Written by Paul Jenkins
Art by Mark Buckingham; D’Israeli; & Virtual Calligraphy’s Cory Petit
Cover Art by Mark Buckhingham
SUMMARY:
Entitled “The Final Curtain,” Marvel Comics released this short-lived series relaunch’s finale for June 2005. Visiting Uncle Ben’s gravestone for Christmas, Peter Parker has a heart-to-heart chat with his uncle’s spirit. Including some childhood memories, Peter gets his uncle’s ‘feedback’ about his choice to become Spider-Man.
Most significantly, his uncle has his own theory re: Peter’s sense of failure, as to why he really became the masked hero. Linked to this revelation is Peter’s humiliating childhood memory dating from a first-grade play he blundered in. Peter is left to make peace with this remnant of his past. Meanwhile, May makes her own pilgrimage to her late husband’s grave.
REVIEW:
One could deem Paul Jenkins’ scripting of Issue # 27 guilty of being excessively sentimental. Then again, it’s certainly a triumph in comparison to depicting mindless R-rated violence. In classy fashion, the poignancy of this tale resonates as a fitting and original tribute to Ben Parker’s ongoing relevance in the Spider-Man mythos. Both the roles of Ben and May are well-played in Jenkins’ story, as are the glimpses of an orphaned Peter Parker’s childhood growing up without his parents.
Consistently well-produced, the art team’s visuals (including the cover image) are ideal for this tale. The concluding curtain call is also an inspired touch, as Spider-Man’s world, like his fans, exists in his dreams, too. Suffice to say, “The Final Curtain” is nicely played for Spider-fans of any age.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The first page is a three-paragraph introduction to Spider-Man. Marvel’s Joe Quesada offers a “Cupo’ Joe” column that covers the upper half of a two-page spread.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
