Yes, apparently 3 issues a month just wasn’t enough, who’s surprised? this is the first of 3 random supplements full of short stories. I wonder what artist Greg Land traced that Spider-Man head off of. First up this issue is a Hammerhead story by Joe Kelly, Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend and Antonio Fabela. Bachalo also gets some color credit. Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness created the version of Deadpool people like (No matter what Rob Liefeld thinks), then he had a run on X-Men during a time of pretty big upheaval in that office, he’s been around. I believe this story is the beginning of him eventually getting a spot in the “brain trust.” Gotta keep the same number of writers when Bob Gale mercifully wanders off to do something else. We begin with Hammerhead in a prison hospital bed. Apparently he tried to take over some of Kingpin’s turf during Civil War and it didn’t go so well, but I don’t know where that happened. We read all the Spidey books. Maybe Daredevil? I don’t remember DD tying into Civil War since he was in prison at the time. At any rate, whatever put him there, Hammy is dying. And like anybody dying, obviously, his life flashes before his (and our) eyes. Is this the first time anyone’s given him a backstory? It may well be.
Do people just not like Hammerhead’s origin (First seen in ASM 114)? I mean, to be fair, it’s very silly. But first, we saw that Spider-Man: Lifeline mini, wherein Hammerhead, a shot up mobster Jonas Harrow turned into a walking cliche with no memory of his former life, suddenly had a sister. And now he’s got a whole new background and even an origin for his supername. And, seemingly, no sister, even.
Who on Earth is teeth guy? Teeth guy and friends airlift Hammy somewhere as he flashes back to Silverman promoting him within the Maggia. In the present, he’s on a new hospital bed in a lab somewhere, with the goons saying to call the boss. Then in the past… Hammerhead’s rite of passage for moving up in the world is killing a guy who happens to be his dad, even tho Silverman doesn’t seem to know it? What sense does that make? And then…
What sense does THAT make? He was called Hammerhead before he lost all his memories and became Hammerhead? He had a plate in his head before Jonas Harrow put a plate in his head? This is ridiculous.
“Doctor Tramma.” Good grief. Hammy now flashes back to several past adventures in a montage, some of which I’m pretty sure never happened, and then a 2-page flashback to a fight with Spider-Man, which I’m almost certain didn’t happen, and then he wakes up.
I do not understand. Are they giving Hammerhead a robot body? How could have no anesthetic if they’re gonna put his brain in that thing? Very dumb. Aaaaand that’s it! To be continued elsewhere, one assumes. Story #2 is “Birthday Boy” by Zeb Wells, our old pal Pat Ollife, Serge LaPointe and Rain Beredo.
Trapster was in the background in the Bar With No Name in this getup, and I wondered when this happened, but I think I now remember him getting this outfit during Dwayne McDuffie’s run on Fantastic Four, in an issue I believe was drawn by Paco Medina. Maybe he designed it. It doesn’t look even remotely like the Trapster.
Well, then, Peter is off to try to make it to Harry’s thing, but in an all-new “Parker luck” twist, his mask is glued to his forehead… somehow. It looks like he had glue on him and accidentally touched it to his head. I guess. Anyway, he can’t get it off (And he seems to be pulling with his full strength, which should, if nothing else, handily rip all the skin off his head), so he styles it into a durag and enters the function looking like an idiot. He’s trying! Harry is not impressed, takes it as a sign of disrespect, and, after one of his rich friends makes fun of them…
Was this really necessary? I mean, ok, it’s sweet or whatever, but you’re already making your customers buy this comic 3 times a month, and now you add an oversized (And more expensive) 4th issue, and it’s for a cute little Harry moment? At least the Hammerhead thing will have implications on future issues. Was this worth your $4 (At a time when ASM cost $3?)? Well, now we hit a moment I really don’t understand. Like I mentioned, I’m reading these in digital collections, and they have taken the 3rd story of this issue (The preceding parts of which all opened Vol. 2) and moved it to Vol. 3. Further, they have placed it between ASM Extra 2 and 3 in said volume. Looked ahead, and the 3rd story opens with the caption “Several Weeks From Now.” So I guess they put it where it goes chronologically. Which is… nice. But very confusing for me. I guess I’ll just lump it in with the post about ASM Extra 2 down the line. Logistical issues abound in the Brand New Day era!