It's been a while since my last Spider-Man review, but her it is. My review of the Amazing Spider-Man 003. This was a great issue. Not the best, but still great. I feel that I was way too kind with The Superior Spider-Man and I shall now take a more harsh critical approach towards the newer issues. As you can tell from the cover art (unless you own a variant issue) this issue is mainly about how Black Cat was screwed over by Otto Octavius (Click Here for more info). But I'll get to Black Cat later on in this review. The issue starts with the character who I assume is Silk walking on her ceiling monologuing about how bored she is. But to be honest that is not what interests me, it is the fact that we are being shown more about her, her family, and more importantly her name. Cindy. It seems that she is not some stalker villainess like I had assumed, but a Woman who is being kept in captivity by this "Ezekiel" guy. But I will say one thing about her, she doesn't seem to be evil...and she seems clever...playful in fact just like Peter is. But this makes me wonder. How did she get found quickly and put into a facility and Peter not? Peter became a Superhero...how much more high profile can you get?

First Page & Second Page

 

Now this is where the issue gets interesting. Black Cat is back, and this time she is taking no survivors. The old playful catsuit is no more, her teeth have been replaced, and she is now more antagonistic and criminal. She also now has a whip which doubles as a tail, and it appears that her Bad Luck Powers are back...when did that happen. So just to recap on Black Cat. She has escaped from prison with the help of Electro, and is now out for revenge against Spider-Man...and it's not even typical revenge. On page four it actually get's quite dark. I really would not want to be Peter right now...I think Octavius got the best part of the deal. He gets to be in peace, whereas Peter's life is about to get a lot harder. I am starting to take back what I said about Dan Slott making all of this way too convenient for Peter.

Fourth Page & Fifth Page

 

Speaking of Electro, our sparky friend is off sleeping in an abandoned building...what did Octavius do to him...first he kills his own Girlfriend/Stalker by accident and now he can't even sleep due to nightmares.I am really starting to feel sorry for Electro, just like Peter is, but I can't see how Peter could help him. Definitely not as Spider-Man...and as Peter things could get messy. But it's not all doom and gloom for Electro. He hates Spider-Man and so does Black Cat...and we already know from last issue that she has plans for him...I wonder what it is, definitely not good for Peter though. Slott is really giving these characters some new depth and layers. I'd have never thought to see Black Cat in a position where she is one hundred percent criminal, or Electro weakened and a walking sparky wreck.

Sixth Page

 

Peter really is taking Electro's condition seriously. He has the whole of Parker Industries working on a way to help Electro be cured...but all of his employee's still think he is a cold, mean ruthless Boss...and Peter doesn't really help himself by being overly friendly with them. I wonder if we will see much of Parker Industries in the Spider-Man 2099 series that is yet to come out...anyway, I wonder what will happen with Peter now...because he's smart but not business smart. I'll just leave his driving skills to you guys to think about.

Seventh Page & Eighth Page

 

Anna Maria seems to finally be coming to grips with Otto being the person she actually fell in love with...and to prove this she want's to carry on his legacy with the scrapped Nano Technology. I've said it before in this review and I'll say it again. I am happy that Slott is not making Peter's return so quiet and easy. I know it sounds bad but It makes for a much better read when things are going wrong for Peter. Just look at issues 697-700 of The Amazing Spider-Man. They did exquisitely well for themselves even though they where about Peter's life literally falling apart.

Ninth Page

 

Back at the abandoned building where Electro had started a fire by accident. Ollie the Fireman, MJ's new Boyfriend is busy saving lives. As the issue states it is obvious he is trying to make up for his absence during the Goblin War. To be honest I don't blame him. I feel that Ollie is a bit of a random character to suddenly introduce into this series, but like any character he does have a real feel to him. Especially the language his fellow Firemen use towards him. It feels natural to read...as Peter and his dream team of scientists get to the Fire looking for Electro. Where Peter quickly changes into his suit.

Tenth Page & Eleventh Page

 

Meanwhile J. Jonah. Jameson, the former Mayor of New York has just been given his own show on "The Fact Channel". I really cannot see this ending very well for Peter...the News is against him as it is seeing as how Octavius was a real wild card when it came to morals and did a lot of questionable things to both the criminals and the public (Click Here for more info).

Twelfth Page

 

At the burning building Ollie and Peter are working together to rescue any survivors. But it feels like maybe Ollie doesn't really like Spider-Man. I mean it's understandable why, but I seemed to have this idea that Ollie and Spider-Man would be a dream team...especially for MJ but that's another story. But at least Spider-Man is making it obvious that he intends to give back to the community as much as he can to try and right Octavius' wrongs.

Thirteenth Page & Fourteenth Page

 

Black Cat is out for blood...and she really wants to take it. she and Spider-Man fight, even though Peter tried to explain the whole mind swapping situation into her she would not listen. This is brilliant because there is so much character change and development coming, I can feel it, it will almost be like a set of brand new characters. The story arcs of Black Cat trying to kill Spider-Man will be brilliant...or maybe if she accidentally put Octavius back in Spider-Man's body...NAH that's crazy. But I do feel bad for Black Cat. She has indeed lost everything, even her criminal status...it will be a long bumpy ride for her before she is back to the way she used to be...socially that is. I doubt she will ever be the same Black Cat ever again.

Fifteenth Page & Sixteenth Page

 

Peter used his knowledge of Black Cat to convince her that he is still Otto Octavius. Luckily this works and gets Black Cat to leave him alone. I will admit though, for a second when I read that panel I though that Slot had fooled us all and that Octavius had never left and that it was indeed all a ruse. No Spider-Man fan can deny that they thought that their might have been the smallest of changes that Otto was still in Peter's body.

Seventeenth Page & Eighteenth Page

 

With Ollie out of the burning building safely and all civilians safe, Peter has some time to reflect on how much his life has now changed, especially his relationship with MJ. I really do wish that 'Brand New Day' had never happened. I was happy with Peter and MJ being a couple. Why did that have to get ruined. As long as they end up together at some point i do not really mind but in all seriousness he does need to let go of her...as do we as Fans. At least she will not have to worry about Ollie being killed every night as she did with Peter.

Nineteenth Page

 

Black Cat has swiped Peter's Science crews kit and has tracked down Electro. But at least she now knows that it was in fact Otto Octavius who knocked her on her ass and ruined her life. Not lovable Peter Parker. I bet to her this whole situation seems CrazyTownBananaPants. Yet she still wants to make him pay...which is still very bad news for Peter. I can only wonder what plans she could possibly have for Electro...how could she even control him.

Twentieth Page & Twenty-First Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This relaunch really was a great idea. This issue did not disappoint. As I said at the start of the review I am going to be more critical of my reviews, and this issue was great. It had brilliant artwork, a great mini story arc and has left me wanting a lo more. I wonder what so many of these different characters are planning to do. It's crazy to think that Peter is back, yet things are still going wrong for him. He can't catch a break and I love it. I think The superior Spider-man has turned me slightly evil....anyway this was a great issue and I am looking forward to reading and reviewing issue 004. Overall I would say that this issue was about a solid 8/10. It was good, but it needed a bit more flash to it, something to really make me feel like the issue is coming to life.