We round out this block with a 2nd annual, and with more flashbacks. Annual 36 was cover dates September 2009, and 37 is July 2010. At this rate, we could start seeing 2 annuals a year. Behind this lovely Marco Martin cover are 2 flashbacks, in fact. First at bat goes to Karl Kesel, Paulo Siqueira and Fabio D’Auria. Why does Paulo Siqueria seem to be a pinch hitter in the Spidey office? He’s one of the best artists they’re working with. Even if he’s too slow to do multiple issues in a row, does that even matter anymore? They can’t manage 2 issues in a row by the same creators, anyway.
I would be nervous about… basically everyone in the “Web Heads” doing Spider-Man’s first meeting with Cap except Mark Waid, but I trust Karl Kesel, actually.
Man, now that Siqueira has dropped the McFarlane worship, he’s unstoppable. Who wouldn’t think this guy is the tops? Compared to, like Barry Kitson? Come on, y’all. Tangent: For all that McFarlane gets credit for the “spaghetti webs” even tho he stole them from Michael Golden, most people seem to draw them like Erik Larsen. His were looser and more dynamic looking. McFarlane’s (And Golden’s) extra noodles always hewed closer to the main web. That right there is Larsen’s. Which is the version I do, too, it’s just cooler looking. Also, “It all starts in that mysterious time known as a few years ago” is very good.
Stan Lee cameo, why not? Like I said, I woulda been worried about some of the other guys. Been a weird amount of people trying to make these 2 antagonistic when they meet, especially in the past, in the 21st Century. But Karl Kesel is something of an old school guy, and I say that affectionately, even though he’s not an old old school guy. He gets it. To that point, Cap thanks the starstruck Webslinger for his work here, and also for helping the Avengers recently in #11 of their book, giving us a concrete time for this to take place. Cap is very friendly, but Spider-Man is barely coherent due to meeting a living legend. Then the cops arrive, and Spidey runs at Cap’s suggestion.
The Enclave are one of Jack Kirby’s weirder villain gangs, but at this stage of the game, Cap wouldn’t know about them yet. We saw them way back in SMTU 7. The baddies reveal various powers loosely based on their codenames, but Spider-Man is on the case, nabbing Sandman and making off with him so he can’t be killed.
Cap and Spidey decide they can’t just keep running, because things will only get worse. So, they stash Sandy somewhere and try to take the fight to the Enclave. Which seems to be working at first, buuuut…
This plan works, and Marko is back to normal, knocked out, and by Spidey’s estimate, the feedback from the collar will keep him unable to access his powers for about a day. Meaning this day is saved. And that’s when the leader of the Enclave gang reveals he knew this would happen the whole time. That there were 17 different ways to win, but this was the most dramatic.
Wait, Cap was inactive in the 1950s, what? Weird thing to say.
Well, that’s just fun. Cap getting the idea to make an Avengers team out of rehabilitated supervillains coming from meeting Spider-Man is fun. Honestly, if ASM came out once a month and this was the creative team, I think it would be great. Better than a situation where it takes 7 writers and 13 pencilers to make 17 issues. But that’s not all, folks! Our next feature is a 2nd blast from the past, but one that carries a bit of extra weight. The rest of this book is a reunion Kurt Busiek and Pat Olliffe for one more Untold Tale of Spider-Man! How fun is that? They’re joined by colorist Steve Bucellato this time out, and Olliffe is inking himself.
Dr. Cobbwell! Last seen in ASM #2! Yes I had to look that up!
I woulda confidently bet money the Human Top was a Flash villain. Because it’s very silly, mostly. Why wouldn’t he be hanging out with, like Mirror Master and whatnot. Ooooh, he was introduced as the Human Top and later very wisely changed to Whirlwind. I was gonna say, same color scheme and power as Whirlwind, but that makes sense. Spidey shoots a whole buncha webs to catch the taxi, and then angrily webs the doohicky out of Top’s hands, making him angrily come back to fight some more, still trying to pick a new name mid-fight.
Two Stan appearances in as many stories.
It is soon announced on TV by Stan himself that Marvel Comics will be producing a new Spider-Man series. Within the Marvel U, it’s well established that Marvel Comics exists, and publish authorized, licensed FF comics and others, so why not? Aunt May see this on TV and is furious. Then we check in with the gang at Midtown High, Flash very excited, with old pals Liz, Jason Ionello and Tiny McKeever in the background. Then off to the Bugle, where JJJ is outraged at Robbie, Frederick Foswell and Ben Urich, retconned into the staff, and asks where Phil Sheldon is. As many little cameos as possible in a mere 2 panels. Peter finds himself discussing the situation with, of course, Betty Brant.
Flo Steinberg up there with the newspaper. Spidey is quickly realizing that putting all this info about himself in comics could be bad news as Stan asks how he beats certain villains. Stan is gracious and patient, giving him time to think it over, but then, of course, the Human Top attacks as Spidey is leaving. He starts wrecking the Marvel offices over the objections of both Spidey and Stan.
Well, there you go. Spider-Man named Whirlwind. It’s official.
Nice and tidy. Another fun romp. This was the most enjoyable issue of the whole block! How sad is that? Also, the last one. Next post, we return to Avengers world.