Amazing Spider-Man #655: "No One Dies"

*** (three of five stars) 

Summary

JJJ, Jr. awakens to Marla's alarm, perched on top of the stack of books she was reading when she died.  He gets himself ready for the memorial, as does Peter, who decides not to wear his Spider-Man costume under his suit.  We see the people in Marla's life -- JJJ, Sr. and May, Glory Grant, Betty Brant, and Max Modell -- enter St. Patrick's cathedral, followed by JJJ, Jr. entering, alone.  The scene shifts to the graveyard, where Marla is buried.  We then see Peter lying awake at 2:00 am and then falling asleep, dreaming.  He sees Uncle Ben, who tells him he's in a better place and leads him to a kitchen, where Peter sees his parents sitting at the table, from the back.  He runs to them, but, when they turn, they're faceless and they note that he doesn't really remember them at all.  The burglar who killed Uncle Ben is having breakfast with them, and Peter expresses rage that he would go to the "same place" as Uncle Ben and his parents.  Everyone then starts to leave to board a plane (it's a dream, remember), and Aunt May tells Peter not to make such a fuss, since "we all have to go some time."  Peter yells at her, telling her he'll never let her go, and Marla Jameson appears, telling him that, had she been Aunt May, he would've found a way to save her.  Marla tells him she'll return, since she built Spider-Slayers, which made her a super-villain, and super-villains "always come back."  Peter tells her she's a good person, to which she responds, "Guess I'm really dead."  Peter chases after her, running past a number of people who've died over the years, such as Nathan Lubensky, Captain Stacy, and Jackpot.  He then sees Gwen Stacy and chases her, running past, among others, Ben Reilly, Kaine, Mattie Franklin, the Kid Who Collected Spider-Man, Captain De Wolff, Oksana (the Rhino's wife), and Ezekiel before encountering Charlie, the only life Peter ever took.  He swears to her that he's not the type of person who kills, only to see the Green Goblin holding Gwen and taunting him with how many times Peter wanted to kill him.  Gwen tells Peter that he couldn't kill the Goblin even for her, telling him that she thought Peter loved her.  The Goblin then knocks her off the bridge, and Peter leaps after her, now finding himself at the mercy of other of his resurrected nemeses (Kraven, Mysterio, and the Jackal).  They're then assassinated by the Scourge of the Underworld and the Punisher, who are making their way through the Bar with No Name killing villains.  Wolverine and Cap also make appearances, with Cap remarking, "Grow up, son.  You think I didn't kill Nazis back in the day?"  Peter then watches the Sentry kill Carnage.  The Sentry tells him he should've done it ages ago, remarking "With great power, Peter."  But, Spidey argues that the power Sentry had corrupted him, turning him into everything he was afraid of becoming.  Peter suddenly finds himself with the opportunity to stop the burglar who killed Uncle Ben again, and he does, beating him senseless, only to discover Uncle Ben's beaten body has replaced the burglar's.  Ben tells Peter that becoming a murderer would be the death of everything he taught him, and Peter swears it won't happen.  Marla Jameson, standing in front of the gallery of the deceased asks Peter what he'll do next, at which point Peter awakens.  He puts on his costume and goes for a spin, vowing that, from this point forward, no one dies.  Meanwhile, a madman named Massacre has taken hostages and kills one of them, proving that he doesn't value human life. 

The Review

This issue is pretty powerful.  It's a bit of a hybrid.  The first half leads you to believe that we were going to get one of those wordless memorial issues, like we did for the Human Torch in the "Fantastic Four."  But, then, Slott shifts gears abruptly, and, for the second half, we're given a truly horrifying tour of Peter's subconscious.  At the start, Slott makes you think it's going to be a pretty happy dream, with Peter seeing Uncle Ben, who tells him not to worry, he's in a better place.  It's when Peter sees his faceless parents where everything turns dark.  Slott gives us, over the next few pages, a true tour de force of some of the darkest moments of Peter's life.  The tour of the deceased is powerful, mostly because of Marcos Martin's great art and Muntsa Vicente's vivid colors, and we see Peter stripped more bare than we possibly ever have.  But, Slott does really manage to give us what I think is a reasonable tour of the deaths that Peter would consider his greatest failures.  A lot of authors could've gone a lot of different ways, but I think Slott gives us a really interesting rumination on death (particularly as it appears in comics) here.  It's that emotional core that makes Slott's contribution to this story equally praiseworthy as Martin's art and Vicente's colors.  I give this issue a three, however, as I describe below, because I feel like Slott has abruptly changed gears on us (in a larger sense) and used one of the most commonly used tropes in Spider-Man comics -- Peter's overdeveloped sense of responsibility -- to do it. 

The Good

1) One of the things I appreciated the most about this issue is that Slott gave us his best Grant Morrison impression, pulling in numerous characters that we haven't seen in a long time and making them relevant again.  After the questions that still linger in the wake of "One More Day," this gallery of the deceased helps re-cement the idea that Spidey's past is largely unaffected by the Mephisto bargain.  We see a plethora of folks -- everyone from the Kid who Collected Spider-Man from "Amazing Spider-Man" #248  to Nathan Lubensky, Aunt May's former companion -- and it serves as a reminder of the tragedy Peter has faced in his life.

2) Martin does a good job of taking a fairly well-trod device -- showing all the little reminders that someone is now missing from a life s/he was living just the day before -- and making it feel fresh.  We see Marla's alarm perched on the stack of books she was reading when she died, JJJ, Jr. sleeplessly lying on his side of the bed as the alarm rings, and then later shaving at his side of the double vanity in their bathroom.  The impact of these scenes is amplified by the next page, where we're given a similar montage of Peter getting dressed for the memorial and ultimately deciding not to wear his Spider-Man suit under his clothes.  Martin gives us some really intimate moments in these pages -- JJJ, Jr.'s totally blank expression; Peter standing in part of his costume, though maskless and barefoot -- and these moments help imbue these scenes with real emotion.  I was just commenting to my boyfriend a few days ago that, in my morbid moments, I often wonder what "normal" things I'll leave undone when I die -- the book I'll be reading, the bills I haven't paid.  It's that reminder that we're not going to find out the way everything is going to end (God willing), and I was really struck by how Slott highlighted that here.

3) Speaking of the art, Martin's rendering of St. Patrick's cathedral is beautiful.  I'm sure it took time, so I just wanted to note how excellent it was, how he really captured the majesty of it.

4) The Web-Pits!  Nice touch, Martin.

5) Slott hints at a lot of things in the dream.  I'm not going to recount all of them, but one of the better moments was Aunt May telling Peter that everyone has to die sometime and Peter telling her that he wouldn't let her die.  It's a nod, at least in part, to "One More Day."  It's unclear if it represents some acknowledgment in Peter's subconscious of the Mephisto bargain or if it's just Slott stating the obvious, that Peter would go to greater lengths to save Aunt May than he would to save Marla Jameson.  At any rate, it actually works on both levels, which is what ultimately makes it a clever and sly wink to where we've been.

6) The red background for Spidey's fight with the Goblin was awesome.  Similarly, Gwen with the broken neck was just...disturbing. 

The Meh

Charlie?  Who?  Spidey killed her?  Really?  A little Internet research reveals that he did so in "Spider-Man vs. Wolverine," a 1987 one-shot.  I applaud Slott for going all Morrison above, so I'm not going to ding re-introducing a minor character here.  But, this scene did fall a little flat, if only because I had no idea who this woman was and my guess is 99.9 percent of the people reading this issue didn't either. 

The Bad

1) It's tempting to criticize certain parts of the dream for being too hard on Peter, because it's totally believable that Peter is as hard on himself as he is in this dream.  For example, I don't think it makes him a horrible person that he would go to greater lengths to save Aunt May -- the woman who raised him -- than Marla Jameson.  But, Peter would, so it rings true.  However, I feel like Spidey authors occasionally go overboard on the responsibility schtick.  I think Peter is smart enough to know that he can't be everywhere at once, but, sometimes, you'd think he thought he had a time machine.  Slott could've just had Peter mourn the death of Marla and curse his inability to save her, as opposed to blame himself for her death, as if he could've done anything to stop it.

2) The events of this issue still feel a little...abrupt, vis-à-vis what we've seen in previous issues.  As I noted in my recap of issue #654, I get that you can't plan tragedy.  Peter's grief here is so profound exactly because Marla's death -- and his perceived responsibility for it -- was so unexpected.  However, comic books aren't real life (I know, I know), and Slott had some control over the timing of this story.  By giving us this dark of a story so quickly in this brand new run, he derails some of the fun and energy he was building with his Hobgoblin story.  Had the "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer" storyline not ended in Marla's death, it would've just been a decent story with an interesting side effect (the loss of Peter's Spider-Sense).  Instead, we get a death that isn't necessarily going to have a huge impact on the comic, but results in us taking a walk down the absolute worst parts of Peter's Memory Lane.  Even though I thought Marla's death was well done, I still think it could've been postponed a few issues until Slott had firmly established his own rhythm.  After all, we didn't get "The Gauntlet" until "Brand New Day" had been firmly, firmly established.

On Numbers...

As you'll eventually see when I post my first elaborate Spidey-calculus post, I'm a bit of a math nerd.  I'm in the process of deciding on which books to prune.  I'm currently subscribed to 35 titles, according to Midtown Comics, with 25 of them being ongoing monthly series and not just limited series or one-shots.  I'm starting to get concerned over the amount of space my burgeoning collection is devouring, and, frankly, I'm just not enjoying some of the comics I'm getting.  So, I decided to mark which series I would keep based on just my gut reactions.

To be honest, I was surprised by how evenly it wound up being distributed.  I hadn't intended only to pick 12 (almost exactly half), but it just sort of happened that way.  The keepers?  "Batman and Robin," "Detective Comics," "Dungeons and Dragons," "Nonplayer," "Amazing Spider-Man," "Avengers," "Captain America," "Generation Hope," "New Avengers," "New Mutants," "Uncanny X-Men," "X-Factor," and "X-Men."  The losers?  "Batman," "Batman:  The Dark Knight," "Batman Beyond," "Batman Incorporated," "Flash," "Red Robin," "Superboy," "Teen Titans," "Starborn," "The Traveler," "Secret Avengers," "X-Men Legacy."  (Apparently, I really AM a Marvel kind of guy...)

However, I realized I couldn't get rid of all the titles on the "losers" list, because they're important to the overall story being told about a certain character.  For example, I feel like I have to keep "Batman" and "Batman Incorporated" because they're important to the overall world of Batman, but I can't say I really enjoy them.  It would be hard to know what's happening in the Bat-books I like ("Batman and Robin" and "Detective Comics"), though, without reading them.  Ditto "X-Men Legacy."  Two books on the discard list -- "Batman Beyond" and "Secret Avengers" -- I'm saving because I enjoy them.  I originally put them on the "losers" list because they're so discrete; the events in these books don't really affect the ongoing plots in other books.  But, I like them, so they're saved.  The final losers?  "Batman:  The Dark Knight," "Flash," "Red Robin," "Superboy," "Teen Titans," "Starborn," and "The Traveler."

But, I wondered if I wasn't being too hard on the books I didn't like, so I took a look at the last five months of sales figures (November 2010-March 2011).  (I told you:  n-e-r-d.)  I toyed with all sorts of formulas, but, in the end, decided to just take a simple start-of-period/end-of-period average.  This approach would never work in a real math exercise, because of the wide fluctuations within a title that occur month-to-month.  For example, if you want proof that events work, "New Mutants" and "X-Men Legacy" had the greatest growth (48 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively), thanks to the "Age of X" cross-over event.  In fact, the only other two titles of the 25 I get that grew over this period were "Detective Comics" and "Amazing Spider-Man."

It was the contracting comics that were the most telling.  The six books included in this approach that started at issue number one during the time frame fell the most:  "Superboy" (-31.5 percent), "Batman Incorporated" (-31.7 percent), "Dungeons and Dragons" (-36.9 percent), "Generation Hope" (-43.1 percent), "Starborn" (-53 percent), and "The Traveler" (a whopping -62.6 percent).  So, my guess is that my decision about "Starborn" and "The Traveler" is going to be made for me, because I can't see that you wouldn't cancel a title that lost over half its readership since its inception (even, or maybe particularly, for a small company like Boom! Studios).  DC probably has the power to keep "Superboy," and my guess it that we're going to see some cross-overs soon.  (Ditto "Generation Hope.")  I'm worried about "Dungeons and Dragons," since it was the only issue on my keep list that also fell in the bottom six.

So, if I take the books on my drop list and combine it with the bottom half of the sales list, I should drop "Batman:  The Dark Knight," "Superboy," "Starborn," and "The Traveler."  I'd add "Teen Titans" to that list since, honestly, I just haven't enjoyed an issue, other than possibly the Damian issues.  So, there you go.  I'm also canceling "Batman:  Gates of Gotham" before it starts, because I'm swimming in Bat-books.  So, I'm cutting six titles, or almost 20 percent.  Now, if I can just determine what I'm doing with "Fear Itself..."

New Comics!: The Bat Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman and Robin #22:  This issue wraps up the "Dark Knight vs. White Knight" storyline.  It's a more or less satisfying conclusion, but Tomasi leaves a lot of loose ends.  First, we're never really given insight -- throughout the storyline -- into how Batman and Robin know where and when to go to find the victims.  They save the Langstroms in issue #21 and an entire group of people in this issue, but we're never told how they deduce where they are and when they're going to jump.  I guess we're just supposed to take that on faith.  Second, it remains unclear what the liquid the White Knight was using does.  He uses it to illuminate Arkham Asylum in this issue, but it's unclear how the liquid does so.  In issue #21 he uses a bomb of sorts to do the illuminating, but here Commission Gordon said they just saw a bunch of "bright sticks."  Is this liquid the same liquid he uses to try to drown the inmates?  Finally, Tomasi never returns to the creepy tree we see the White Knight tending in issue #21.  It's clearly important -- we see him tending a smaller version of it in his cell in this issue -- but Tomasi just sort of leaves it hanging there.  I mostly liked what Tomasi did here -- the first issue of the storyline was particularly strong -- but the loose ends leave me feeling a little disappointed.  I'm hoping he tightens up his story telling as his run continues.  All that said, I'm looking forward to his handling of the Red Hood, because his depictions of the relationships between the Batmen and the Robins were top-notch. 

Red Robin #22 ("Judgment on Gotham:"  Part 2):  This issue isn't bad, giving us probably the most coherent explanation of what Azrael and the Crusader want Batman, Catwoman, and Red Robin to do.  Nicieza provides a meditation on faith that frames the action and also gives us some insight into Tim.  He does it in a way that never gets excessively preachy or cynical, which is a tough dance for any discussion of religion.  I raised an eyebrow at two comments, though.  First, Nicieza seems to be saying that the current Azrael -- Michael Lane -- was the former "insane Batman."  But, he wasn't; Jean-Paul Valley was.  I'm surprised the editors would let that sort of mistake slip, so maybe I missed something?  Tim also notes that the Mayor was "torching a part of the city so the construction companies he owns rebuild it."  He seems to be referring directly to the Ragman secondary feature in "Batman:  Streets of Gotham," which unfortunately didn't get finished before the title was canceled.  I don't think we actually knew why the Mayor was setting the fires, so we seem to have DC giving us that here.  Both eyebrow-raising moments, though, sent me to Wikipedia and my back issues, distracting me from the main story.  It's a shame, because, again, it was a pretty solid issue.  I'm also still unclear on Ra's role in the story, but I'm sure we'll get more clarity on that next time. 

Gotham City Sirens #22 ("Judgment on Gotham:"  Part 3):  OK, at first I was kind of annoyed with the fact that Selina Kyle gets to defend the orphanage, because, really, it seemed to have that twinge of sexism.  Why can't Selina fight for the Mayor and leave Red Robin to save the orphans?  He is one, after all.  But, eventually, it made sense, given that it ties into the central plot point, Selina being asked to kill the sister who went to live in the orphanage.  I'm not a long-time Catwoman fan, so I'm not really sure what her relationship with her sister is.  But, this plot point seemed a little forced to me, like they just dug up her sister so that she could be all Women in Refrigerators and ask Selina to kill her for God.  Selina actually gives as good as she gets on the religious banter side of the house, but I'm still not really sure what Azrael and the Crusader's motivations are.  Why now, suddenly, have they decided to hold Gotham responsible for its sins? 

Batman #709 ("Judgment on Gotham:" Part 4):  The ending of this story is disappointing for a few reasons, unfortunately.  First, throughout the series, we seem to have unreferenced references to the "Azrael" series:  Dick commenting that Azrael was supposed to have taken care of Fireball, Azrael stabbing Dick with his sword (heh) as we saw in flashback in "Batman" #708.  I really hate those sorts of moments.  I get eight (nine, maybe?) Bat-titles.  They already forced me to buy "Gotham City Sirens" #22.  Implying I've got read yet another side-title (about a character I have never, ever liked) just to understand what's happening in the flagship title is showing a hell of a lot of chutzpah.  Second, Ra's al Ghul's role in this whole affair is still unclear.  Is he the source of the "visions" that sent the Crusader, Selina Kyle's sister, and the Prodigy to Gotham?  If he wasn't directing Azrael, then why did Azrael suddenly decide to put everyone through these tests in "Batman" #708?  Finally, how did Azrael get his hands on Fireball, since Ra's al Ghul was last seen amping up his powers?  Azrael had to have known that, since he knew Fireball could destroy the city.  Yet, he seems totally bewildered to have been under Ra's thumb.  Third, Dick is totally an amateur here.  I mean, yes, I get that he's disturbed by visions of beating up the Prodigy, but I don't really believe that he'd fall apart so utterly and completely as he does here.  As Tim says, if it weren't for him, all of Gotham would've been destroyed.  This sort of story would've worked better in the first few months after Dick became Batman, showing his learning curve.  But, here, it's a pretty significant step backwards for Dick and, as Bruce himself implies, makes you wonder whether he's able to handle being Batman.  Finally (yup, I've got more), the Prodigy's comments to Dick at the end -- where he tells him that he knew his friend Dick was watching and left him -- are just absurdly pat.  This arc had some potential, but, in the end, I'm just left felling meh about it, which is, unfortunately, pretty par for the course for this title lately.

Amazing Spider-Man #654.1: "Project Rebirth 2.0"

**** (four of five stars) 

Favorite Quote:  "I'm Luke Skywalker.  I'm here to rescue you.  Sorry.  Wanted to say that since I was six." -- Flash to the oil baron he's rescuing. 

Summary

We see Venom break into the third tallest building in Madripoor, web up the security cameras, and then change into a tuxedo-ed Flash.  Flash (who still wants to be called the new Spider-Man) meets his handler, Kate; the two are there to infiltrate "a secret summit of the biggest financial linchpins in our economy."  The target of their mission is Countess Demonico, who they believe to be part of Flag Smasher's Ultimatum terrorist group.  Flash mingles, meeting a Middle Eastern oil baron and charming the Countess while implanting her with a tracking chip.  Back in DC, the mission is declared a success and Flash is de-symbioted.  He returns home, anxiously awaiting his next mission.  Betty comes home crying, telling Flash about Marla.  Flash (who's gotten used to legs as Venom) stands to comfort her, and falls.  He tells Betty not to worry about him and asks if she needs anything.  She tells him to talk to Peter, who's completely shut-down since Marla's death.  Flash goes to do so, and Pete's doorman tells him that Pete went with his "ladyfriend" to the Coffee Bean.  There, Flash sees Peter talking to MJ; he's talking to her because she's the only one who knows his secret, but Flash thinks he's cheating on Carlie.  Before Flash can do anything, he gets a call for his next mission, rescuing the oil baron he met in Madripoor.  The Countess was one of his abductors, so they manage to track them to Uzbekistan via the chip Flash implanted in her.  Flash's handler informs him that he might be on his own during the mission because the stealth shielding on their plane is interfering with their communications network.  Venom drops into the base, mimics an Ultimatum guard, and makes his way into the interrogation room, where Flag Smasher is trying to get the baron's bank codes.  Flag Smasher leaves and Venom breaks out the baron and is pursued by Ultimatum.  Someone throws a grenade, blowing off Venom's legs.  Flash loses it and fully becomes Venom, eviscerating two guards.  Flag Smasher threatens to detonate the bomb attached to the baron, so Venom bites off (and then spits out) Flag Smasher's arm.  Flash reverts to his ordinary Venom mode and escapes with the baron.  His handler asks Flash and the baron whether Flash "Venom-ed out" and the baron, who's grateful for the rescue, covers for Flash.  During the de-symbioting process, it's revealed that they can only extract 99 percent of the symbiote from Flash.  Returning home, Betty rides Flash for missing the funeral and not talking to Pete, which Flash blames on the V.A. sending him on some business.  Flash apologizes, saying he'll try to do better. 

The Review

This issue really sets the stage for the "Venom" series, with Peter only appearing briefly, discussing his guilt over the death of Marla Jameson with MJ.  The relationships between Flash and his supporting cast -- his mission handler, Kate; the tech guy, Aaron; and the project leader, Dodge -- are still a little stilted, since they've only just been established.  But, it's overall a really enjoyable issue.  The concepts are cool, and Slott does a good job with the plotting and pacing, delivering an action-packed issue that feels like a "Captain America" story.  All in all I really have no complaints.  I'm giving it a four, instead of a three, because I think the concept is really clever and I'm impressed by the creative team's initial efforts to flesh it out more fully. 

The Good

1) Right off the bat, I liked the "Captain America"-style recap page.  It was a visual (and clever) reminder of the fact that we weren't really dealing with a Spidey story here and gave a point of reference of the type of story Slott was trying to tell.

2) Flash's combination of charm and bombast really gives itself to these sorts of stories and missions.  He is often portrayed as a likable oaf in "Amazing Spider-Man."  He is here, too, more or less, but here it helps him achieve him goals, giving him some depth we haven't really seen since "Brand New Day" began (well, except for when he lost his legs, but one would assume that even Flash would have to approach that with a certain level of seriousness).

3) I enjoyed how Slott had Flash suffering the same pangs of guilt for having to let down people in his personal life so he could go play superhero as Peter does.  Peter is occasionally portrayed as being overly serious for feeling the way he so often does vis-à-vis letting down people in his personal life, so it's nice to see the parallel in Flash -- a guy very different from Peter -- as a reminder of what a strange reality it must be, being a superhero.

4) The foreshadowing at the end of the issue -- how Peter is "gonna ruin everything" -- is ominous.  We all know none of this is going to end well, but I'm really intrigued to see how exactly it's going to go.  I actually hadn't anticipated them getting to the symbiote influencing Flash so quickly.  But, then again, he's only got 17 missions left, so we're not dealing with a long time-frame here for Flash either becoming Venom, super-villain and all, or staying Flash. 

The Bad

The only bad thing about Flash being Venom is, OMG, can Betty Brant NOT date a super-villain for once?  Can't we just find her a nice, un-powered guy?  When everything here ends in tears, I'm afraid our girl Betty might not be all together.  (I actually meant that mentally, but, re-reading it, that could also be true physically, too...)

New Comics!: The X-Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Uncanny X-Men #535:  Ok, this issue totally confirms that all the good we've seen over the last few months in "Uncanny" is thanks to Kieron Gillen.  Although I enjoyed "Quarantine," it occasionally got hard to follow given that it was basically running three plots at once.  Gillen re-focuses here, giving us one team with one mission (stop the Breakworld cruiser heading for Earth).  I didn't read the original Breakworld story in "Astonishing," but Gillen does a great job of giving us the information we need without making it all exposition-y.  This issue was exciting and fun.  It even featured some character development, finally addressing the Kitty situation beyond just having her and Peter hopelessly stare at each other.  Hurrah!  It's definitely the best of the three core X-books right now and I'm really looking forward to next month. 

X-Factor #217:  Meh.  This issue doesn't really do it for me.  First, JJJ, Jr.'s monologue just goes on too long.  Second, I don't really buy it.  I've been reading Spidey comics for almost 30 years and, honestly, the guy we see here isn't really JJJ, Jr.  It's close to a guy we see every once in a while -- a guy who occasionally rises above his insane megalomania to make the right decision -- but I don't buy that JJJ, Jr. would manage to patiently articulate the ideas he articulates here while facing down a bunch of protesters.  Plus, I'm pretty sure JJJ, Jr. would have at least a little something against Muslims.  He's never really been the paragon of equality that David is making him be here.  The only other significant event here is that Shatterstar seemingly was going to tell Rictor that Longshot was his father, but changed course, telling him they're not related at all.  I hope it means we're going to get to the bottom of that mystery, given that it's been something like 15 years coming.  All in all, though, it was a pretty mediocre story. 

X-Men #9:  Gischler answers pretty much all of the questions that plagued me last issue, showing us who's really pulling the strings and explaining why nerdy kids in particular were needed for the experiments.  (I actually gasped at the Dark Beast reveal.  I mean, who saw that coming?)  Both "Uncanny X-Men" and "X-Men" are coming off huge-cast extravaganzas ("Quarantine" and "Curse of the Mutants," respectively) that left me feeling varying degrees of meh, so I'm tickled pink that both have adopted a back-to-basics approach in their follow-up arcs.  (Though, I'm unclear how Wolverine can be rocketing to the edge of the solar system in "Uncanny" and in the sewers of New York in "X-Men."  But, I digress, since it appears to be his mutant power.)  This issue just felt like a gift that kept on giving; every few pages, I thought I had reached the shocking ending only to find I still had more to go.  Bachalo's art is again awesome while at the same time occasionally difficult to follow.  The only drawback was that Dark Beast's monologues (a theme of late, apparently) went on way too long.  I actually accepted that it was in-character, and not just a 1960s "Batman" TV show level of super-villain exposition.  But, it just got cumbersome to read after a while, making me impatient for when the action would resume.  Also, I have to mention pet peeve #1:  for reasons I can't quite fathom, they replace Gambit with Cyclops on the cover.  Weird.  Can Gambit really not sell a comic book anymore?  At any rate, it was a good read and I can't wait for next month's battle royale! 

X-Men #10:  This issue is a really satisfying conclusion to this arc.  The Spider-Man/White Queen combo is amazing.  Seriously.  I'm not really a huge fan of Emma Frost, but, in the hands of Gischler, she's actually probably the best character in the whole arsenal at this point.  He portrays her as unapologetically pampered rather than just imperiously arrogant, which actually (in a weird way) grounds her a bit, making her a bit more human.  It never dawned on me that Peter Parker was almost the polar opposite of Emma Frost, but he totally is, and Gischler plays up those differences to great effect.  (Bring on the mini-series!)  The ending -- even if predictable -- is sweet, and it furthers the larger plot of the X-Men rehabbing their public image.  Just like the last issue, I was surprised by how the issue just kept going after I thought it was going to end, which makes it one of the few comics that I feel actually gives me value for my money.  The only negative in this issue is in the art department.  Paco Medina finishes the issue, and he portrays Max as some sort of future runway model, and not the overweight, nerdy kid who was susceptible to the Dark Beast's overtures in the first place.  Otherwise, it was a great issue and a fun arc.  This title has significantly risen in my estimation!

New Comics!: The Age of X Edition #2 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Age of X:  Universe #1:  This supplemental title gives us some insight into the events that were happening before Fortress X was built.  This universe's Avengers team is a group of mutant hunters, led by Captain America.  Iron Man is a twisted version of his former self (his body has now bonded to his armor thanks to some mutant-derived virus), Sue Richards turned in the other members of the Fantastic Four for harboring mutants, and Bruce Banner was apparently driven insane when a mutant caused his accident, which led him to slaughter his fiancée, best friend, and colleagues.  (Ghost Rider and Spider-Woman are also on the team, but they're pretty much just filler.  In fact, Ghost Rider dies almost right away.)  It's an interesting story, but I'm left to wonder again about the dynamics of this world.  For example, Magneto seems to have discovered that nothing really exists outside the walls of Fortress X, though clearly something does based on these stories.  (Moreover, something had to exist before Magneto created Fortress X, since, after all, Magneto existed before Fortress X.)  Marvel isn't obviously going to rush the reveal, so we're left with these sorts of stories, where you just have to ignore the inconsistencies and enjoy them for what they are.  Separately, we discover that the reason Legacy is treated as special is that she's collecting all the memories of the mutants who die.  In the secondary feature, we see Spider-Man send away a pregnant Mary Jane as the government captures him to sterilize him, given his status as a "post-mutant." 

X-Men Legacy #247 (Age of X:  Chapter 5):  We finally get to the heart of the matters here, and, unfortunately, I have to say I'm a little disappointed.  First, I feel like we've gone to the well a few too many times when it comes to portraying Legion as a reality-warping sociopath.  In fact, the first arc of the new "New Mutants" series dealt with Legion, and it was one of the better (and grounded) storylines I've ever read dealing with him.  In truth, this fantastic (in the "unbelievable" not "amazing" sense of that word) story somewhat pales in comparison to the more realistic story found in "New Mutants" #1-#4.  But, I could handle my disappointment if it was limited to Legion.  Instead, I found myself equally disappointed when it became clear we weren't going to see the Basilisk/Wolverine team-up we seemed promised to get in "X-Men Legacy" #246.  Instead, we see Basilisk give a fairly uninspired speech to Cannonball and the assembled Fortress X inhabitants about how nothing makes sense, somehow convincing everyone to abandon their posts.  It was this wasted opportunity that left me perhaps the most disappointed, given that a Basilisk/Wolverine assault on the system could've been awesome (and would've probably provided a resolution that felt more organic than Basilisk just convincing everyone that something was wrong).  As a result of these two disappointments, this issue really lacked any sort of excitement or tension for me.  It just seemed to pretty much check the box and move along the plot, bringing us one step closer until the inevitable return to the way thing should be.  I'm pretty sure Mike Carey had something grander in mind than that.  Hopefully we see that in the last issue. 

New Mutants #24 (Age of X:  Chapter 6):  OK, this issue saves the concept a bit, though I still have a disappointment hangover from Chapter 5.  Legion ultimately gets his heroic moment here, a different ending than we usually see for him.  Based on the way the book ends (and the solicits for "X-Men Legacy" #248), it appears that Legion's story doesn't end here, and "Age of X" may wind up being the spark that begins to resolve the Legion issue.  If it does, I think I can handle my disappointment over him being the culprit behind the "Age of X."  One of the consequences of having only a seven-issue story (nine-issue, if you count the "Age of X:  Universe" mini-series) is that Carey never gets the chance to fully explore some of the characters who showed the most promise in the beginning.  For example, just like the dropped Basilisk/Wolverine partnership, we never discover whether Phoenix is Jean, Rachel, or Hope.  It's these sorts of absences that leave me felling a little disappointed at the end of the day and not altogether upset the "Age of X" is over. 

Age of X:  Universe #2:  We learn, in this last installment of "Age of X," how the Avengers, who defy General Castle's orders and stop the Hulk from exterminating all the mutants, wound up being the inspiration for the Force Wall.  (I didn't catch that General Castle was Frank Castle -- a.k.a. the Punisher -- in the first issue.)  The issue definitely focuses a little more on "tell" not "show."  Mystique's monologue was unnecessarily heavy-handed, given that I'm pretty sure Captain America had already come to the conclusion that their mission was unjust when he saw she died defending the children.  But, it wraps up some loose ends, which is more or less what it was supposed to do.  Despite, like the Spider-Man back-up story in the first issue, not really contributing much to the plot, the Dazzler back-up story is well done.  I was initially skeptical that Stephen Strange -- even another universe variant of him -- would be a mutant hunter, so I was pleasantly surprised when it's revealed he was working with the mutants all along. 

Final Thoughts:  I enjoyed "Age of X," at least more than I was enjoying the usual stories in "X-Men Legacy."  I do feel like it fizzled in the conclusion, and was too derivative of "Age of Apocalypse" to have the sort of lasting impact that storyline had.  It mostly covers familiar ground, allowing us to see old characters in a new light.  Other than the switch in responsibilities between Cannonball and Basilisk, though, I can't say anyone is really all that different from their prime universe counterpart or an alternate universe counterpart we've already seen.  Moreover, the revelation that one of Legion's personas was behind the whole ordeal made it a little more predictable, if only in retrospect.  But, as I said earlier, if it gives us some sort of eventual resolution of the Legion problem then I'll retroactively think it was worthwhile.  It's disappointing that Carey et al. never got the chance to explore some of the more intriguing sub-plots, such as the Phoenix's actions in Albany or the various romances depicted in the first few issues.  It seems that the upcoming issues of "X-Men Legacy" will determine the legacy of "Age of X" and I look forward to seeing how Carey wraps up some of the loose ends.

New Comics!: The Avengers Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers #12:  OK, so, we've established that I'm not a huge Infinity Gauntlet fan.  I find Infinity Gauntlet stories tedious because their authors have to find new (and more ridiculous) ways to keep the villain from just wiping out the heroes.  Last issue, we got some clap-trap about how humans can't really wield the Infinity Gems to their full ability.  Sure, whatever.  But, I'm pretty sure, when Parker Robbins tells Iron Man to "go away" and he does in fact disappear, Parker is smart enough to take the next step and realize he could've also told him to stop existing.  It was right then when I realized I really, really just wanted this illogical quest through a bad idea to end.  I'm not saying the book was all bad.  The Dr.-Strange-as-Thanos reveal was actually pretty well done.  I particularly enjoyed that Parker Robbins had no idea who Thanos was, undermining what Dr. Strange was trying to do and poking fun at how enmeshed with the inner workings of the Marvel Universe he is when he expects everyone to know who Thanos is.  Bendis also totally got me with the Steve Rogers reveal at the end, which I think was not only well played but also felt more or less organic.  In the end, though, I'm just glad it's done.  I hope Bendis focuses on something maybe a tad less cosmic than time travel and the Infinity Gauntlet for the next arc, so we can actually see Hawkeye, Spidey, and Spider-Woman do something other than stand on the sidelines and stare. 

Captain America #617:  I'm more or less resigned to both the "Bucky in the Gulag" and the "Steve Will Take Up the Shield Soon" storylines, so I'm less annoyed by them now than I've been in past reviews.  Brubaker goes beyond the theme of the last few issues -- exploring how much further into Bucky's personal hell we can go -- by using the gulag device to provide some insight into Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier.  We essentially are introduced to three villains in the this story -- Colonel Rostov, the seeming mastermind behind Bucky's presence at the gulag; "Niko," who was a member of the failed male analogue to the Black Widow project; and a former Titanium Man, set to kill Bucky to win his freedom.  Brubaker's talent really shines here, giving us one of the best meditations I've ever read on the personal aftermath that the fall of the Soviet Union had for those involved in defending it (even if it's slightly confusing at times keeping everyone straight).  The two back-up features are clearly building to the final resolution of this storyline, and I'm intrigued by what Brubaker will have Bucky do when he's no longer Captain America.  Basically, Brubaker won me back this issue, and I'm now actually looking forward to seeing how the storyline develops.  The only real drawback to the issue is the art, which, in all three stories, is uneven.  Guice occasionally makes it hard to follow the action in the primary feature, which detracts from his admirable job evoking the bleakness of the frozen tundra where the gulag is located. 

Hawkeye:  Blindspot #3:  McCann does a pretty good job here giving us at least a quasi-believable story about Barney Barton returning from the dead.  (At the very least, he doesn't just pay lip service to it.)  The justification wears a little thin when Barney seems furious at Clint for not finding that little spark of life that Egghead was able to use to revive him, since, after all, he was given a funeral, so it's not like they just dumped his body in a gutter without another thought.  But, again, I'm not going to hold it against McCann too much since at least he's trying to give us something.  We also see Barton returning to a life of crime, remarking (somewhat wryly) that the only time he played hero he wound up dead.  I know that previous authors have gone back and forth over Barney's true motivations, so McCann really does seem to have a free hand here on which side to chose for Barney.  The only real downside to this issue is that we have to suffer through the whole 1960s "Batman" TV show death trap scenario, but I'm realizing that's pretty much par for the course with any storyline involving Baron Zemo.  (See also the "Captain America" arc where Zemo doesn't kill Bucky, instead just ruins his life because he "doesn't deserve it.")  Overall, McCann continues to deliver a fairly enjoyable story for die-hard Hawkeye fans. 

New Avengers #11:  So, last month, I said all sorts of nice things about "New Avengers," in both my review of this title itself and my review of the "Avengers."  This month?  I want to reserve the right to take back everything I said.  This issue is a mess.  First, we've got the main problem, the "women in refrigerators" problem, if you will, of Mockingbird being shot.  I've said it before (and I'll probably say it again, unfortunately) that I find it unlikely that Marvel would kill off Mockingbird just two years ago after resurrecting her.  As such, it's unclear really what game Bendis is playing here and how Bobbi being injured is going to further the overall plot.  Moreover, we get to prolong resolving the issue because Bendis has, oddly, decided to basically split the issue (as he has the last few) between this tale and a tale of Nick Fury's 1950s Avengers.  I have to assume that, at some point, these storylines will cross and Bendis has a reason for dragging out both stories rather focusing on one instead of the other.  (I'm partially worried he just thought the 1950s Avengers concept was cool and knew he couldn't hijack the main title completely, so he just sort of crammed it into the title, without it having any bearing on the title itself.  Could it not have been a back-up feature?  Or maybe a story to be told in the annual?)  The problem with splitting the book is that I honestly could barely remember what happened in the last few issues, because the storytelling has been so diffuse.  How did Superia kick the Avengers' asses?  I honestly don't remember.  Did we ever know H.A.M.M.E.R.'s goal in reforming, other than doing evil?  Even Hawkeye asks that question.  Focusing just on the 1950s tale, it's fine plot-wise, though we're still spinning our wheels.  However, the art is awful.  It's often hard to tell who's who in the issue, making it hard to emotionally connect to anything that's happening.  Moreover, Namora rides a wave and a whale on top of a building?  Where did she get a whale?  Are there that many whales that close to Helsinborg, Sweden?  Really, Bendis?  I'm hoping it's your subtle nod to admitting you've jumped the shark, because I fear you have.  Also, pet peeve #1 requires me to note that, at no point, are Spider-Man, the Thing, and Wolverine racing through a tunnel to try to save Mockingbird, as depicted on the cover.  In fact, they're only in three panels together the entire issue.  Again, it's all just a great, big mess. 

Secret Avengers #12:  The conclusion to the John Steele arc is a little confusing.  It's still unclear to me who (or what) the Shadow Council was trying to resurrect.  Hitler?  It's possible that they might not have been trying to resurrect anyone at all, but instead just setting up a scenario with which they could lure John Steele back into the fold.  We also never discover who Steele's (and Thorndrake's) master is, a reveal Brubaker clearly isn't rushing.  As such, this arc doesn't really answer what "the trouble" is with John Steele, other than the fact he's clearly been manipulated for almost centuries by the Shadow Council.  I'm on the fence about the Shadow Council at this point.  On one hand, I'm still intrigued by it.  But, on the other hand, I feel like Brubaker is making the title too much about the Council.  I think it might've been better to intersperse the Council stories with other spy stories (which seemed at first to be the focus of this book).  At this point, this title is feeling more like a Shadow Council mini-series than an ongoing one.  Given that Brubaker totally gives up the pretense here of having characters other than Steve Rogers appear in this book, I think this title will, in fact, have a limited run when he resumes his role as Captain America and gets promoted to the "real" Avengers.

Amazing Spider-Man #654: "Return of the Spider-Slayer"

**** (four of five stars) 

Favorite Quote:  "May!"  "Jay!"  "Marla!"  "Jonah!"  "Carol!"  "Ben."  "Hug?"  "Maybe later."  -- JJJ, Sr., May, JJJ, Jr., Marla, the Thing, Ms. Marvel, the Thing, and Ms. Marvel, all coming together at the end 

Summary

John Jameson's shuttle successfully docks with the Horizon space station, but he's trapped there for 12 hours while the tech guys repair the damage to the shuttle.  At Horizon Labs, Modell tells Pete that he's figured out his secret:  that he builds devices for Spider-Man.  Pete "admits" that, and Modell agrees to help him with the Spider-Sense Jammer, since Spidey saved Horizon Labs in the previous arc.  Spidey returns to battle with the Jammer, which Modell warns him will axe out his Spider-Sense as well as the Insect Army's if he's within range.  At the spa, Marla helps a losing Ben Grimm by rigging the Spider-Slayers to short circuit (since, after all, she built them).  Luke Cage and the Iron Fist get time for JJJ, Jr. and his entourage to escape to get to the spa.  Meanwhile, at the "Bugle," Robbie orders everyone to evacuate, and Phil Urich uses his Goblin strength to knock down a pillar, pinning Randy Robertson's legs.  Robbie realizes the Insect Army is after him and gets Ms. Marvel and Jessica Jones to evacuate him.  Spidey heads to the Flatiron Building, which is in the epicenter of the three scenes of battle, finding Smythe's ship there, since he's coordinating the attack from this central location.  (..."holy triangulation"...)  The Scorpion attacks, accidentally damaging the Jammer and forcing Spidey to use it, knocking out his and the Insect Army's Spider-Sense as well as Smythe's ship.  Spidey hustles to the spa, where the JJJs reunite with May and Marla.  However, Smythe (who doesn't have a Spider-Sense, so was unaffected) appears from the ruin of the ship, knocks out Spidey with a piece of shrapnel, and goes after JJJ, Jr.  Marla jumps in front of JJJ, Jr., saving his life but ending hers.  With her dying words, she tells JJJ, Jr. to give up his hate.

In the secondary feature, we see Flash Thompson become Venom, in Project Rebirth 2.0.  The military has bonded him to the symbiote, which re-grows his legs.  They give him all sorts of equipment, such as a multi-gun, knockout drugs, truth serum, and chemical weapons.  Flash is introduced to Captain Katherine Glover, his hard-as-nails (and hot-as-hell) handler.  It's revealed that Flash can only be in the suit for 48 hours at a time before the symbiote begins to bond with him and he can only go for 20 missions.  After losing the suit (and his legs, which don't stay after the suit is de-bonded), Glover argues with the project director about the morality of the enterprise, expositing that the first recruit had his brain "nuked" when she was forced to hit her doomsday watch when he became overly bonded to the symbiote.  The director dismissed her concerns, noting that Flash is "a first class soldier, a true patriot, and he is willing to make any sacrifice." 

The Review

The weird thing about the way this issue ends -- with the death of Marla -- is that you wouldn't have known it was coming having read the last two issues.  Although Smythe kept threatening the lives of everyone in JJJ, Jr.'s life, it's pretty much standard operating procedure for a bad guy to threaten someone's life.  (Hell, Phil Urich pretty much just openly tries to kill Randy Robertson here.)  It wasn't until I saw JJJ, Sr. weakly tell JJJ, Jr. that they needed to get to May and Marla despite him being injured that it dawned on me that someone -- namely him -- could die.  The first two issues of this arc were so breezy and light that we didn't really seem to be building to such a tragic ending.  Obviously, tragedy doesn't necessarily have to come with a warning, but this issue was tonally different from the other ones.  Moreover, it ends in a real "Women in Refrigerators" way, with Marla's death clearly intended only to influence the lives of two of the other (male) characters -- Peter and JJJ, Jr.  All that said, it was actually better plotted and scripted, with a pretty direct line from start to finish.  Without the "Venom" secondary feature, I would've given it a three, but the Venom feature was AWESOME, so it got a four. 

The Good

1) I'm glad JJJ, Sr. didn't die.  Seriously.  As I mentioned when we first realized he and May were dating, this guy pretty much had a target on him from the start.  I actually really enjoy him; he brings a paternal gravitas to the book and, of course, to Peter, who's been missing that for so long.  That said, I don't relish the death of Marla.  As I mentioned in the review of issue #648, I liked the return of Marla.  She had been a catalyst of change since "Brand New Day" began, selling the "Bugle" and getting Pete his job at Horizon.  Her death isn't going to leave the gaping hole that the death of JJJ, Sr. would have, but it's still going to be felt.  Moreover, the scene where JJJ, Jr. tells Spidey her death was all his fault was really heartbreaking.

2) Slott really changes up the status quo here at the end of the book.  We go into the next issue not sure if Spidey has his Spider-Sense anymore and wondering how JJJ, Sr. is going to react to the death of Marla.  Marla's final speech to JJJ, Jr. has the potential to alter drastically his approach to life, and I'm fascinated to see how that goes, because it could go really well (with him taking her advice) or really badly (with him going Rhino and hating Spidey all the more).

3) The pacing of the book is MUCH improved over the last issue.  In fact, it was so exciting and fast-moving that I found myself having to slow myself down so I wouldn't miss important details.

4) OK, when I first saw that they were going to turn Flash Thompson into Venom, I was all, "Fuck you, Marvel."  I've always given DC props for keeping Barbara Gordon in a wheelchair, and I thought that turning Flash into Venom was just a way to ret-con losing his legs.  So, I was pleasantly surprised that he only has the legs when he's wearing the Venom suit, and he's only wearing the Venom suit 20 times for 48-hour intervals.  It's a really clever twist and totally re-invents the character.  Add to that the "nuked his brain" sup-plot, and I'm totally subscribing to this series.

5) Still talking about Venom, the costume is awesome.  Seriously, it's totally Spider-Man Noir and I'm totally digging it.  Plus, Slott totally gets Flash Thompson here.  Of course he'd flirt with his hot case officer, Betty Brant be damned.  Great stuff.  It totally pushed this issue to a four for me. 

The Meh

1) It becomes clear here that Slott actually intended the opposite of what I thought last issue, vis-à-vis the Spider-Sense Jammer.  I thought it was just an excuse to provoke the confrontation with Max Modell, when, in fact, the confrontation with Max Modell was just there to facilitate the creation of the Spider-Sense Jammer.  I'm still not entirely sure it was necessary, though.  Why did Modell have to be there to help Peter build the Spider-Sense Jammer, since we've established that Peter is, like, the smartest guy ever to live ever?  He comes, actually, to a logical conclusion (that Pete builds Spidey's toys), but I still think Slott could've used a more streamlined plot device that wouldn't have left this arc feeling so jam-packed (in a bad way).  But, at least it served a larger purpose -- taking away Peter's Spider-Sense -- than just the confrontation with Max Modell, so I'm putting it firmly in the middle here.

2) I feel like I'm entering "No-Prize" territory here, where I identify a problem and then propose a solution.   When Spidey is concussed by the piece of shrapnel thrown by Smythe, it results in Smythe being able to attack JJJ, Jr. and, by extension, to kill Marla when she jumps into the fray to save JJJ, Jr.  But, then, suddenly, Spidey pops into the action and takes down Smythe with one punch.  What the?  My guess is that Slott was arguing that Pete was so horrified by what happened to Marla that he had the energy to re-engage Smythe, but no one actually tells us that.  I'm just trying to give Slott the benefit of the doubt.  Otherwise, what, Spidey has never fought through a concussion before?  He just happens to be unable to do it when a super-villain is threatening his beloved aunt and extended family? 

The Bad

1) Phil Urich seems to get REALLY homicidal here.  I mean, it's one thing to kind of kill random superheroes or super-villains, but he openly tries to kill Randy here, just so he can get closer to Norah.  I mean, I get that he's cray-cray, but he's so homicidally insane here it makes you wonder why he's not just killing people willy-nilly.

2) The Scorpion again just kind of disappears in this issue.  I mean, a big deal has been consistently made over the last few issues that Gargan was de-symbioted and re-Scorpioned.  But, in the second issue of this arc, he and Spidey didn't even really exchange a blow; they mostly just wrestled around a bit before Gargan hit the Spider-Sense Jammer and knocked out the entire Insect Army (himself included).  It seems kind of a waste of a character whose reintroduction had been so well plotted.

Amazing Spider-Man #653: "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer"

** (two of five stars)

Favorite Quote:  "An attack by costumed lunatics.  Now this place officially feels like the Daily Bugle..."  -- Robbie Robertson, as the Insect Army attacks

Summary

JJJ, Jr., JJJ, Sr., and Glory Grant are in a limo quickly trying to outrun Alistair Smythe's Insect Army.  Smythe, who's hijacked the car's communications system, tells JJJ, Jr. that he's seeking "Old Testament vengeance" on him by going after his firstborn.  Meanwhile, on the shuttle, Spidey tries to figure out a way to disarm the booster rockets while fending off the Scorpion.  Spidey calls Avengers Mansion, getting Squirrel Girl, who's upset with him being rude to her while he asks her to send assistance.  On the ground, Max Modell and the other Horizon Labs guy notice Smythe & Co. leaving the command center, and run towards it to see what they can do.  The other guy wonders aloud where Peter is, and Modell wonders as well, noting to himself that Pete also missed the recent Spider-Man/Hobgoblin fight at the Labs.  Spidey, who, as Pete, saw the shuttle schematics, maneuvers the Scorpion to take out the fuel-intake hatch, activating safety features, which activate the emergency-communications system, allowing the Horizon Labs guys to talk to John Jameson, who informs them the shuttle controls are dead.  Meanwhile, Doc Ock, who, in the last arc, sent Chameleon into Andru Air Force Base to plant his octopus thingees, realizes with alarm that the shuttle is in danger of not achieving its mission, docking with the Horizon space station, which Ock wants to turn into the "Octahedral."  Ock uses one of his thingees on the ship to fix the controls, and John fires the engines, detaching the booster just before they explode.  Spidey and the Scorpion plummet to the Earth.  Meanwhile, JJJ, Jr. celebrates John escaping, but Smythe reveals that he's sent operatives to both the "Daily Bugle" offices and the spa where Marla and Aunt May are relaxing, allowing the "boys" time to be alone.  The New Avengers arrive just in time to save Spidey and fight off the Insect Army.  JJJ, Jr. informs Spidey that Smythe has gone after the "Bugle" and Marla (and May), and the New Avengers split into teams.  Luke Cage and the Iron Fist fight the Insect Army, Ms. Marvel and Jessica Jones defeat the operatives attacking the "Bugle," and the Thing and Mockingbird go with Spidey to the spa.  Spidey realizes that all the Insect Army members have a version of his Spider-Sense, making them almost impossible to hit.  He leaves the Thing and Mockingbird to go to Horizon Labs to create a Spider-Sense Jammer...only to run into Max who tells him they have to have a little talk about Spider-Man.

In the back-up feature, Spider-Man and Power Man head to the old site of City Hall, with Spidey reasoning that the Looter wanted the key because it unlocks something and, well, they should go to the old City Hall to, um, see what it unlocks.  They (shocker) find the Looter there, who promptly takes down Power Man while Spidey takes down his goons.  The Looter distracts the two heroes with a "dazzle gun" and then exposits that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because he asked too many questions about the building, which 33rd-Degree Masons like David Provost (the mayor of New York City when it claimed the site), George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Wilkes Booth were using to hide a meteor that contained interstellar vapors that could amplify the holder's powers.  But, the meteor winds up being a shell housing some creature who then attacks the Looter.  Power Man kills it (poor alien) and they arrest the Looter (or something).

The Review

I didn't hate this issue, but it wasn't great.  In the past, I haven't held secondary features against the writer of the primary feature since, back in the day, I was tracking whose stories I liked more.  I'm more focused on reviewing the whole issues now that we've moved to one principal writer, so I feel like I should include the secondary features as well.  I hate the one in this issue, pulling down the rating, since I probably would've considered giving the issue a three otherwise.  It's not to say, though, that the primary feature didn't have problems, as I note below.

The Good

1) Please give Otto the "Octahedral."  Seriously, how cool would that be?

2) The Insect Army reveals continue to be interesting, with the woman attacking the "Bugle" revealing she used to be a reporter for the "Bugle" who JJJ, Jr. fired for forging a gang exposé that got her awarded a Pulitzer Prize (which was revoked after JJJ, Jr. revealed the truth).  The Spider-Slayer has been kind of a tired concept, since Alistair Smythe is pretty much a one-trick pony, so the Insect Army really has injected some energy into it.

3) I liked the addition of the New Avengers here.  It goes along with something I said with the appearance of the Avengers in the first issue of "Big Time:"  Slott is giving us a complete reckoning of Spider-Man, including his side responsibilities.  Few authors, particularly on primary books, take the time to acknowledge that the character appears in other books (Wolverine is a good example).  It seems perfectly logical that Spidey would call the New Avengers for help when he's hanging off a rocket hurtling into space AND fighting the Scorpion at the same time.  I don't want the book to become a constant Spidey/Avengers team-up series, but the appearances of both teams have made a lot of sense within the context of the plots at hand.

The Bad

1) OK, I'm not really sure why the Scorpion was sent on the side of the rocket.  The Spider-Slayer sent him there, to quote Spidey, "on the off chance [Spidey would] hitch a ride."  Really?  I know that, in a way, Slott is winking at us with this comment, acknowledging the ridiculousness of the scenario.  But, as I've said before, winking at the reader because your plot is ridiculous isn't the same as not giving the reader a ridiculous plot in the first place.

2) I'm torn about the fact that Modell seems to be onto Pete's connection to Spidey so easily.  On one hand, it's a nod to the fact that the smartest guy on the planet would, of course, be able to quickly deduce Peter's secret identity, given that pretty much anyone who knows Peter should probably have been able to deduce it by now.  But, it seems to be rushing a plot.  It's like the first arc of "Glee" episodes from the first season, where everyone was gay and pregnant all at once.  Pacing, people, pacing.

3) Speaking of pacing, it's a little odd in this issue.  We begin where we left off the last issue, the cliff-hanger (or rocket-hanger) of Spidey facing the Scorpion on a runaway rocket.  Spidey manages to save the shuttle, and he and the Scorpion fall to Earth.  Sure, OK.  The two are grappling when Ms. Marvel appears, knocks away the Scorpion, and then saves Spidey.  Fine.  But, then, we totally shift gears.  The Scorpion is forgotten, and we move into the next phase of Smythe's plans, going after Marla and the "Daily Bugle."  It's a somewhat abrupt shift, as we split up the team and see the scenes at the spa and the "Bugle."  But, it gets weirder when we don't even focus on these scenes, and instead move quickly to the next one, which is Spidey going to Horizon Labs and having the confrontation with Max Modell.  Slott just crams too much stuff here.  If he had taken out the Modell sub-pot, he probably wouldn't have had to write the Insect Army as having their own Spider-Sense, which means Spidey wouldn't have had to flee the battle just as it began.  The frenetic nature of the issue made it a little hard to follow and, as such, hard to enjoy.

4) I HATE VAN LENTE.  I hate him.  The secondary feature is absurd.  Why would Spidey decide that, if the key unlocked something, it would be the old City Hall that existed when the key was first introduced?  Why would the Masons actually just hand out the key if it were that important?  Why did they never activate the alien that lived inside the meteor?  Why, why, WHY?

Amazing Spider-Man" #652: "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer"

*** (three of five stars) 

Summary

Pete and his family and friends (including MJ) go to see Carlie's roller-derby team.  MJ, seeing Peter happy -- with his professional, personal, and costumed life all coming together -- gets jealous, wondering why he could do it now and not with her.  After the game, she confronts Peter about whether he's going to tell Carlie his secret; Pete says he's not ready because he wants her to like Peter Parker, not Spider-Man (as opposed to MJ, who knew he was Spidey from the start).  Peter is invited by his boss, Max Modell, to help with the launch of the Vertex Shuttle the next day, which will be piloted by John Jameson.  Pete's Spider-Sense goes a-tingling during the launch preparations, and he leaves Modell and another Horizon scientist to go investigate.  In the background, the Scorpion climbs onto the shuttle, while, in the control center, Alistair Smythe reveals himself, taking control of the shuttle and announcing that the booster rockets are rigged to explode.  Meanwhile, Smythe sends his Insect Army after JJJ, Sr., who's with JJJ, Jr. and Glory Grant at the observation area.  Spidey tries to protect them, but JJJ, Jr. orders him to go after John Jameson and the shuttle, since the people on the ground have a slim chance of escaping the Insect Army without Spidey's help, but John has no chance at all.  Spidey catches the rocket with a Web-Line, only to discover the Scorpion on the side of the rocket waiting for him.

In the back-up story, Spidey is receiving the key to the city thanks to Captain America essentially blackmailing JJJ, Jr. into doing it.  During the ceremony, Spidey's attacked by Power Man, a new protégé of Iron Fist.  In a flashback to a training session, Fist revealed to Power Man that Spidey was the one person he couldn't beat, making the young Power Man eager to prove himself.  Spidey defeats him, and Power Man reveals that he had really come to the ceremony thanks to a tip that revealed that the giant, novelty key was a bomb.  However, Spidey wasn't receiving a giant, novelty key, and he realizes that the fight was a diversion for someone to steal the key.  Power Man reveals the name of the guy behind the bomb -- Norman G. Fester, aka the Looter.  The Looter, receiving the key from his agent, reveals that he's after something that has been kept hidden for three centuries, which he can get thanks to the key. 

The Review

OK, we knew Slott couldn't maintain five and four stars forever.  This issue is a fairly solid Spidey story.  It doesn't do much more than set up the events that are going to happen in the rest of the arc, but it does that more or less well.  I'm not sure about the back-up stories, which seem to be done just to justify the $3.99 price tag.  But, we'll see where it all goes. 

The Good

1) The Insect Army is a pretty clever device.  It's comprised of people like Smythe and the Scorpion, who have grudges against JJJ, Jr.  For example, "Fly Girl" had her family business destroyed after the "Bugle" under JJJ, Jr. published an exposé about it.

2) The art is pretty great in this issue.  Caselli has some trouble with faces every once in a while (Peter's face while he's sitting in the stands watching Carlie and observing his family and friends is just...odd) but he draws a really nice action sequence.  Caselli was the new regular artist with whom I was least familiar, so I was really glad to see that I enjoyed his work for the most part. 

The Meh

The secondary feature was OK.  I'm not getting "Heroes for Hire" so I know nothing about this new Power Man.  I don't entirely buy that he's so brash that he wants to beat up other good guys just to prove himself, so that whole sequence didn't make much sense to me.  But, I'm willing to give Van Lente some time to develop the story, since it could be fun.  (I actually thought Slott wrote this story at first, but then, on checking, saw it was Van Lente, whose work I've never enjoyed.  But, again, I'm willing to give him some time.) 

The Bad

I'm not exactly sure why Slott decides to make MJ into a jealous ex-girlfriend here.  My guess is that it's partly because Pete's new job reduces one source of drama in his life (his constant lack of cash) so we're going to have to see some trouble in his personal life to keep things interesting.  But, it's pretty out of character for MJ.  After all, she was the one who told Peter he had to find someone else, someone stronger to be happy.  (Maybe Slott hated "O.M.I.T." as much as I did and he's pretending it didn't happen.  I'd be totally fine with that, actually.)

Amazing Spider-Man #651: "Big Time"

**** (four of five stars) 

Favorite Quote:  “No harm in celebrating a little.”  “He can’t dear.  Tell him why.”  “Aunt May…”  “Say it again.  Just for me.”  “I can’t.  I’ve got work tomorrow.”  -- JJJ, Sr., Aunt May, and Pete, living out May’s best dream 

Summary

Hobby appears on the roof of the Fisk Building, demanding an audience with the Kingpin.  He tells the Kingpin about Spidey and the Black Cat’s plan to steal back the reverbium, telling him they’re already in the building.  The Hand attempts to stop Spidey and the Black Cat, but Spidey – fully clad in his invisible-and-sonic-proof costume – easily dismisses them.  Hobby soon comes after him, setting off the alarm.  The Cat uses the distraction to ditch Spidey and head to Fisk’s penthouse to help herself to some items.  Spidey fends off the Hand in the basement of the Fisk Building – where the reverbium is stored – but gets a pounding from the Hobgoblin’s now higher-pitched laugh (which gets around Spidey's sonic-proof safeguards).  Meanwhile, the Cat is caught mid-nab by the Kingpin.  Spidey switches to the all-sonic mode, meaning that he’s now visible but he’s protected from all sound, which also means that he can’t hear the Black Cat’s cries for help over their communications system.  Spidey uses an anti-metal Spider-Tracer to melt the Hobgoblin’s plasma sword, and Hobby ramps up the sonics.  (Not too bright, Phil.)  The noise sets off the reverbium; Hobby flees, and Spidey turns off his all-sonic mode to call for help from the tech guy.  The tech guy decides to flee, however, and Spidey now hears the Cat’s call for help, so he douses the reverbium with the anti-metal Spider-Tracers and makes his way upstairs as the building collapses.  He rescues the Cat and Hobby rescues the Kingpin (but not his right-hand man, Montana).  The Kingpin divests himself of any semblance of being legit (which the building had given him) and tells the Hobgoblin that he’s his.  Phil Urich sells his photos to the “Bugle” to pay the Tinker to fix some of his weapons (like the super-cool plasma sword).  The science behind Pete’s suit helped in developing noise-canceling headphones for Horizon Labs, and he moves all his Spidey stuff into his vault.  Finally, Pete buys his own apartment (!) and takes Carlie, JJJ, Sr., and Aunt May to dinner.

In the secondary feature, we see Mac Gargan awaken and being asked questions by the disembodied voice of Alistair Smythe.  Smythe has a drone fire on him, and Gargan -- now in his Scorpion uniform -- destroys the drone.  Smythe informs Gargan he now has a Scorpion-Sense and runs him through a series of tests.  Gargan threatens to kill Smythe for putting him back in the Scorpion suit, but Smythe informs him that the suit -- and accompanying cyborg upgrades -- are the only thing keeping him alive.  Smythe also informs Scorpion that he intends to kill everyone close to JJJ, Jr., so he can know the pain of losing loved ones.  Gargan deduces that it's Smythe behind the voice, and he thus appears in full costume, telling Scorpion that they'll finally have their vengeance on JJJ, Jr.  When Gargan expresses some doubt, Smythe opens a door to reveal his "Insect Army." 

The Review

Before we get into the good and bad here, I have to say that the new Hobgoblin is just about the best villain – actually, I’m going all the way here – IS the best villain I’ve seen since I resumed reading “Amazing Spider-Man” at issue #544.  Amazing.  He’s creepy, lethal, funny, and insane, all in one.  He’s possibly even better than Norman.  The fact that he’s basically the anti-Peter – taking photos of his exploits to sell to the “Bugle” to fund his super-villain toys – is just genius.

Slott skimps over some details here (see "The Bad"), but overall this Hobgoblin arc really has included the most fun Spidey issues I've read in ages.  Some of the more recent classics, like the Rhino and Lizard arcs, have been horribly sad.  Here, we saw a new, revamped classic villain (the m.o. of "The Gauntlet"), but we still had some fun along the way.  I know Slott isn't perfect, but the energy and enthusiasm evident in this book really made me forgive a lot of sins.  (See, I'm a much less cranky reviewer if the writer at least expresses the sense that he ENJOYS writing the comic.) 

The Good

1) I’m glad that Montana (the Kingpin’s consigliere, if you will) commented on the fact that the Hobgoblin probably tipped off Spidey and the Black Cat about the reverbium just to defeat them and get in the Kingpin’s good graces.  It’s that sort of grace note that makes Slott run so far so enjoyable.  Most writers would just have everyone not notice that some unknown super-villain suddenly has a network; it would just be presented as a fact and, truthfully, you suspend your disbelief so often in comics, I think we as readers probably would’ve just gone with it.  But, Slott goes the extra mile here, letting Montana put two-and-two together.  The most clever part about it is that it doesn’t change the ending:  the Kingpin isn’t the type to let that sort of, shall we say, initiative bother him.  So, Phil gets the job AND offs Montana.  Pretty good for a scheming lunatic.

2) So, Tiberius Stone is, if I’m guessing, the guy who “left” Horizon and created the space for Peter.  Ooo, I smell neo-Tinkerer arch-nemesis in the making!

3) I loved Felicia making the comment about the Tron costume.  As Peter said, “Cute.”  But, that costume is freaking awesome.  I hope we get a whole bunch of them in the future!

4) I also like how Slott has Felicia ditch Webs to go loot the Kingpin’s private apartment while he’s distracted.  A too-good Felicia would’ve been unbelievable.

5) The empty thought-balloons representing the fact that no one could hear Peter and vice versa when his suit was activated was a nice touch and really visually interesting.  It made a fairly de rigueur fight sequence pop.

6) The anti-metal Spider-Tracers were awesome.  Is Spidey going to get Spiderangs?  I’m all for that!

7) Peter Park owns an apartment.  Awesome!

8) I am very much looking forward to the “Return of the Spider-Slayers” arc! 

The Bad

1) I’m not sure how Phil knew to use a higher frequency against Spider-Man.  I mean, last I checked, Phil isn’t a scientific genius like Peter is, so how did he deduce that Spidey had a new sound-and-light-bending costume and know which frequency Spidey was using to communicate with Felicia?  Was it just a lucky guess?

2) Speaking of the sonics, although it's cute, would Peter Parker really forget that no one can hear him because his suit is still activated?  Really?

3) Also, does Peter really not have his Spider-Man costume at his apartment?  It's all at Horizon Labs?  If something happens, he's going to have to ask the villain to, you know, cool his jets, so he can hoof it to the lab, change costumes, and then hoof it back.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the Peter Parker vault as his own personal Batcave, but the Batcave is under Stately Wayne Manor for a reason.

Amazing Spider-Man #650: "Big Time"

***** (five of five stars)

Favorite Quote:  “Oh, the imagination you have, like I’m some made-to-order cliché…” – Felicia to Pete, who expresses surprise she’s taking a bath, while she takes a bath…in milk…

Summary

Spidey is saved from the Goblin laugh when Bella, one of the other think tankers, uses her iPhone to play a song over the Horizon speaker system, blocking the laugh with a stronger signal.  Spidey asks his boss to evacuate everyone, using his name (and starting the wheels in his boss’ head turning, given that Spidey appeared so quickly AND knew his name).  The Hobgoblin is trying to steal the reverbium we saw last issue.  Spidey tries to stop him, but fails, and Hobby escapes.  Modell and the think tankers break into Peter’s lab since he hasn’t been seen since the attack...to discover him in his boxers listening to headphones, his “eccentricity.”  The Hobgoblin delivers the reverbium to the Kingpin (oh, that was Phil’s “interview” at Horizon!), who agrees to hire him, saying he never really liked Kingsley in the first place.  Pete calls the Cat, telling her they need to steal back the reverbium.  At the “Bugle” offices, Phil reveals that the little device that was following him recorded his whole fight with Spider-Man, giving the paper the scoop on the new Hobgoblin.  He gives the scoop to Norah, but he’s annoyed when she celebrates with Randy.  Carlie and MJ stop by Peter’s lab to congratulate him on his new job (in Carlie’s case) and make sure he was unhurt (in MJ’s case, who had heard about the fight with the Hobgoblin).  The fun is interrupted when the Cat calls, telling Pete that she “convinced” a Goblin gang-banger to reveal that it was the Kingpin who set up the raid on Horizon.  She goes to rendezvous with Spidey, and we learn that it was Phil who fed that information to the gang-banger…and who promptly kills him to keep it quiet.  Spidey meets Felicia on the top of a roof, giving her a pair of new goggles so she can see him in his nifty new light-and-sonic-bending uniform!  The two then go to find the Kingpin, unaware they’re being manipulated by Urich.

In the secondary feature, we see Mach-5 (formerly the Beetle) welcome a Professor Folsom to the Raft.  Folsom compliments Mach-5's rockets, noting that he used to build them with his father as a kid, which is what got him interested in science.  Mach-5 exposits that Folsom is a surgeon and one of the country's top geneticists and notes that building rockets is a long way from those fields.  Folsom further exposits that his father was a versatile scientist who constantly challenged his son in a game of "one-upmanship."  Mach-5 gets to the point, introducing Folsom to Mac Gargan, who's been de-symbioted and is dying as a result.  Folsom realizes that Gargan has actual scorpion DNA infused in his genetic structure, which he blames not on the scientists who experimented on him, but JJJ, Jr. who encouraged them.  The symbiote had staved off the negative effects of the tampering, and Folsom announces he's got to take Gargan to his lab.  When Mach-5 tries to stop him, Folsom reveals he's actually Alistair Smythe, the Spider-Slayer.  Smythe takes Gargan, vowing vengeance on JJJ, Jr., since the radioactive material that fueled the Spider-Slayer robots eventually killed Smythe's father, who invented them.

The Review

I know, I know.  Another five.  But, seriously, I can’t find anything wrong with these issues.  I mean, even when I have questions, like what Phil’s motivations are, they’re resolved in the next issue in a totally logical way.  Slott is totally, totally on his game here, and I’m having a blast reading these issues.

The Really Good

“Nothing suspicious or anything.  He helped Stark build some armor for Spidey.  Once.  That’s the perfectly logical reason we lived in Avengers Tower.”  Heh.  Slott gives a clever nod to the fact that no one knows that he, MJ, and Aunt May lived there because he was Spider-Man.  I often get annoyed when writers put in these clever nods to illogical plots in comics, since I’d rather them just not give us the illogical plots in the first place.  But, the mindwipe is water under the bridge at this point, so I actually enjoyed this clever nod.

The Good

1) I like how Peter is worried his job is too good to be true as well.  You have good company, Pete!

2)  Aha!  So, Phil Urich didn’t have an interview at Horizon labs.  He had the Hobgoblin’s dossier on the reverbium and stole it for his “interview” with the Kingpin.  That makes much more sense.

3) I’m thoroughly enjoying Phil’s full-on cray-cray.  Boy is nuttier than Mr. Peanut.  Also, Slott gives us a genius stroke here, turning Phil into a photographer, the bad guy analogue to Peter Parker.  It’s a nice touch.

4) “Peter Parker’s Private Lab.”  I cheered when I saw that.

5) Um, the new Spidey suit is awesome.  Seriously.  I loved the scene where he drops the box with the Cat’s special goggles, which reveal him to her.  It was really clever and another example of Pete getting a win, since the Cat is forced to note that he’s never been this good.  I’m just loving that Peter gets some wins, but still finds himself challenged by his enemies.  For a long time, sure, he was challenged by his enemies and overcame those challenges, but it was almost always at the expense of Peter.  Here, it’s becoming clear that he gets to overcome those challenges, and then use that knowledge for Peter’s gain at Horizon.  It’s perfect!  So, I’m probably wrong to hope it’ll last…

6) To quote Bree Three-Hands from “Dungeons and Dragons,” Phil is playing a “deep game” here.  He sold out the Kingpin so that Spidey and the Cat can get back the reverbium.  Why?  I’m sure we’ll find out next issue (which, again, is why I keep giving these issues fives, since I’m so excited to see what happens next every issue).

7) The art is amazing.  I love Ramos.  And not just because we got Peter in his boxer shorts this issue...

8) The MJ/Carlie bit was cute.  Pete “shush”ing MJ over Carlie’s shoulder when she almost mentions Spidey was funny, and the device of Carlie and Peter talking about science stuff MJ didn’t understand and MJ mentioning fashion stuff the two of them didn’t understand was great.  It’s actually that bit that, for the first time, made me glad Pete had Carlie.  We’re still Team MJ here, but Slott gives us arguably the most compelling case for Carlie Cooper that we’ve seen.  Yet more good work by Dan.

9) The Spider-Slayer.  Aha!  Now we know who the cyber-Spidey guy was.  I’m really intrigued what he’s doing to Mac Gargan…

Amazing Spider-Man #649: "Big Time"

***** (five of five stars)

Favorite Quote:  “Stay out of my closet!”  “Oh, dear, it’s the pornography, isn’t it?”  “Yes!  It’s porn!  Mountains of porn!”  “I’ll be outside”  -- Peter and Aunt May, in possibly the funniest conversation I’ve ever seen in a Spider-Man comic

Summary

The issue begins with a prelude of Roderick Kingsley, the Hobgoblin, killing a drug lord somewhere in Latin America.  It’s revealed he’s working as a mercenary, and the guy who paid him for the job informs him that Osborn is no longer in the game so he can return to New York.  Kingsley does, and he’s given an “audition” for the Kingpin, being told to retrieve an item in order to become the Kingpin's henchman.  Kingsley goes to Osborn’s Goblin lair to raid some equipment, and discovers Phil Urich there, who’s trying to get stuff to impress Norah.  Urich uses his Joker laugh…I mean, his Goblin laugh…to disorient the Hobgoblin and then decapitates him.  (Yup.  Bye, Roderick.  We hardly knew ye.)  Meanwhile, Norah is trying to infiltrate a Goblin gang and, when things go bad, she’s saved by Spider-Man and the Black Cat, who’s teaming up with Spidey in an attempt to get in the Avengers.  Spidey ditches the Cat so he can go home and get some sleep at his new suite at the Waldorf (thanks to Horizon’s pay check).  Carlie drops by and Pete has to do some fast thinking to explain his Web-Fluid building apparatus on the coffee table and to distract her from his glove, which is showing under the closet door.  The next day, “Front Line,” now the “Daily Bugle,” goes live.  Phil (wearing a creepily familiar purple coat) tells his Uncle Ben that he’s got a lead on a job, revealing a Horizon Labs dossier.  Aunt May, proud as a peacock, makes sure Peter isn’t late for work by escorting him there.  Meanwhile, it’s noted that Mac Gargan is dying since he’s been de-symbioted.  Pete gets a tour of Horizon Labs, where he gets his own lab with a secret locker.  His first day is interrupted, though, by the appearance of the Hobgoblin, who uses his Goblin laugh to paralyze Spidey.

The Review

This issue is just as amazing as the last one and is so packed full of stuff that I realized I’m going to have to start recapping/reviewing these issues one at a time!

The Good

1) My response to the first few pages of this issue?  Holy fucking shit.  Seriously.  First, I was mistaken in my last review when I said that Phil Urich was a Green Goblin gang member.  I actually didn’t realize he had been the good Green Goblin; he appeared during my, um, hiatus from Spider-Man so I was only vaguely aware that a good Green Goblin had existed.  But, I’d say Philly boy isn’t exactly walking on the good side anymore given that he DECAPITATES Roderick Kingsley.  I mean, let me just repeat, holy fucking shit.  I totally didn’t see that coming.  Slott totally pulls a bait-and-switch here, bringing back a guy like Roderick Kingsley and then throwing him over the boat so that the new guy can take the steering wheel.  (Do boats have steering wheels?)  As I think I’ve mentioned before, I like my Goblins ca-ray-zy, and Phil looks like he fits the bill!  I’m totally going to have to buy the old series and see how he got this way.

2) Still speaking of Phil, I also didn’t realize until now that he likes Norah; in the last issue, when I thought he was a gang member, I figured he viewed her as a threat.  This whole thing could get really, really interesting.

3) Screw the Spidey/Cat team-up.  I want the Norah/Cat team-up!  Fighting crime, dishing snark!  Make it happen, Marvel!

4) I teared up a bit at the scene with Aunt May, telling Uncle Ben that Peter did it, making it as a scientist.  Please, Marvel, don’t take this away.  The whole sequence of her making sure he wasn’t late for work and taking him to work was just great.  My parents actually took me to my first real job (long story) and seeing Aunt May take Peter was really humanizing.

5) The secret member of the think tank?  Nice, Slott.  Mystery!

6) Peter Parker gets a special black storage locker?  Again, just like giving Pete a job at a “work your own hours” think tank, why didn’t anyone else ever think of that?

The Unknown

1) So, did Phil really have a job interview at Horizon?  And, why did he have that file on Horizon?

2) I actually don’t think I was reading Spidey when it was revealed that Roderick Kingsley was the Hobgoblin and not Ned Leeds.  So, I’m not really sure what went down between him and Norman Osborn.  It appears that Hobby stole all Norman’s equipment, which makes sense, since Norman was “dead” at the time he first appeared.  So, I guess that’s how he knew where the Goblin lair was.  But, how did Phil know?  I’m really going to have to read this “Green Goblin” series.

3) I wonder where this Venom thing is going…