Amazing Spider-Man #589: "Marked"

** (two of five stars)

Favorite Quote:  "If only I were more intimidating...I should practice talking like Christian Bale."  -- Spidey being meta

Summary

A Russian mobster, trying to rehab his public image, tries to donate items to a F.E.A.S.T. shelter in Coney Island, but Aunt May stops him.  Peter, as Spidey, follows him to try to prove his involvement in illegal activity.  While photographing him participating in an illicit arms deal, Spidey watches as the Spot attacks the gangster.  Spidey defends the gangster, so the Spot doesn't kill him.  It's revealed the Spot is after the gangster for ordering a shooting that accidentally wounded the Spot's son.  Spidey convinces the Spot not to kill the gangster; the gangster is eventually driven insane waiting for the Spot to attack next.

Review

Normally, I'd more or less roll my eyes at the Spidey Brain Trust bringing back an old character like the Spot.  However, the Blank issue was so well done, I was excited to see what Van Lente did with the Spot.  The issue didn't rise to the same level as the Blank issue, but it's an acceptable stand-alone issue.

The Good

1) The revelation that the Spot's confession (which we see) is written in, well, spots (which Spidey sees) was actually pretty clever.  (But, in a nitpicking moment, how come the Spot can clearly write the name and address of his son in regular print but not his confession?)

2) Killer Shrike at the Bar with No Name!  I loved Killer Shrike back in the day!

The Meh

The introduction of a Russian gangster as the primary villain was kind of odd.  Between Mr. Negative and the Karnelli families, we've been awash with enough gangsters that the re-introduction of the Spot could've moved along one of those plots.  I understand that Van Lente needed a throw-away character who could be driven insane at the end without having an effect on the ongoing plots and sub-plots, but I'm sure you could've had a different conclusion.  At any rate, I'm not saying the Russian gangster was a bad plot device; the Brain Trust could've just used something that actually moved along the Mr. Negative plot.  (God knows it needs it.)