Took this long to get back to the Kingpin plot from the previous volume. So much of this book has felt like it’s offtrack. So many issues dealing with the fallout of the Gathering of Five, so many guest stars, too much Spider-Woman these last 3 posts. What happened to Peter’s new job? What happened to school? We open on Kingpin throwing a guy out the window of his very high up office, talking to Bullseye, who I guess is his man again, about how messages must be sent to the people responsible for Fisk’s downfall. Then we go to Spider-Man fightin’ some Hydra guys. Really does feel like we’re getting back to this book, in particular, after a 6-month detour. Why’s Spidey beating on Hydra goons?
We shall be checking out that annual very soon, although you’d sure never know by the cover that it’s gonna be about Betty’s investigation into Ward. Betty not seeming interested in Flash acting weird doesn’t make much sense. Later, Peter arrives home to hear MJ telling Jill she doesn’t want Peter to know about–, before changing the subject and trying to distract him. Smooth. Arthur is here, also, having come to see Peter. He’s hanging out with Aunt May. Arthur’s looking for Spider-Man’s help ins also digging into Ward, but MJ says Peter would have no way of contacting him, making Peter feel bad, and then the phone rings, making MJ feel bad. Real positive vibes in the home lately. Arthur leaves in a weird hurry once he’s told he can’t get to Spider-Man from here.
Great stuff by Romita, Jr. there, despite the ridiculousness of this storyline. How’s MJ the only one answering these calls? The whole previous run of both these books has been about her never being home. Now she’s suddenly there, answering weird phone calls, refusing to tell Peter. But wait, there’s more:
Arthur tells Jill to get Paul and leave town, to go see their Aunt Veronica (Another brand-new Stacy!) just as Peter rolls up and says everything will be fine. Jill is, obviously, a lot more upset than that, and as he comforts her, Peter gets a tracer on that car. Ward has Arthur brought to a building under construction, where they trade vague lines about their shared history, and where Ward says Kingpin trying to get back in the game is not good for him.
So cryptic! Arthur says he will not be threatened, and then one of Ward’s goons goes down with a playing card in the back of his head. Arthur says Ward’s probably right to be worried about Kingpin.
Must say, “Gamble or Gumbo” is funny to me.
The timing of this is pretty wild for reasons that will become clear next post. With Spider-Man momentarily out of it, Arthur has a minute to say Kingpin wants Arthur dead for what he knows, but Ward dead for what he did (So cryptic!) before taking a blade in the back for Ward, anyway, which doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Romita is just crushing here. I love the little things he does. I love Spider-Man picking up that beam by sticking to it, rather than grabbing it. The finesse! John Romita, Jr. Fan Blog forever!
Don’t oversell it, Arthur! I don’t remember what goes on with Ward, but it can’t be too good, one assumes. But that’ll have to wait at least one more post, as we’re off on a detour next time.