THE AMAZING
SPIDER-MAN
ISSUE 002
Whoo lets get this show on the road, well review. Issue 002 of The Amazing Spider-Man kicks off with a woman, who I can only assume is this "Silk" I have been hearing so much about AKA the other Spider Bite victim, settling down in her apartment to view some footage of Spider-Man fighting Electro. It seems that Spidey may have a stalker...who just happens to know his secret identity. I'm not saying I could do any better...but are we supposed to believe he has had a stalker for all this time and we have only just met her? Was she in a coma...wait that's actually a valid point. Is she possibly linked to that coma victim from way back in issue 020 of The Superior Spider-Man? I have a strange feeling that "Silk" will be a big part of Spider-Verse.
Anyway, the issue then quickly jumps to Peter and Anna Maria discussing him being Spider-Man...and also the fact that Otto Octavius has been in control of Peter's body for the pat few months. But just like everyone who Peter seems to tell, she is all too accepting. It's crazy. Yes we get it you are trying to set up a "Spider-Verse" but do we really need to have everyone so accepting of the fact that Otto Octavius, the Super villain!, was in control of Peter Parker/Spider-Man's body for a long period of time? It almost makes the past 31 issues slightly well...pointless. All that Anna Maria does to cope with this sudden dumping of hurtful information is cook! Well I suppose it does add some nice character depth knowing that baking/cooking is her coping mechanism.
To be honest I'm going to skip the boring trivial parts of this issue and cut straight to the interesting parts. Anna Maria leaves Peter to wait for some biscuits to be finished cooking. But luckily to break the boringness of this situation the Avengers call him. But I must say...Octavius choice of ringtone is very strange.
Considering the fact that The Superior Spider-Man has ended, these issues are still jumping all around the place. Whilst Peter is on his way to The Avengers Tower, it seems Electro AKA Max Dillion, has gone to his Stalker/Possible Girlfriends apartment. By the way, I personally thought that Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Max Dillion/ Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was BRILLIANT. Anyway back to the issue. What is it with Dan Slott and Stalkers? First Silk is stalking Spidey, and now this "Francine" person is stalking Electro. Electro seems in a bad way...and it's all because of Spider-Man. I didn't know that Octavius was experimenting on other super villains...something doesn't seem right.
Whilst Electro is getting frisky with his stalker, Peter arrives at The Avengers Tower...and to be honest it's good to see that The Avengers are still sceptical of Spidey. It's quite funny to see Peter trying to explain to The Avengers why he is wearing cargo trousers...and the rest of his Spider-Man suit. But then again it's just the good O'l Parker luck. I think that it should be proof enough for the Avengers that Octavius gone that Spidey was making jokes just like how he used to. But what sealed the deal for me was when Peter punched Captain America in the face for not telling him that his close friend, Flash Thompson, is Agent Venom. Octavius would never care enough about anyone if he can help it, thus proving to the Avengers he is truly the Real Spider-Man.
But Peter and Cap may have more in common than I first suspected. Although Cap was asleep for 70 years and woke up to a whole new world, Peter has gone through some pretty big changes. He is now a head of a very successful business, a widely hated Hero...and has more enemies than friends. Octavius really has done a number on him. Although i find it way too convenient, it is good that the Avengers are on Spideys side once more...even after teh way Octavius treated all of them.
Of all the places Peter could have rushed off too...he rushed off to his lab in a last ditch attempt to take his pants of. Boy that sounds weird out of context haha. Sadly Peters problems keep getting worse and worse. He has to fix a whole bunch of machines that he knows nothing about. But almost as if she can read minds, Anna Maria steps in to lend Peter a hand. It seems that Octavius had even planned for Peters return...why else would he have told Anna Maria how to fix and work with his cybernetic technologies? It's a good job that Peter is a reasonably fast leaner otherwise he would be well and truly screwed.
Back at Electro's creepy stalker girlfriends apartment things seem to be getting frisky as I suspected. But Electro takes snogging someone's face off a little bit too far and absorbs Francine...But on the bright side Anna Maria tells Peter where the solvent Otto had created was to degrade Octavius' new webbing. Sadly I feel that Anna Maria, and Peter's relationship will not last. Hell who am I kidding I'm not sad at all, it'all really just a matter of time.
As always Peter rushes off to stop the bad guy from doing well...bad things really. Damn I really should start to round-up the Superior Spider-Man Team Up issues...I've missed a lot. Octavius experimented on Electro. Jeeze, that's harsh.Electro seems EXTREMELY pissed off at Spider-Man, but you know what, who can blame him? Otto Octavius was definitely a meaner Spider..and meaner spidey means meaner villains. But during the battle we see two familiar faces, one friendly and One not so friendly.
Electro really does seem to have an axe to grind with Spider-Man, but just as Spidey is about to use his best move "Old Faithful"..Black Cat intervenes and spares Electro. I am actually fairly intrigued by how she is going to get back at Spider-Man. It will take a while for her to rebuild her connections, but when she does...Jesus Christ I would not want to be Spider-Man.
What Parker Luck taketh away, it shall also Giveth. The Human Torch saves Peter from much humiliation by asking him to meet at their usual meeting place. Which is a good move because Octavius would've never known what the usual meeting place was. But it seems that Johnny seems to have lost his powers...so Peter has to jump down from the Statue of Liberty to talk to him. Johnny has also gone through what Peter is going through. It is very surprising how many friends Peter has left since Octavius' little stint as Spider-Man.
Peter suddenly has an epiphany and decides to announce that Parker Industries will put all Cybernetic Projects on hold and focus on building a brad NEW Super-Villain Prison. I really cannot see this ending well. Somebody WILL definitely die. But until then I feel that Peter will want to try and right every wrong that Octavius as done, be it to family, friends and even villains. I really do wonder what Slott is trying to turn Peter Parker into.
Overall View
I have been dying to read this issue for two weeks, and it finally arrived. I am really not sure what to think about this issue. Some parts felt like something interesting was happening, and that the sub-plots will definitely have very interesting outcomes...but other parts just sort of dragged on a tiny bit and just generally where not as good as they could have been. But other than that small gripe this was a great issue. I can't wait to see what unfolds in the coming year. All of these little sub-plots, teasers, and even crossover issues are leading to something big...maybe even bigger than the Spider-Verse. This issue was a solid 7.5 out of 10 for me. So sadly not as good as The Amazing Spider-Man issue 001, but still nothing to pout about. But one thing I will say is that Ramos is really bringing some of the characters to life.