Amazing Spider-Man #69 (June 23): [Sigh.] Spencer is engaging in a time-honored - and oft-hated - tradition of ret-coning Spider-Man's history to make it even more tragic. If I'm reading the tea leaves correctly, Chameleon was one of many such agents - including possibly Teresa - that the Finisher created. But, Spencer really pushes my willful suspension of disbelief when it turns out the Finisher agents comprise half the employees of Chance and the Foreigner's casino and the Finisher orders them to attack. I'm guessing that it has to do with the Catalyst-powered Clairvoyant machine, but I may be having too much faith in Spencer.
Guardians of the Galaxy #15 (June 23): I don't remember reading anything like this issue.
Rich loses his shit when he discovers that Magneto is his and Peter's escort for the Hellfire Gala. As he explains to Magneto later, Annihilus recently saved his life, he's got the Super-Skrull as his Man in the Chair, and Doctor Doom is a Guardian now. He just couldn't take another super-villain. After Brand stops their fight, Magneto admits that he, too, actually rashly. He notes that men like he and Nova were once swashbucklers, but now they're all compromise and responsibility.
It's honestly a really nice moment. Rich is rash, but he's also an adult now. Putting his reaction on par with Magneto's underlines the fact. Moreover, Magneto seems legitimately impressed when Rich admits that he's wrong, and if Magneto respects you as a human you're pretty impressive. All in all, it's a great meditation on where both these characters have been and hopefully where they're going. I didn't expect Rich to have a heart-to-heart with Magneto when I opened this issue, but, man, I'm glad it happened.
Oh, also, Ego hatches, and he's Dormammu. I'm excited to see where Ewing goes with that development.
One last thing I'll say, though, is that I'm really over Cosmic Awareness Peter. It's like reading Starhawk, and I don't mean that as a compliment. I want old Peter back. I'm not saying that he has to be exactly like old Peter, but a little more old Peter than new Peter would be great.
S.W.O.R.D. #6 (June 23): This issue is essential to understand what Hickman has done in turning Arakko into a planet.
First, the X-Men make their play for Sol-wide control here. At a presentation to galactic powers on the Peak, Krakoa/Arakko announces that they have created a metal called mysterium, which is stronger than "secondary adamantium," conducts electricity at 100% efficiency, is radiation-proof, and barely conducts or retains heat. Krakoa/Arakko offers mysterium to the other galactic powers in exchange for recognition of Arakko, and not Earth, as Sol's capital. As Wiz Kid explains, mysterium will essentially solve the galactic recession that occurred in Knull's wake. It's a version of the deal that Krakoa offered Earth's nations, and, as we learn, most galactic powers take it.
Second, humanity is reeling, and it seems clear that a response is coming. Doom appears at this confab and demands to know who the Arakkii emperor is. In a moment that surprised even my jaded self, Storm appears and declares herself the Martian regent. It's a brilliant move, since I'm pretty sure Storm's leadership will comfort some superheroes. That said, on Earth, we see the Gala attendees still reeling at the news of the mutants annexing Mars. Most interestingly, we see Henry Peter Gyrich telling a disoriented Guardian (of Alpha Flight) that he'd like to introduce him to Orchis.
Finally, mutant unity is starting to crumble. "X-Men: The Trial of Magneto" is coming, and I know that it's about the Scarlet Witch. She appears here after the Gala, telling Magneto that she couldn't bear coming. Magneto affirms that she's his daughter, even if she isn't biologically, though I feel like we'll be re-ret-conning that development soon. Their moment at the end is beyond tender, a father who finds himself having accomplished everything that he's ever wanted except for giving his children the peace that they deserve.
In other words, it's the X-Men, so it clearly isn't going to end well.
Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: Chameleon Conspiracy (June 30): Oh, for fuck's sake. I don't understand what it is about Spider-Man that makes pretty much every author decide to write a story like this one, where some secret is revealed that calls into question his past. From "Lifetheft" to the "Clone Sage" to "Sins Past" to this one, each story gets more and more ridiculous.
First, the Chameleon wasn't always some faceless individual. His "moldable" face appeared for the first time in "Amazing Spider-Man" #307. As such, the idea that the Finisher ran an entire school of double-agent children with moldable faces is ridiculous. Then, Spencer adds to that absurdity the possibility that Teresa may not only have been one of those children but also was so good at being a double agent that she can't remember if she is one or not. I mean, I just can't.
The Clairvoyant storyline is possibly even more ridiculous as the only way to save the crashing casino carrier is to hook up Clairvoyant to it? That makes no sense. It's a machine meant to predict futures not power...whatever.
Also Read: Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #4 (June 30)
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