Very Marvel Team-Up-ish cover. We open on Betty Brant interviewing a guy who saw what happened as last issue was ending. Spider-Man was holding Shadrac down as Bobby filled him full of ice. Then a good ol’ fashioned “FWOOOSH” blew the heroes away from the fiery former Override.
Norman babbled about the Gathering to Spider-Man a little as last volume wound down, and Maddie said a little more, I feel like Spidey should at least recognize some of the words here. We find Ben Urich interviewing a cartoon snooty lady who was inside the pawnshop to take over the story as Greg burst in.
This rather unlikely gathering of the supporting cast is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
The coincidences keep on comin’! Jonah is way too much of a jerk these days. Why does he have 3 reporters covering this AND come himself? This doesn’t seem worth it.
Wonder what happened to Flash & Betty. They seemed so happy together the last time we saw them. Well, this rather suspicious looking homeless guy says he was “wintering in a tunnel not far from here” when, in short order he saw an old guy come down into the tunnel running for it, a younger guy chasing him, and then Greg, Spidey & Iceman chasing him. Curiosity got the better of him, and he followed them down and down, until they were in some kinda cave having a showdown.
Again with this X-Men backstory that doesn’t exist. This is a weird example of, like, when they would introduce a character and try to prove they were cool by Wolverine knowing them already. Greg tries to tell the heroes how to beat this guy, but then this guy gets Greg back under his mind control, saying his long contact with the spindle gives him the power to control everyone else from the ceremony. Which… should mean he coulda just mind controlled the old guy into giving him the thingie, yeah? I mean… whoops. Well, he forces “Shadrac” to let out a huge blast of power, and then Greg immediately turns on Dolman somehow, only to immediately return to his control and attack the boys.
Coulda said “amazing friend.”
I wonder if that “NOW!” was supposed to be a “NO!” We return to the homeless guy’s narration as Spidey & Icey watch the other 2 plummet into the pit, and then fire shoots out of it and everyone runs for it.
I love Spidey’s webbed winter gear! Oh, man, that’s great. I figured the homeless guy was probably one of them, but both of them! How convoluted. For 2 series trying to make a fresh start, they sure are trotting out the Gathering of Five a lot. A trend that will continue. But first, we have to rewind the clock/move forward to Thor #8. This issue features a letter from Arthur C. Adams, who I guess is not the comic book artist. What a coincidence.