This month, we begin with Spider-Man pontificating about living in a post-9/11 world as he watched riots in Palestine on the big Times Square TV over Doc Ock’s attack. Then we check in with radio DJ Brent Power taking calls.
I gotta hand it to Jenkins, that’s a good Doc Ock gambit. Unique, but fitting. His ruthlessness and willingness to go to any lengths to accomplish his goal on full display. And I appreciate Jenkins trying to paint a more nuanced picture of an Arab leader as opposed to the terrorist stereotypes so common, especially, in the post-9/11 2000s. It’s a real shame Ramos insists on drawing Zarour looking like a MONKEY. If only an artist had been assigned this story. Well, we cut to… Hannity & Colmes, the FOX News panel show. Like, not even a thinly disguised fake version, the actual show. That’s gross, Sean Hannity is a legit enemy of humanity. On the program today are various government and military officials and Reed Richards to discuss Ock’s demands. Ramos, for all that no one he draws looks like a human being, somehow does recognizable caricatures of both Hannity and Colmes. It’s noteworthy that Republican senator thinks superpeople should have to register their powers, and none of this would be happening if Spider-Man’s real identity was already in a government database. This is a concept that will later be… much bigger. Then we cut to…
That woulda been pretty cute if they got an artist to draw it. Elsewhere, Zarour gets Doc Ock to start villain monologuing about why he’s doing this. Which, he says, is because Spider-Man is an idiot and a buffoon and people should know Ock is superior to him (Loaded word!), and soon they will. Zarour says Ock is afraid of Spider-Man. This guy is really not looking out for his own health.
On the one hand, I don’t necessarily think Doc Ock would be so virulently xenophobic and racist. Not because he’s better than that or anything, just because he doesn’t seem like someone who’d care enough to form such an opinion. All he thinks about is him, he wouldn’t put the people of Palestine any lower than people anywhere else, everyone’s on the exact same level, and it’s several miles below him. But he is certainly an exceedingly cruel person, so saying those things feels in character anyway. Too bad he looks like a cartoon pig saying them. Well, meanwhile, Spider-Man’s gone to meet with his new best friend, Detective Garrett (I hope Lamont doesn’t find out!). They talk about the situation for a second, but then a helicopter appears. Garrett reiterates that he came alone, and Spidey suggests he get down. Out of the chopper come a bunch of military dudes surrounding a guy with a briefcase who coulda been the Vulture, based on his appearance, but is not.
The stereotypical appearance of the Vulture become instantly racist when applied to a Jewish guy. Great work, Ramos. Real good stuff. At least he doesn’t look like a literal monkey like the Palestinian. Boy am I excited for Ramos to leave this title. Once this story’s over, he only has 2 other issues (Weirdly, 2 parts of a 6-parter drawn by a bunch of people). I’m gritting my teeth and pressing on.
Wait, do they not live together in this title? They sure seem to in ASM!
I think a premise this absurd literally only works with Doc Ock. His hubris and complete disregard for the rest of the human race takes what would have been a laughable concept and makes it work. It’s kind of fascinating. From Dr. Doom to Magneto to Green Goblin to even the Red Skull, I don’t think any other major madman feels right pulling this scheme, but I think it works for Ock. He’s the right kind of psychopath.