's marriage to Peter's real biological mother May makes his nephew Peter, his step-son by default). You know the more I think about it, this comic is weirdly starting to make sense (in light of ONE MORE DAY & SINs PAST, as well as Peter's overall characterization) and that frightens me.

[@jojothebard6687]

You could say that this whole limited series is… *troublesome.*

[@eamonndeane587]

Don't give me Trouble with Awful Puns...

[@TF2Fan101]

Both of you... GET OUT.

[@RaphBlade7]

To be honest the only one who comes off as likable is of course UNCLE BEN (who I could totally see realizing the truth years later, when he and May were raising Peter, lest May told him the truth after Richie and Mary died). Sure he's depicted as a horny teen at first, but he does seem to care about May (he even attempts to defend her honor only to get beat up by the guy), unlike Richie who was just using her. Also the line where Ben calls Richie "pathetic" seems like something Uncle Ben would have said in this kind of situation (kinda hinting at the sage wisdom he would try to teach Peter before he got ORIGIN STORIED to death) as the writers seem to view Ben as a real MAN compared to Peter's biological father Richie who is depicted as a admittedly shallow and horrible person. Sure May isn't a saint and Mary's reaction to finding out she was being abused was going too far, though I totally get why she would be angry with May and I'd give Mary the benefit of the doubt that she blurted it out in anger but deep down really didn't mean it (as angry people can say hurtful things, then regret it later once they calm down and realize what they said crossed the line) and she does forgive May and even helps her in the end, while choosing to raise Peter together with Richie (who apparently man's up to take responsibility, which I like to think was inspired by Ben calling him pathetic, causing Richie to finally grow up and be a father). That is what I think Trouble's saving grace is, as unlike SINs PAST or ONE MORE DAY the characters do learn to grow somewhat, unlike Peter Parker himself cause the writers/editors won't let him.

[@MarcAquino1095]

Given all the Spider-Man spin-off movies Sony is pumping out these days, I feel like as a last resort, they’ll try and develop an adaptation of this. Just imagine ‘Euphoria’ but with teen versions of Aunt May, Uncle Ben, and the Parkers.

[@repulser93]

Ironic, given the main star of Euphoria.

[@TF2Fan101]

Technically we've only really had the Venom movies and the upcoming Morbius movie. Although Andrew might be getting another shot at his version of Spider-Man. That said, I'm pretty sure even Sony would steer FAR away from adapting this comic.

[@bthsr7113]

IF Sony decides to be THAT stupid, then we'll do our best to poison that project with word of mouth.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Anyone who thinks THAT'S a good idea can never be my friend.

[@MarcAquino1095]

@@bthsr7113 Totally.

[@TevyaSmolka]

also I agree trouble was really bad and a retcon that really didn't need to exist especially as a huge Spider-man fan and nobody wanted to see Peter parker being born from aunt may because that's just disgusting and mess up on so many levels that it ain't even funny.

[@fullmetalmasify]

Man I had finished sitting through this whole video, what a way to end off my weekend with, a journey that was filled with nothing with trouble.

[@Rabbitlord108]

HA!

[@shadowlinkbds]

Well this complination is going to be nothing but trouble.

[@blapis-blazuli]

So... was Peter Parker in this universe named after the uptight guy who ran the resort? They could've used almost any other first name for Mister Shelby, did they really have to go with the first name Peter?

[@antwan1357]

I'm pulling an all nighter video gaming and im listening to you heaven is life.

[@louisfrancisiii2847]

130k congratulations 🎊 👏 💐 🥳 🙌

[@wolfmantheimpaler]

Recently I saw an interview with Mark Millar, saying that when Death of Superman and Knightfall first came out, he pitched, as a joke, a comic called "The Rape of Wonder Woman" 22 pages of Wonder Woman being brutality raped.... and DC editorial considered it, even drafting the first page. I bring that up to emphasize how "what the fuck were they thinking" Marvel editorial was when wanting to give him of all people control over a teen romance comic. And even if they didn't know about that, why the hell would they think the guy who had a parody of the Hulk shout "Comic books are for retards!" would be good fit for what they wanted.

[@DinoDave150]

Between DC publishing Countdown, Heroes in Crisis, and anything by Frank Miller these days and Marvel publishing this, One More Day, and Sins Past, I am really getting the impression that editorials have no idea what they're doing most of the time.

[@Rabbitlord108]

​@@DinoDave150Don't forget about the rape in Identity Crisis.

[@iamaunicorn1232]

"Lets revive romance comics! We want variety!" "Ok, but how do we appeal to modern readers who like superhero comics?" "Spiderman references!" "...what?" "Wait, Spiderman's family as teenagers having sex!" "...." "And Spiderman references."

[@supertransistor8762]

Geez, this went from "okay, I would read this without the ties to spiderman" to "from what toilet did this crawl?"

[@RaphBlade7]

The fact that Bill and Mark think that Aunt May and Richie being unmarried when Peter was conceived would be the big issue, rather than Peter's conception in Trouble being the result of May and Richie cheating on Ben and Mary respectively (also Richie knowingly sleeping with his brother's girlfriend, while May slept with her best friend's boyfriend who was her boyfriend Ben's brother) isn't that surprising considering Marvel had similar BS reasoning behind Gwen Stacy choosing to have unmarried sexy with Norman Osborn over her college age boyfriend Peter Parker in Sins Past (a storyline I had the misfortune of stumbling upon in a vocational school library one day which happens to be the only Spider-Man comic that I ever remember reading) with Marvel making it clear that they never banged when the idea is ludicrous for anyone who understands young couples (additionally it is undermined by the fact Gwen had unmarried sex with Norman Osborn that lead her to conceive twins, as opposed to Harry Osborn which would have made more sense and while still a betrayal, would have been less wince inducing than Gwen being attracted to Harry's dad cause of some animal magnetism BS).

[@RaphBlade7]

When I hear BS like them thinking that people will have a problem with characters being unmarried, when that is the least of these stories problems as both involve stories nobody asked for about once beloved female supporting character's cheating on their boyfriends with other men (though Ben managed to get lucky with May as they actually got to have unmarried sex in Trouble (also they later got married so they probably banged a few times during their marriage, before Uncle Ben got ORIGIN STORIED to death), while Gwen apparently pulled the same crap with Peter that his "adoptive" mother Mary pulled on his biological father Richie as it is the only way I can see Gwen avoiding sleeping with Peter which may explain why Mary looks like Gwen. Also Gwen making love to Peter is just another example of Peter's life being a neverending story of pain and misery). Who would have thought that Uncle Ben and Peter would both have had girlfriends who cheated on them and got impregnated by the person they cheated on them with? Marvel writers apparently! Kinda makes you wonder what these people were SMOKING to come up with this crap! The only other thing I can think it might be is what some might call the BOOMER mentally (can't say if the people who wrote Trouble or Sins Past could be considered BOOMERs) the kind of thinking that fans would be more concerned with parental figures being unmarried, than said parental figures having children as the result of cheating on their significant other, just sounds like what most people would think of when thinking of a BOOMER who is out of touch with how modern relationships work. Also I would like to point out my own parents were never married (which in hindsight I think of as a blessing as while they are (my mom)/were (my dad who died in a car accident in 2009) decent parents and two of the hardest working people I know, married life would have probably made our family situation worse not better) and despite what some old generations might think, you don't have to be married to raise children as anybody who has been raised by a single parent can attest (my mother was my primary caregiver, though my dad did provide child support, though they made that arrangement between themselves without getting the government involved, with my dad would occasionally come to visit us usually around holidays or whenever he made it down to where we lived as he lived in Maryland while we lived in Virginia's Eastern Shore and I even went to stay with him, his wife, and my step brother during summer vacations).

[@Cerospace]

Well, of course that's how Mark would think. He's a good lil' Catholic boi.

[@Rossweise]

The fortune Teller's last name being Grey feels like a reference to Jean Grey tbh...

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

"Aunt May's Micky Mouse fetish notwithstanding." I'm going to quote this line out of context the next time I talk about Spider-Man with anyone.

[@DigiRangerScott]

Seeing this made the idea of Garrett making a mashup cover of Trouble by Shampoo and I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift pop into my head

[@Cdr2002]

Casual abusive dads, that’s how this connects to Spider-Man! It carries over that element from the Raimi trilogy!

[@MrMaxHauser]

So according to the Wikipedia page for this series, this was supposed to be the origin of the Ultimate universe Spider-Man, not the main 616 Spider-Man. That might explain why Mark Millar was involved in this series. It also says that Joe Quesada came up with the idea with Jemas

[@eamonndeane587]

I do recall an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man (during the Story Arc introducing Venom) where Aunt May mentioned she was something of a wild child when she was younger.... This Story however takes that WAY too far...

[@electric926]

If I had a nickel for every time a bad Spiderman story was weirdly critical of having sex out of wedlock, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.

[@becuaseimbored3481]

19:31 *sobs uncontrollably*

[@Mr-Green0]

32:58 I think this is what we thought over this comic.

[@ayaanshah2417]

you wanna see this story done well check out the movie Ginger and Rosa A story of two friends torn apart by one of them sleeping with someone close to the other There's more character beats in that film that hit a HELL of alot better. It takes place during the Cuban Missile Crisis and you understand that these characters feel like it's the end of the world. It's heartbreaking to see these kids go through these rough times and watch the main character break under all the pressure being put on her by her friend, her father, and life in general. it's obviously not the same plot as trouble but I'd like to point people in the direction of media that doesn't treat the audience like idiots

[@gabrieldevoogel6225]

Linkara is legit just spitting with the “every case is different” my sister only decided to keep the baby because I told her I wouldn’t be angry at her if she’d decided to abort at 19, she decided not to, but I’m proud of her either way for figuring out what she wanted, life is a great thing to bring forth, but if you aren’t able to handle it emotionally or financially or in any way, then you’d just hurt yourself and the baby

[@christopherb501]

If you live in the States, remember to vote blue, no matter who.

[@coleburns362]

Being about aunt May as a teenager, I have to assume this comic takes place in like the 50s. I keep hoping they'll sit down to eat a nice hearty meal of lobster relish or hotdog fondue Edit: yea I typed this before the what time is it bit.

[@ashleightompkins3200]

I use these all-in-one videoes to help me sleep at night and it's quite relaxing

[@SCWRMComms]

Even after all these years, i still can't get over that panel at 12:41. Probably due to the thumbs' placement, but Mary's hands seriously look like either two left ones or two right ones, like she's a the cousin of Dreadpool. Also, originally i thought that this series had no nomenclature in the multiverse cataloguing (for a refresher, Marvel usually tends to canonize everything as alternate universes with appropriate codes, from minor What Ifs, to one-shot pages about Hostess Fruit Pies and yes, even abominations like Marville), and it's clearly not suited for the continuity of Earth-616, but according to Marvel Database, apparently it's listed as Earth-13003. I'm still gonna run with my personal headcanon though and say this is an AU that was consumed by Amatsu-Mikaboshi during Chaos War and was never restored. -Teo

[@frozenfairy2323]

Uh oh. We're in Trouble

[@Tareltonlives]

Someone's come along and bust our bubble!

[@luckytremendous3259]

Yea yea

[@digitaltailsmon4096]

Love this lol

[@zexalbrony4799]

Ah the Trouble reviews. Very funny reviews I enjoyed them.