By: Mark Waid (writer), Paul Azaceta (art), Javier Rodriguez (colors) & Joe Caramanga (letters)
The Story: High-wire danger is the theme of the day and Spidey tries to save Menace’s baby from Doc Ock.
What’s Good: If you’re writing a Spider-Man comic book, it is probably pretty hard to screw up a Doc Ock story. But, you do have to try to find new things to do with the villain who has been around for a LONG time so it was neat to see Mark Waid create this scenario. I really like this recent, creepy incarnation of Doc Ock: more mechanical limbs, human limbs, useless, veins popping in forehead, etc. And what better way to play up his creepiness than having him steal a newborn from Menace (who is a bit of a freakshow herself). BTW…did Ock pull the baby out of her womb last issue? Of course they didn’t SHOW that, but it was kinda implied. Gross and creepy…
The fun in this issue comes from the “everyone get Spider-Man” scenario that ensues as our webslinger ends up both villains and the NYPD chasing him to steal the baby. All along we get loads of trademark Spidey-banter. Good stuff…
I also appreciate that Waid doesn’t spoil WHY Ock wants this baby. That’s just a nice storytelling element to not spoil that surprise. I have to say that I’m a little skeeved out about what creepy Ock wants with a baby. There can’t be a good reason. Eeeewwww…
The art improves a lot in this issue. I think the Azaceta/Rodriguez combo just does a better job with costumed Spider-Man, so Waid plays to their strengths by having him in costume for most of the issue (but we still have those odd coloring issues from last issue again).
What’s Not So Good: This issue was missing something and I can’t put my finger on quite what it is. It just seems like there should have been more of a sense of danger when you have Spider-Man being chased by villains while clutching an infant. I mean, at one point he runs out of web fluid and falls…with the baby…but, for some reason, it all felt a little humdrum. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood when I read this comic???
I also haven’t said a lot about the Stan Lee/Marcos Martin back-up. Mostly that’s because it is unremarkable, but this issue has a really weird full-page image of Mary Jane where one of her arms appears to be coming out of the side of her neck. Otherwise it is a beautiful image that I was seriously admiring until I noticed the creepy arm/neck/head thing. Although the back up does get MAJOR bonus points for having fun with the OMIT story line by having Spidey say that MJ is “either my girlfriend, my wife, or my ex-wife. It depends on what issue this is.” LOL
Conclusion: A good, solid and dependable Spider-Man story, but missing that little bit of zass that would put it over the top.
Grade: C+
– Dean Stell
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