Amazing Spider-Man #667: "Spider-Island" Part 1

***** (five of five stars) 

Favorite Quote #1:  "Oh!  This happened right after we...y'know...took our relationship to the next level:  kissing, swapping spit, sharing the odd toothbrush, and...whatnot.  Did I...give her a Spidery-Transmitted Disease?"  -- Peter Parker, learning the importance of safe sex 

Favorite Quote #2:  "I swear, if we're doing the clone-thing again, I'm going back to LA" -- MJ, speaking for us all

Summary

Shocking Peter, Carlie reveals to him her newly developed Spider-Powers.  Refusing Carlie's request to make her Spider-Tech, Pete (with Carlie in tow) goes to take Aunt May and JJJ, Sr. to the airport for their flight to Boston.  Meanwhile, the Jackal approaches a group of low-level criminals to whom he's given Spider-Powers and offers them the chance to ditch their current crime families and join him in "looting and plundering and pillaging!"  Cut to Bryant Park, where the Avengers arrive to battle the maraudering criminals, who are all dressed in a variety of Spidey outfits.  On the way back from the airport, Peter and Carlie learn of the chaos in the city and, telling Peter to sit tight, Carlie swings to help.  Peter arrives (as Spidey) in Bryant Park trying to find Carlie, but he's defeated by the Avengers who don't believe him when he says he's the real Spidey.  Meanwhile, Shang-Chi and Madame Web observe...observingly.

The Review

And a-w-a-y we go!  This issue was super fun.  Seriously, it was just a good, rollickin' time.  It reminds me of "Big Time," which is one of the highest compliments I can pay a comic.  We've kind of been on a detour since then, with Marla Jameson and Johnny Storm dying, the constant team-up issues, etc.  But, Slott returns to his roots here, giving us a really fun yet still gripping read:  I was often nervous to see what happened on the next page, while at the same time enjoying the fun on the page I was reading.  It's seriously hard to do that, and I hope Slott keeps it going, because it'll be awesome to get to read an entire fall full of issues like this one.

The Really Good

I just really have to take off my hat to this idea.  It's a little reminiscent of "Batman, Inc." in that it plays with the notion of secret identities.  (I hope Peter gets to web around town without wearing his mask just to see how it feels.)  But, it goes beyond that.  Bruce Wayne still controls who is a member of "Batman, Inc."  Peter Parker doesn't control anything here.  Part of the excitement of "Spider-Island" is the fact that I have no idea how Slott is going to resolve it without somehow taking away Peter's powers.  I mean, you can't just set off an anti-Spidey bomb, or Peter wouldn't be Spider-Man anymore either.  On the flip side, it makes you wonder if other of Peter's disappeared powers -- like his Spider-Sense or organic Web-Shooters -- might wind up re-appearing as a result of how Slott wraps up this arc.  At any rate, it's that interest, that uncertainty that keeps this issue a page-turner.  Unlike "Fear Itself" or "Flashpoint" or "Schism," I honestly just can't wait to see how Slott wraps up this one!

The Good

1) Of course, the cutest moment of this issue is Carlie revealing to Peter she has Spider-Powers.  Slott works in all sorts of nice touches, from Peter marveling at what it's like to watch someone you love leave to go fight the bad guys to wondering whether he gave Carlie a "Spidery-transmitted disease" from, you know, to quote Deadpool, the "special hugging."  But, Slott also gives us a meditation on what it's like to have a secret identity, as Peter is amazed by how easily Carlie shared her secret with him.  Of course, Spidey knows the hard way the importance of a secret identity, but I'm wondering if Slott is building to the moment where everyone else loses their Spider-Powers, but Peter reveals to Carlie he still has his.

2) The JJJ, Jr. scene is awesome.  Jonah's craziness is so over the top all the time, I loved that Slott turned it on its head and had someone laud him as a "dagblasted visionary" for his decision to spend 30 percent (!) of the city's budget on the Anti-Spider Patrol.  I still want JJJ, Jr. to get some comeuppance for ordering the Police Chief to kill Massacre in issue #656.  But, we can save that for another time.  Right now, I can give JJJ, Jr. his moment in the sun.

3) The scene between Peter and Aunt May at the airport was sweet.

4) I loved MJ's scene here and I cannot WAIT for her to get Spider-Powers!

5) The art's great.  I know he's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but something about Ramos' art really works with Slott's plots for me.  It conveys and amplifies the sense of fun and looseness that Slott injects into the stories.  Plus, he draws a fetching Peter Parker.