Month: September 2021

Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Art by Angel Medina; Scott Hanna; Avalon’s Dan Kemp; & VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Art by Clayton Crain

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics for November 2006, Peter Parker’s decision to go public continues to haunt him in Spider-Man Unmasked.  This issue is entitled “The Deadly Foes of Peter Parker, Part Two of Three.”  At New York City’s Whitney Museum of Art, Spider-Man re-ignites his old feud with Electro, as they taunt each other by their real names. 

During the Soho Playhouse’s rehearsals of Macbeth, Mary Jane Watson-Parker and her theatre colleagues must defend themselves from Swarm.  While Spider-Man asks Black Cat for under-the-radar help, the Chameleon’s vengeance now targets a vulnerable Aunt May. 

Elsewhere, Liz Allan and her young son are held hostage to help Scarecrow, Molten Man, and Will O’-the-Wisp entice Spidey into a suburban ambush.  

REVIEW:

Solid entertainment!  Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa delivers a satisfying read in bringing out Spidey’s long-time enemies for revenge against Peter and his loved ones.  Utilizing Black Cat and the Iron Man drones are nice touches, too.  It’s all reminiscent of classic Spider-Man issues where Spidey tangles with the Sinister Six — one or more at a time.  In particular, without a last-minute Spider-Man save, the Mary Jane vs. Swarm sequence is this issue’s unexpected gem.  It’s a welcome departure from her familiar role as Peter’s damsel-in-distress. 

Including a high-caliber cover image, the art team’s stylish visuals are another creative asset.  The artists only stray too far by conveying Black Cat’s voluptuous hairdo as a ridiculously over-the-top white bouffant.  As compensation, early on is a glimpse of an undercover Peter in glasses that make him resemble an adult version of the teenage geek Stan Lee & Steve Ditko originally presented him as in the early 1960’s.

Overall, The Sensational Spider-Man # 30 offer plenty to earn its way into any Spidey fan’s collection.           

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The last page is a letters-and-answers column.  Included is a thumbnail cover preview for Issue # 31.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7½ Stars

Main Feature & Back-Up Feature Written by Terry Kavanagh.

Main Feature Art by Alex Saviuk; Stephen Baskerville; Steve Dutro; & Bob Sharen. Back-Up Feature Art by Bill Wylie; Timothy Twohy; Steve Dutro; & Bob Sharen.

Cover Art by Alex Saviuk & Stephen Baskerville.

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics for November 1993, this Infinity Crusade cross-over is entitled “Crisis of Conscience, Part 3 of 3: Judgment Day.”  On planet Paradise Omega, internal tensions boil over, as a conscientious Spider-Man reconsiders what he has agreed to do.  Spidey intercedes between an inexplicably quarreling Jean Grey & Storm before Captain America shuts down a potential three-way brawl.  Moondragon then assigns Spider-Man & Alpha Flight’s Puck as a patrolling tag-team.  They are soon engaged in a nocturnal battle vs. Firestar & Strong Guy in Paradise Omega’s forest. 

After helping keep Hercules, Darkhawk, & Human Torch from drowning, Spider-Man briefly faces off vs. Rogue.  A showdown pitting Spidey & Jean Grey against a helmeted Thing ends in a cataclysmic cliffhanger.  The abrupt ending signals that Infinity Crusade # 6 comes next.  Meanwhile, in The Daily Bugle’s darkroom. Betty Brant & Robbie Robertson discover proof of a weapons scandal impacting J. Jonah Jameson’s own wife.

Nightwatch’s six-page back-up tale is entitled “The Killing Ground.”  In the New York City sewers, Nightwatch faces off vs. Deathgrin.   

REVIEW:

Without first perusing whatever Marvel’s Infinity Crusade mega-event is, this issue’s plotting makes too little sense.  Far too often, reading writer Terry Kavanagh’s all-star battle royale becomes a recurring ‘Huh?.’  Much of the confusion stems from oddly out-of-character behavior from various heroes, with the good-natured Jean Grey, among them.

Even the spot-on cover image doesn’t help.  All this reviewer could grasp from Kavanagh’s muddled script is a cosmic Civil War/Secret Wars-like event-in-progress pitting two rival factions of Marvel heroes against each other.  Unsurprisingly, only a rationally-thinking Spider-Man’s perspective comes off as likable throughout the various fight scenes.  What’s most unfortunate is that the art team’s high-caliber visuals are squandered on convoluted Infinity Crusade storytelling.

‘Blah’ further applies to Kavanagh’s Nightwatch (who resembles Spawn) back-up feature.  Unsurprisingly, this back-up is meant to transition Nightwatch to his own ongoing title.  Yet, more terrific artwork in this issue doesn’t hide a generic one-on-one sewer showdown – especially, when one of these grim dudes is actually named ‘Deathgrin.’  Suffice to say, this Nightwatch tale only reinforces why Web of Spider-Man # 106 is instantly forgettable.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a full-page “Bullpen Bulletins” column at the end.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            4 Stars

Written by J. Michael Straczynski

Art by Ron Garney; Bill Reinhold; Matt Milla; & VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Art by Bryan Hitch & Laura Martin

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics for April 2006, this prelude to Marvel’s first Civil War is entitled “Mr. Parker Goes to Washington, Part One of Three.”  Now residing at Stark Tower as one of the New Avengers, Peter Parker and his wife, Mary Jane, find his allegiance to boss Tony Stark/Iron Man probed.  While Tony alludes to dark days ahead necessitating Peter’s total loyalty, Spider-Man gladly takes his new, Stark-tech ‘Iron Spider’ costume for a test flight. 

Tony later elaborates why he trusts Peter as the right protégé to watch his back from now on.  Once Peter & Mary Jane commit to Tony’s enigmatic request, Peter learns of a shocking summons.     

Parental Note: Seen from the back, a briefly suggestive sequence implies Mary Jane as topless.

REVIEW:

Introducing the ‘Iron Spider’ outfit, J. Michael Straczynski delivers high-caliber Spider-scripting.  The art team’s visuals (including the cover image) are also excellent.  For fans of Spider-Man’s intriguing story arc in both “Spider Man Unmasked” and Civil War, Issue # 529 is impressively a can’t-miss prospect.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                                8 Stars

Written by (See Below)

Art by (See Below)

Embossed Cover & Front Cover Art by Mark Bagley & Larry Mahlstedt. Back Cover Art by Mark Bagley; Larry Mahlstedt; & ‘Michel Le’

SUMMARY:

For April 1995, Marvel Comics released this 64-page milestone issue featuring three stories.  The embossed cover hypes “A Death in the Family …”

“The Gift.”  (46 pages) Writer: J.M. De Matteis, With Art by: Mark Bagley; Larry Mahlstedt; Randy Emberlin; Bill Oakley; & Bob Sharen.  Aunt May awakens from her coma to poignantly rejoin Peter & a pregnant Mary Jane at home.  Peter’s lonely clone (Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider) despondently bids him farewell.  Briefly seen, the nefarious Jackal plays up his reputation as an incarcerated psychotic at The Ravenscroft Institute.  While Peter & Mary Jane watch home movies of his early childhood, the Parkers’ home is ominously under surveillance by the Traveler.  An amnesiac second Peter Parker clone confusedly roams New York City.

At the Empire State Building, Peter is stunned by Aunt May’s long-held secret.  Later that night, Peter, Mary Jane, and her Aunt Anna are devastated by May’s tragic death.  Unbeknownst to them, Ben Reilly is similarly crushed.  Soon after the funeral, a grieving Peter be arrested for first-degree homicide.  A emotionally reeling Mary Jane meets Ben Reilly.  The saga continues in Spider-Man # 57.         

“The Parker Legacy, Part One: A Shock to the System.”  (7 pages)  Writer: J.M. De Matteis; John Romita Jr.; John Romita Sr.; Ken Lopez; & Paul Becton.  Occurring five years before, Spider-Man’s homeless clone, Ben Reilly, spends a rainy night hating the real Peter Parker.  Before a stopover at Peter’s apartment, the clone opts to explore the world alone.  This back-up feature also continues in Spider-Man # 57.   

“The Morning After.” (7 pages).  Writers: J.M. DeMatteis & Stan Lee, with Art by: Tom Grummett; Al Milgrom; Richard Starkings; Comicraft; & Chia-Chi Wang.  On the morning after Ben Parker’s death, young Peter finds consoling his Aunt May means that he can’t reveal to her his secret life as Spider-Man.           

REVIEW:

Solely on its own merits, “The Gift” is worthy of a 400^th issue milestone.  Despite its convoluted clone sub-plot, “The Gift” unleashed huge ramifications on mid-90’s Spider-Man storytelling.  Not only is the artwork excellent, writer J.M. De Matteis conveys that Spidey’s world is boldly moving forward: i.e. the prospects of Peter & Mary Jane’s future parenthood, and the passing of Aunt May.  Hence, “The Morning After” presents a well-produced flashback seemingly bringing The Amazing Spider-Man franchise full circle re: Peter & Aunt’s May’s family bond. 

Yet, the combined impact of these two tales would be gutted by later issues dominated by preposterous soap opera theatrics that now makes reading “The Gift” seem a waste of time.  Case in point: Aunt May’s heartbreaking death scene, with its classy allusions to Peter Pan, becomes a shameful bait-and-switch on readers.  Considering how Marvel has toyed with a dying Aunt May multiple times over the years, the company will be hard-pressed to ever surpass this scene’s emotional wallop, should Aunt May be killed off permanently.

As for Ben Reilly’s back-up feature, this first installment is a good read with terrific artwork.  However, it’s evident that Marvel was too soon pushing The Clone Saga more than necessary.  Overall, The Amazing Spider-Man # 400 still has obvious collector’s value, but its contribution to the franchise now seemly badly dated.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

After the table-of-contents, Stan Lee offers an introduction.  A full page is dedicated to a Spider-Man checklist of titles currently on sale.  There’s also a two-page “The Spider’s Web” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7 Stars