What are INFINITY GEMS articles?
The names of the all-time classic comic book stories are known to most fans of the medium. Many can even list the greatest storylines for several major characters. But while stories like MARVELS and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS soak up the accolades, ask a comic book fan to name their favorite story, and the answers you will hear are often far more diverse.
Comics like WATCHMEN and THE DAY GWEN STACY DIED certainly deserve the recognition they have received, but what about the lesser known stories? Most comic book fans know of at least one tale which they feel never got the attention or appreciation that it deserved. A story they believe can stand up to the very best that a particular character has to offer… or even stand proudly alongside the greatest comic books ever created.
These editorials are a place for comic fans to showcase one - out of what is, undoubtedly, an infinite amount - of these hidden gems which they hold so close to thier hearts…
...Fandom’s INFINITY GEMS.
The Spectacular Spider-Man Volume 1, issues #178-184: "The Child Within"
Published by MARVEL Comics from July 1991 to January 1992
Written by J.M. DeMatteis
Art by Sal Buscema & Bob Sharen
THE CHILD WITHIN is a seven part story (well, six parts and an “AFTERMATH” issue, to be precise) written by J.M. DeMatteis, which primarily examines the lives of three characters: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Harry Osborne/The Green Goblin and Edward Whelan/Vermin. Each of these characters has some aspect of their childhood which we either learn about in this story, or which THE CHILD WITHIN shows to us in a new light, that reveals how each of them has been driven to become these larger than life personas by their own child within.
To be sure, there are fight scenes, there is action, and there are just enough superheroics to satisfy the fact that this is, after all, still a Spider-Man story. What makes these issues stand out, is that everything is brought together by a fascinating narrative that continues to reveal more and more about its central characters as it progresses. For example, the scene where Harry uses one of his father's old “psychedelic pumpkins” on Peter. In the past the use of this particular weapon would play out in a rather trite, cartoony way, but here Peter's exposure to the pumpkin's powerful hallucinogens brings up issues within him that the character had never before faced. Issues which make perfect sense with what we already know of Peter Parker's personality. Seeing Spidey completely flip out from these revelations, to the point that his reaction actually stirs a momentary “Oh crap, what did I do?” from the Goblin, is very powerful stuff.
THE CHILD WITHIN isn't afraid to go into some dark territory, dealing with Vermin’s sexual abuse as a child, among other unpleasant topics, but it is always told tastefully, and in a way that brings the characterization of these Superheroes and Villains to the forefront of the tale and examines them in dramatic ways that never betray the cores of the characters.
At the time, this storyline was advertised as a sort of sequel to KRAVEN’S LAST HUNT, but I think that does it a bit of a disservice. The climactic sucker punch of that story is nowhere to be seen in THE CHILD WITHIN. I would think that is at least partially due to the fact that this story is the beginning of what would turn out to be (for quite some time, at least) the final Harry Osborne (as the Green Goblin or otherwise) stories. KRAVEN’S LAST HUNT, on the other hand, is the very end of Kraven’s storyline. Regardless, I don’t think that THE CHILD WITHIN suffers one bit due to this fact, as it is a completely worthy and fascinating read all on its own.
Thus far I’ve only mentioned half of the creative team, and that’s because, as an artist, Sal Buscema has always taken me outside of my comfort zone. He makes stylistic choices that, when taken out of context from the whole of the work, simply do not work for me. However, when you do look at the story as a whole, and witness Buscema’s finesse as a storyteller who is able to tell this complex story with passion and an eye for both layout and character detail… Well, you can't help but see how accomplished and masterful Buscema's work really is. Which makes forgiving a few stylistic choices I don’t happen to agree with, pretty easy. The colors by Bob Sharon compliment Buscema nicely, providing the dark and dour mood this story calls for.
It was reading stories like THE CHILD WITHIN that made me believe that superhero comics, even those featuring A-list characters like Spider-Man, didn't have to be empty slugfests without character development or emotion. It was stories like THE CHILD WITHIN that made me aspire to tell my own stories, and to try and see to it that those stories had as much heart and soul as the one contained on its pages.
THE CHILD WITHIN is everything superhero comics should aspire to be, and a story that every fan of the genre should find time for.