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
