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The review of Amazing Spider-Man 10 is posted, please drop me a line and let me know if it was worth the delay, which we apologize for!

 

 

The Amazing Spider-Man #10

 

Written by: Howard Mackie

Artist: John Byrne

Inked by: Scott Hanna

Editor: Ralph Macchio

 

Summary/Review:

 The story picks up where issue 9 left off, where Doc Ock attacked the hospital. However, we learn that Doc Ock was defeated by a "Captain Power" whom is dragging him into some sort of lab. After a few pages of Power's bragging to a now chained Ock, we are taken back to the scene of last issue's attack. One of Ock's tentacles was left behind, when all of a sudden it plows through a police officer, and begins crawling back to the good doctor. Meanwhile, Parker is being scolded by Dr. Twaiki of TriCorp for his deplorable attendance and Peter vows not to mess this up. MJ schedules a flight back to New York, which was observed by her as yet unrevealed stalker. A few pages later Doc Ock identifies Power as one of his former students who is trying to recreate the accident where both Parker and Power gained their respective powers. Captain Powers then takes off after Dr. Twaiki, the man responsible for the explosion, but Spidey makes the save, defeating Power to reveal a horribly scarred and burned shell of what was once a promising science student. The issue is concluded with MJ aboard her flight admiring Peter's latest pictures of Spidey, when she realizes the only way he got those great shots was when he was Spider-Man. For all your new readers, Peter lied to MJ saying he head given up the webs, when he hadn't and perhaps MJ has realizes that now.

    I'm sure you all remember my attack on Byrne last issue, well unfortunately that won't be happening this time. Although still not as good a read as Peter Parker: Spider-Man, Amazing is improving along with Byrne's art. One good example would be the opening sequence with Doc Ock and Power, yet for some reason Byrne always manages to squeeze a panel or two of background-less art into each issue which really doesn't make any sense. A much better issue than last, Byrne is by no means great, he's just not so bad anymore.

 

 

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #10

 

Written by: Howard Mackie

Artist: John Romita Jr.

Inked by: Scott Hanna

Editor: Ralph Macchio

 

Summary/Review:

   Let me start by saying that in some ways, #10 continues the solid, entertaining writing Mackie has done in the last few issues. Venom taking back the Carnage symbiote and *eating* it is rather original, and after thousands of Spidey stories over the years originality is hard to come by. The scene where Peter has a romantic dinner for two set up and plans to confess everything to Mary Jane and beg for forgiveness, then abandons those plans when he sees Venom swinging by, does a great job in highlighting the core problem in the marriage: Peter often puts his responsibilities as Spider-Man ahead of his responsibilities toward his wife. Peter going to have to learn it goes the other way around, or he's not going to be married much longer.

There's more of the Peter-Jill thing, with a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle things thrown in that let us know that *something* is going on between them, even if they haven't realized it yet. Plus there's more of that creepy guy whose been calling.

However, there's one problem: right at the beginning of the story we find Kletus Kasady locked up in some unnamed facility. Recall that the last time we saw this guy, he and mis symbiote were being encased in solid ethereal energy (I think that what it was called) by the Silver Surfer back in Amazing Spider-Man #431 (vol 1). There's no explanation as to how he got out of that shell (as it was supposed to be permanent). These continuity problems have been plaguing the Spider-titles for years, and I'm sure fans are tired of them.

Now you may think that I'm going to blame Howard Mackie and John Byrne on this one, but I'm not (though Mackie could have done us a favor by looking at what other Spider-writers were doing during his tenure). Ultimately, it's the editors who are responsible in making sure these gaffes don't happen. Spider-editor Ralph Macchio and editor-in-chief Bob Harras should be held responsible.

So because this glitch has been a problem for a while, I'm forced to place some major demerits on this issue. However, I'm willing to forgive this mistake if Marvel publishes a future untold tale explaining how Carnage got from ASM #431 to here. And while their at it, they can explain how Mysterio "got better" between Daredevil #7 and ASM #8 (vol 2).

My grade: C- (would have rated a B+ without the continuity glitch).

Review by: David Gable


Check out past reviews!

Read the review for issues number 9!
Read the review for issues number 8!
Read the review for issues number 7!
Read the review for issues number 6!
Read the review for issues number 5!

 

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