Ok. time to get into it. Perhaps because John, Jr. is leaving, it’s time to get to the bottom of this Ezekiel business. We open this issue on 2 guys in Peru, guarding what appears to be Ezekiel’s temple thing from various flashbacks and such, when they’re attacked by a Spider-Man-like, shadowy figure.
As that guy begins carving on Ezekiel as we’ve seen done in flashbacks, we jump to Spider-Man chasing some guys through busy NYC traffic. He webs one, but another takes a hostage. Spider-Man tries to reason with him, but isn’t getting anywhere, and then someone else attacks him from behind.
Back at Peter’s place, Mary Jane and Aunt May are chilling, MJ a million miles away worrying about her career. Aunt May is telling a story, but realizes MJ is not with her and starts making silly things up.
It’s not bad. I mean, fundamentally changing the nature of Peter’s powers is a very controversial move, but on the other hand, they don’t make a whole lot of sense. A supernatural explanation for his Spider Sense in particular is better than a magic radiation one. But neither story explains why he sticks to walls like he does, aka, not the way a spider does.
Soon, the spider-boyare are perched atop a tall building, and Ezekiel tells Peter he’s in terrible danger. He reiterates how Peter’s encountered so much trouble from magical sources lately over a collage of Morlun, Shathra, Dormammu, Morwen, that Shade guy, Dr. Strange, Loki and Digger, the latter of whom wasn’t especially magical. He says it’s about to get a lot worse. He says power has 3 components: Those who want it, those that give it, and those who control it. Spider-Man’s faced the first two, but now “the gatekeeper” is coming.
Now that’s a spider-man. Oddly, I don’t really remember this story too well. Vague notions, but… I sure don’t remember that guy. We’ll see what’s goin’ on next issue…