Month: November 2021

Written by J. Michael Straczynski

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

Cover Art by Ron Garney

SUMMARY:

Marvel Comics released this issue for August 2007.  Continuing the scene ending Issue # 541, it’s entitled “Back in Black, Part 4 of 5.”  Seeking vengeance for a dying Aunt May, Spider-Man faces off vs. “Kingpin” Wilson Fisk inside the mobster’s prison cellblock.  Stripping off his mask and the upper half of his costume, Peter Parker unleashes his most brutal pummeling ever on an enemy. 

Further channeling his inner Batman, Peter reveals his own dark streak in a threat directed at Fisk, if May dies and/or should any goon target his loved ones again.  Later, in a hospital ICU unit, Peter & Mary Jane face uncertainty re: the mounting logistics of protecting a comatose May.          

REVIEW:

The artwork is high-caliber considering writer J. Michael Straczynski’s script is simply an issue-long beatdown.  Still, its intense brutality (reminiscent of Batman) makes Issue # 542 inappropriate for Spidey’s youngest fans. 

What’s disappointing, plot-wise, is how an intriguing twist is simply dropped.  Specifically, Issue # 541 heavily implies that Peter’s clouded judgment and machismo override common sense that he’s far too depleted to continue his vengeance – reminiscent of a worn-down Batman during his Knightfall storyline.  Wouldn’t it then make logical sense for Spidey to desperately rely on his ingenuity to escape prison after foolishly challenging Fisk on his ‘home turf’? Instead, Straczynski implies that Peter’s intense adrenaline rush overcomes his human limitations, let alone frightens a cellblock full of hardened convicts into hushed bystanders.    

As far-fetched as that sounds, Straczynski’s gambit works well enough.  In particular, the writer ensures that Fisk’s mauling is an unforgettable humiliation.  It’s a reasonable trade-off for having to read Peter’s dramatic berating of a bloodied Fisk that seemingly goes on forever.  Despite such illogic, The Amazing Spider-Man # 542 delivers satisfying Spider-storytelling for teen readers and up.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The first page summarizes Spider-Man’s present crisis following Marvel’s Civil War.  There’s a full-page cover reveal for Issue # 543.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                             7 Stars

Written by (See Below)

Art by (See Below)

Cover Art by Russ Heath & Matt Hollingsworth

SUMMARY:

Marvel Comics released this 48-page, 70^th Anniversary Special one-shot for September 2009.  The contents consist of a contemporary Blonde Phantom noir-like mystery and a tribute to Marvex the Super Robot.

Blonde Phantom: Murder on Another Planet (16 pages).  Writer: Marc Guggenheim, with Art by: Javier Pulido; Javier Rodriguez; & Dave Lamphear.  The brutal home invasion murder/robbery of a client-turned-friend brings ex-legal secretary Louise Mason out of retirement as the masked ‘Blonde Phantom.’  Her sleuthing is further enhanced by a woman’s insight, as she gradually realizes the truth behind the culprit’s motive.

Marvex the Super-Robot (6 pages).  Writer & Artist: Michael Kupperman.  The Fifth Dimension metallic man haplessly tries adapting to life on Earth in 1939 and then the 21^st Century.  

Marvex the Super-Robot (7 pages: reprinted from Daring Mystery Comics # 3 – April 1940).  Credit: Hal Sharp.  After his origin is explained, an explosion in the Fifth Dimension maroons Marvex on Earth.  He becomes a noir-ish crime-fighter, as he assimilates to life on Earth.

Marvex the Super-Robot (8 pages: reprinted from Daring Mystery Comics # 4 – May 1940).  Credit: Hal Sharp.  Marvex’s latest crime-busting mystery lands him being held captive in a prison’s electric chair. 

Note: Though the image isn’t provided, the variant cover’s artist is Marcos Martin.

REVIEW:

Evidently, Marvel doesn’t deem it necessary to explain how the Golden Age Blonde Phantom has barely aged since World War II … let alone that her red-and-yellow dress ensemble makes the Golden Age Black Canary’s crime-fighting outfit seem practical by comparison.  Still, writer Marc Guggenheim’s scripting (aside from a typo misidentifying whom Louise is talking about) is a solid mystery for adults.  With the art squad’s visuals as a familiar Marvel standard for that time, the lead feature is easily this issue’s best selling point.  The cover image reminiscent of a 1940’s noir comic, likewise, is well-played.

RE: Marvex, well, this character might have been an inspiration for how the naïve Red Tornado is portrayed in the animated Batman: The Brave and The Bold.  Marvex’s simplistic Golden Age reprints are harmless, but they come off as hokey filler material. Let’s just say that Michael Kupperman’s emulation homage is more than sufficient. 

A rare Blonde Phantom reprint or two would have been far more preferable.  Overall, the new Blonde Phantom tale merits possible inclusion as a graphic novel bonus feature, but Marvex’s half is very much skippable.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

A full-page reprint of the cover for Daring Comics # 3 (1940) is included.  There’s a five-page preview of Fantastic Four # 570, plus two potential cover images.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                               6 Stars