Written by Mark Waid
Art by Paul Azaceta; Matthew Southworth; Javier Rodriguez; & VC’s Joe Caramagna
Variant Cover Art by Paolo Rivera & ‘Mike Mayhew
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics for December 2010, it’s the untitled fifth and concluding installment of the “Origin of the Species” storyline. Searching for the mutated Lizard and Norman Obsorn’s abducted infant grandson, Spider-Man briefly partners with the terminally ill Doctor Octopus. Locating the Lizard’s underground lair, Spider-Man convinces the Lizard to turn the infant over to him.
Working on a paternity test, Spider-Man opts to take the baby while Doctor Octopus and Lizard beat each other up. Sending word to Mary Jane, she watches the infant’s mother, Lily (aka Menace) flee from boyfriend Harry Osborn. Harry is astounded by Spider-Man’s revelation at Avengers Tower re: the child’s true paternity.
Note: The image below is for the variant edition — it’s deceptive, as there isn’t any vampire-related angle with Mary Jane Watson. Though the main cover’s image isn’t available here, the credited artist is Marko Djurdjevic.
REVIEW:
Gratefully, a full-page summary at the get-go catches readers up to speed on this particular storyline. Effectively conveying Spider-Man as a veteran hero not even remotely rattled by either Doctor Octopus or a monstrous Lizard, writer Mark Waid makes Amazing Spider-Man # 646 a satisfying read. Though the gloomy artwork suits the story’s ambiance, it hardly rates as impressive (by the way, the unrelated variant cover image is stellar). At least the murky depictions of Lizard and the decrepit Doctor Octopus are spot-on. The issue’s best moment is the final page where Waid’s one-word finale perfectly reveals Spider-Man’s assessment of his own hard-luck life.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
A single-page letters-and-answers column also include a pair of cover reveals for Amazing Spider-Man # 647 and its villain-packed variant.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
