Man, this series of issues is turning into one of the best Spidey stories in years.
Slott really just does a spectacular job conveying the emotions that a fight between two teenage superheroes would entail. Often, authors will simply use a hero's lack of experience to remind us that they're young, but Slott goes one better. Both Clayton and Peter act recklessly, with little understanding of how their actions will affect the people around them. Despite acknowledging last issue that he might've been too hard on Clash, Pete instantly attacks him here. Infuriated that his idol ruined his plans, Clayton goes into full super-villain mode, launching a series of sonic blasts at Spidey that cause the roof to collapse. Aunt May is almost injured in the process, and she tells Clash and Spider-Man that they're both menaces. By having her come to this conclusion, Slott improves on the original story, since Aunt May's dislike of Spider-Man was always a little irrational when it was first (and, frankly, subsequently) portrayed. She now has a pretty solid argument why she thinks that Spider-Man is a menace. Beyond just a disregard for the consequences of their actions, each one of them is convinced that the universe is denying him his chance to shine; Slott lets you hear the adolescent whine in their voices. As such, you're never not aware that we're not just dealing with a younger version of our Peter, but an entirely different Peter all together.
However, Aunt May is really the star of the show here. Her conversation with Polly -- and Peter's ensuing embarrassment -- is hilarious, as she deftly handles Polly's revelation that she's a vegetarian by telling her that her beef stew is "mainly peas and carrots." Moreover, Slott ties her renewed interest in Peter's life to her discovery of the money that Clash gave him under his bed. Slott again updates Spidey's origin by having her come to the conclusion that the money means that Pete's a drug dealer cooking up meth in his room. Although Aunt May almost discovering Pete's identity is a well-worn trope by this point, I have to say that I LOLed at Slott's fresh take on it. In the end, May realizes that she should've trusted Peter, setting up her commitment to re-engage with him. In other words, every event flows from the previous one, giving this story a nice feel to it.
I'd be remiss if I wrapped up this review without mentioning Pérez's art. He really manages to evoke a 1960s feel in telling the story, incorporating the modern elements in a way that still feels true to the origin. Together, Slott and Pérez really are refreshing Peter's origin in a way that doesn't at all change the emotional impact, established facts, or stylistic sensibilities. It's still fun and funny and touching and tragic. They're giving us a Spider-Man for modern readers that older readers would absolutely recognize. (Amazingly, we're still just in issue #2.) It's really almost unique among these sorts of re-tellings, and DC could learn a thing or two on how to reboot a character without rebooting them.
**** (four of five stars)
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