Kicking this block off with PPSM because I think it just flows a little better that way. We’re now firmly in the era where comics are telling 5 and 6 part stories, and there’s no way the 2 Spider-books could be happening at the same time, so it becomes a matter of just deciding which story takes place before which. PPSM’s new cover artist is Humberto Ramos. Historically, not a fan. I find his art pretty off putting, with the giant feet and hands and weird faces and all. Look at how much web he put on the suit. And yet, Ramos will inexplicably rise to be one of the most beloved Spider-Man artists of the 21st Century, alongside several other people I do not like at all. I guess I’m just out of touch. “No, it’s the children who are wrong.” Who am I kidding, kids don’t read comics, it’s my fellow old people who are wrong. Inside, it’s still Jenkins and Buckingham, with Wayne Faucher on inks and Jung Choi on colors.
Randy is wearing a beret! At first I thought it was a kangol, I thought Romita, Jr. wasn’t the only one trying to have current fashions, but no. It’s a beret. What?
Oh-kaaaay…
Maybe that is supposed to be a kangol. Elsewhere, some guy finishes 300 pull ups. Very popular number today. He’s in a warehouse improbably full of superhero paraphernalia. Things he could not possibly have, like a Captain America shield, Mjolnir, a Fantasticar, Iron Man armor, Hawkeye’s whole kit, and, incredibly, a poster of the Hulk “Got Milk?” ad that ran in Marvel comics a few years prior.
That’s a long time! Meanwhile, Peter’s answering machine picks up a call. It’s lawyers representing the spouses of celebrities, and they want to help him sue MJ. Probably not interested. But Peter’s up on the roof getting into his Spider-Gear. He’s ruminating on how he’s in an unusually good mood, how he’s tired of lawyers calling, how his new place makes it easy for him to come and go as Spider-Man without anyone seeing, except maybe that lady’s dog, who is watching him.
Hey, a new Spider-Man drawing. Those are rare in this book. I mean, it appears to have been “inspired” by the cover of ASM Annual 2, but I’ll take it, especially since the 2nd Spidey there is recycled. Interested in this dog, tho. I don’t remember him, you’ll be shocked to hear.
This guy I remember, tho. Altho I guess not too well. For awhile, I thought he was the one who had MJ. He goes smashing through wherever he is and tells one onlooker to go tell the cops he’s Spider-Man and he has a hostage, even as he turns into Spider-Man in front of her, and his mannequin turns into a real woman. Elsewhere, the real Spidey broods, in 3 recycled drawings and 2 new ones, listening to a radio on a roof until he hears about the hostage situation he’s causing, and he swings off. Back at somewhere-or-other, the baddie (Whose name I remember and everything, but which hasn’t been revealed yet) is on the roof of the building, staring down a police helicopter while holding his mannequin in front of an actual dry ice machine he’s apparently brought with him, back in his normal suit. The cops are debating what to do and if that’s really Spider-Man when Spider-Man shows up.
There are more new (swiped) drawings of Spider-Man in this issue than there’s been in the last 6 put together, what’s happening? Did someone notice? Did Bucky decide to be slightly less lazy? Still, he recycles one Spidey both these pages, plus one of his most-used ones in panel 5 on the 2nd one, so it sure isn’t turning over a new leaf. Anyway, yeah, this guy’s called Fusion, and his powers are absurd, but his mask is kinda cool. The superfolk keep fightin’ as the cops make the stupid decision to get involved. Fusion magnetically steals their guns, so the various snipers and such open fire. There are no recycled Spider-Men on the page, but also no originals. Fusion brutally dispatches the cops. Spidey says he’s seen enough to know he didn’t have to do that, and Fusion says it’s because of Spider-Man. 3 of 3 Spideys this page recycled, one from the ASM Annual 2 one earlier this issue.
And ASM Annual 2 one makes a 3rd appearance, and bottom left is a familiar face, too.
And a very familiar swipe in panel one. Save me from Gwen Stacy references.
Well. This is not a fun time for anybody. In the letters, famous comics commentator Augie De Bleck, Jr. praises Buckingham’s Spider-Man, specifically, saying he “animates Spider-Man as few can.” I sure wouldn’t have gone that far at the time, but I was also a fan. Seeing the books a month apart made it way harder to spot all the recycling. This has been a jarring and disappointing experience.