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
