THE AMAZING
SPIDER-MAN
ISSUE 016
Spider-Verse is over and everything is tied up in a nice little bow, well except Kaine surviving, but that's besides the point. Peter is back to doing what he does best, fighting villains when the odds are really not in his favour. But I suppose the odds aren't in his favour for this particular fight due to him having his life force drained by Morlun, maybe he's going to be weak..can he still lift 10 tonnes? Anyway, the villain shown below is the Iguana, I'm just going to say it now...we will probably be seeing this villain a lot more often now seeing as Dr. Connors has kind of gotten more control over the Lizard and hopefully won't be partaking in any villainous plans any time soon.
First Page & Second Page
But then again there will always be some fantastical villain to replace the ones recently neutralised...wait a second that reminds me, what the hell has happened to Norman Osborn? Yes we now know he is fully sane and human now, but why hasn't he made a move yet? Is he possible trying to get his Goblin strength back without the insanity this time? I can only wonder. I'm rambling..Peters battle with the Iguana is interrupted by a phone call from Aunt May, oh this is fun, with the events of Spider-Verse keeping Peter busy he hasn't had a chance to tell Aunt May that Anna Maria and himself are no longer dating... I am surprised that Aunt May doesn't hear the ongoing battle in the background, especially since the Iguana doesn't take too kindly to being sidelined by a phone call. Though it is a little bit extreme to say that Homo-sapiens must be exterminated due to always being on the phone..I'd hate to go to the cinema with this villain...as well as the scales and always having to be warm...I wonder if the Iguana likes the Muppets films you know because "It's not easy being green".
Third Page & Fourth Page
Okay I'll admit that was a bad joke, still not as bad as how Peters life has gotten in terms of balancing Spider-man business with real business, after all this issue is called "Peril at Parker Industries". Next up on the phone to distract Peter from his battle is Ms. Anna Maria Marconi with news that as usual Peters Spider-Man time is costing him his personal/professional life, before he can do what he does best (stall) his shining moment is snatched away by Sajini who has had enough of Peters constant excuses..and can you really blame her? When Octavius was in Peters body he gave her the opportunity to pursue whatever field of science she liked with funding, and no she has had to drop all of that to work on Peters rehabilitation prison for super-villains.
Fifth Page & Sixth Page
Thankfully this triggers Peter to get all fired up and not only start defending his business choices, but also opening a can of whoop ass on the Iguana. What Peter says is true though ,the Green Goblin did wreak havoc in New York during the whole Goblin Nation story arc (see Superior Spider-Man), and Elecrto was a highly dangerous villain when he lost control of his electricity powers...but Peter was able to cure both of them and sure Norman escaped but Electro, or should I say Max Dillon is being rehabilitated. Though it is ironic that as Peter is beating up the exact kind of person he is protecting (in the argument) and also trying to help be rehabilitated. Oh how the writers love to contradict themselves in the most fun of ways, I just hope the writers aren't too contradictory when it comes to writing Alchemax's rise to power they are competing for the job of creating their own super-villain prison...which would probably be sued for more bad than good, after all it is Alchemax. That reminds me, at least Miguel is finally back in his own time (Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of the year 2099 in the 616 Universe).
Seventh Page, Eighth Page & Ninth Page
Alchemax have always been a sketchy company ever since I first saw there name in a Spider-Man comicbook, so can there super-villain prison really be as good as they say it is? I highly doubt it seeing as Tiberius Stone is the man in charge...but surely Stone can't be all bad as he is the Grandfather of Miguel O'hara... Yeah Tiberius is definitely up to something "kept costs down without compromising quality" like that's the truth...Most likely villains go in and then break straight back out again. Something just seems so sinister...thankfully Peter arrives at the meeting just in time to lighten up the mood in all his raggedy glory. Though Peters good nature seems to be making him blind to the obvious feud between his business and Alchemax, sure Anna Maria is a smart mouth, but at the end of the day Stone is cunning and will do almost anything to get his own way.
Tenth Page & Eleventh Page
Yeah I could not have been more right, Tiberius and Mark Raxton (Molten Man) have made their way to a new villainous hangout, which happens to be owned by Black Cat. Last time we saw Black Cat she swore she would be the Queen of crime and she surely has followed through, not only is she catering to these villains needs for a hideout, but she is also their kind of leader...but I still can't get over the costume change, it really is a much harder and harsh design...but nothing compared to the villain who Tiberius and Raxton have employed to sabotage Parker Industries -Ghost. This new villain kind of reminds me of DC's Scarecrow, he even has the claw like hands which could be compared to the Scarecrow's needles...as much dun as it would be I won't write about "Black Cat in Repossession Stolen Memories", I'll let you guys read that for yourselves.
Twelfth Page & Thirteenth Page
My Overall View
Now what can I say about this issue? Well I think I'll start by saying that it was a fairly uneventful issue in terms of actual Spider-Man events and action, though I will say that it was incredibly though provoking. In my past few reviews I haven't really had that many rants or ideas about where the story is going, but with this issue it seems to have sparked my creativity once more. So I would give the art of this issue a stunning 10/10, and the story a 9/10. Slott just keeps impressing me with his creativity, now comes the waiting game until July where I may finally get to meet the man himself. Last year Stan Lee, this year Dan Slott! I have so many questions to ask! This issue did in fact mention Norman Osborn, so we know that he certainly hasn't been forgotten, and with Peter having a company named after him it must be driving Norman insane...and what is Black Cats next move? What has become of the Kingpin after he escaped Hell's Kitchen alive? and last but not least, What is going to happen with Peter and Cindy...where was she during this issue?