All right, first, I should say that I know next to nothing about Ezekiel and Morlun. According to a search of my blog, the only times that I've encountered Ezekiel is the "Grim Hunt" arc ("Amazing Spider-Man" #634-#637), where he was actually the Chameleon in disguise, and the "No One Dies" story ("Amazing Spider-Man" #655) where he appeared as one of the dead characters from Peter's past. Given that Peter went along with his plans when he thought that it was really him during "Grim Hunt," it seems that they left on mostly good terms. However, the revelation that Ezekiel knew that he was Spider-Man from the minute that the radioactive spider bit Peter enrages him. I have to admit that I don't really understand his anger. I originally thought that he was angry because Ezekiel planned to keep him locked in a bunker just like Cindy Moon, the other student that the radioactive spider bit on that day. But, Peter apparently already knew about the plans for the bunker. If he was that mad, why did he view Ezekiel as an ally during "Grim Hunt?" I can't remember if they were reluctant allies during that story, but it seems like I should get the other back issues, since it's clear that Ezekiel and obviously Morlun are going to play major roles in the upcoming "Spiderverse" event.
In fact, everything in this story clearly has something to do with "Spiderverse." I have to give Slott credit; he really uses a tie-in issue better than possibly anyone ever to introduce a story that will have clear ramifications in the character's life after the event ends. Peter learns as a result of the Watcher's eye-plosion that Ezekiel was keeping Cindy hostage in a bunker, and Cindy tells Peter that it was because her release would attract Morlun. I'm a little confused by this part, because it seems like Morlun would've known about her from the start, as he presumably did Peter. Cindy's parents only approach Ezekiel after her powers manifest, meaning that she was on her own (outside of Ezekiel's supervision) for a while. If the threat of Morlun was so present, why did he wait for so many years to go after Peter? Why wasn't Ezekiel scrambling to put Peter in a bunker at the same time as Cindy?
Moreover, Ezekiel puts Cindy in the bunker because he feared something and he had to wait until he knew for sure whether it would come to pass. He comes to this conclusion based on tests that he ran on Cindy, but it's unclear what those tests said. What sort of test would prove that she was the "Spider-Bride," the reason it seems that Ezekiel put her in the bunker in the first place? Also, I'm having a little trouble believing that Ezekiel was so persuasive about the danger that Morlun represented that Cindy would agree to spend a decade or so in a bunker. She really decided to do that based on some dire warnings of a crazy old coot?
In terms of Cindy's release setting off the sequence of events that result in "Spiderverse," it's unclear why it happened. The shadowy figure that seems to be Morlun calls her the "Spider-Bride." It's clear that she's connected to be Peter, not only because his Spider-Sense leads him to her (as opposed to warning him of danger), but also because he's hormonally compelled to kiss her at the end. Something about their connection kicks off Morlun's "great hunt," but it's unclear why them connecting would be the spark. Interestingly, Cindy seems to know. She warns Peter about Morlun gorging himself on their brothers and sisters, and she can feel the danger of Morlun approaching before Peter can. Maybe it answers the question why she trusted Ezekiel, because she's somehow more in tune with the Spider spirits or whatever we call them.
In other words, we have a lot of questions. However, I have total faith in Slott answering them, since he is right up there with Peter David in terms of not leaving any loose ends. In the meantime, we now have another Spider-Person in the form of Silk. We learn in this issue that her powers are different than Peter's. Her Spider-Speed is faster, her Spider-Sense is sharper, and she can spin organic (and barbed) webs. In fact, only Peter's Spider-Strength is stronger. Slott does a great job establishing her as an honest-to-goodness powerhouse, and I'm intrigued to see where he goes with her. After all, it's not a foregone conclusion that she's going to be a hero. Peter had a very compelling personal reason to become a hero. It's unclear how Cindy will react to the world after spending a decade or so in isolation.
This issue also has other developments, but Slott thankfully doesn't do what he did in "Superior Spider-Man" and focus too much time on them to the detriment of the main story. The Black Cat kidnaps Sajani to combat the technology that Parker Industries is assembling to defeat Electro, and Peter is relieved when the Avengers call him to fight the Mindless Ones, since it means that Doc Ock didn't get him expelled. The Avengers sequence is classic Peter, as he tries to tell everyone that he's returned while they're battling for their lives. I have to say that I really wish that Slott would just wrap up the Black Cat plot, but at least we're not spending too much time on it.
My only minor complaint with this issue is that Ramos really tarts up Cindy when we first meet her. He did a great job with the Avengers battle scene, but I'm not really sure, if I was living in a bunker for a decade or so, that I'd be dressed in a tight-fitting tank top and pair of Daisy Dukes. If he puts Peter in them next issue, I'll call it even.
***** (five of five stars)
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