This issue is...odd. It's clearly a transition issue, as Slott tries to move us through some plots point to get us to the next arc. But, it's hard to tell where we're going, exactly.
The biggest news of this issue initially seems to be Peter setting up Parker Industries, convincing Jay and Sajani to contribute seed money to the enterprise. (Peter himself puts up his apartment as collateral.) Peter takes this step in anticipation of his graduation from his Ph.D. program, a goal made one step closer by his thesis defense this issue. However, the surprise is that Peter doesn't have as clear of a line to graduation as he thought, since Dr. Lamaze correctly identifies his research as ripping off Dr. Ock's. Otto is left nonplussed by this development; in fact, he seems to be contemplating killing Lamaze, as if it would put the genie back in the bottle. It's remarkably clever on Slott's part, getting to the heart of the duality of Otto's control of Peter's body. The problem is that, no matter how clever it is, it still comes from nowhere. Otto was just complaining last issue that he hadn't any time to work on his thesis, and he's now suddenly defending it. It's clear that Slott is trying to destroy Peter's life before Peter returns, but I'm surprised that he just rushes us through this development. Clearly, we'll see repercussions, since I imagine that Parker Industries may be dead before it starts and that Otto is going at the very least to pursue the idea of whacking Lamaze. But, since it comes from nowhere, it's hard not to feel like Slott is forcing it onto the story.
We get several other background developments here, like the return of Stunner and Otto's assault on the Black Cat. The later adds fuel to the fire that Slott is burning, with Felicia swearing that she won't forget Peter's attack on her. (Another development along those lines is MJ deciding to try to date the fireman who saved her during the nightclub fire.) I'll admit, at this point, I'm left once again hoping that Peter returns ASAP. Slott is making such a production of ruining his life that it's starting to get hard to take it seriously.
** (two of five stars)
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