It’s the introduction of Chance. I always assumed ASM 298 introduced him as a kid. It certainly did a good job of re-introducing him. For the first time in forever, the same creative team carries over from one issue of Web to the next. Spider-Man angrily swings away from the scene of the murder, recapping last issue and swearing to get justice, but he’s observed by Chance. We learn in short order that it was Chance who killed Andre last issue, on behalf of The Foreigner, but now he knows Spider-Man has seen the body.
Chance’s gimmick, laid out pretty economically. As Black Fox tries not to think about his friend being dead and ponders what to do, Spider-Man catches up to him. He’s feeling very righteous until he gets Fox subdued and he says Andre was already dead. Which, Spider-Man, realizes, makes sense, because this dude isn’t exactly the killin’ type. But then, Chance is upon them.
While Chance looks for Spider-Man, The Black Fox makes a quick getaway. Chance’s helmet lets him see behind him, tho, so he begins to opine out loud about how he’s lost the bet because Spider-Man got away until he can open fire on our hero at nearly point blank range. His Spider Sense is going the whole time, but it’s not like it can tell him what to worry about. But, he’s Spider-Man, so he dodges the bursts. Then some regular folks come to see what all the noise is, and Chance blows up a chimney to force Spidey to save them from flying bricks so he can escape. Now the sun’s coming up, so a frustrated Peter Parker returns home, and lays down to sleep, and then someone knocks at the door.
Speaking of Black Fox, he’s trying to fence the jewel with some other guy, who not only low balls him, but once he learns who he’s dealing with, leaves the room to go doublecross him by calling Chance. Chance gets them message and prepares to go kill Black Fox. But Spider-Man’s picked up the tracer still on The Fox’s coat. He plans to wait til Fox leaves, sell his notebook, and fix his apartment. Nabbing The Fox for causing an international incident doesn’t seem to be on the To Do list. But Chance shows up, so…
This issue’s use of the villain is pretty good, I must say. He’s a credible threat to Spider-Man at first because Spidey just doesn’t know who he’s dealing with, but then in this match-up, our hero is able to outsmart him in a way that feels natural and reasonable. The issue needs him to be both dangerous and a pushover, and gets away with it. Anyway, Spider-Man finds his tracer has fallen off of The Fox, so all he can do is become Peter Parker and go offer the fence the notebook.
The ol’ Parker luck. I guess I couldn’t remember when he got rid of the notebook because I didn’t see it. Makes sense! The Black Fox is on a cruise ship back to Europe, already preparing to charm and rob a lady on the boat, and Peter Parker arrives home to a note from MJ saying she couldn’t bear to see him thrown out and she hopes he’s not mad.
Another mystery solved! Peter winds up with the Nagel print because MJ redecorated. That makes perfect sense, actually. All’s well that ends well, right? I mean, somebody did get killed. And was that even reported to the cops? But… mostly well… It’s about time for more Hobgoblin.