PPSM 48

Back to PPSM for awhile, because I really let ASM get way too far out in front. But, look, PPSM finally has the new trade dress we saw on ASM last block, I’m almost on track. Jenkins and Buckingham are winding up their long and lauded run. Let’s see how they do.

Maybe Buckingham did all that recycling because he wasn’t really fast enough for a monthly book. He’s had 6 months off and this issue looks a lot better than his entire run after just 3 pages. Too bad the story is still a bunch of morose, sadsack stuff. It’s kinda like JM DeMatteis, Jenkins can do silly and sentimental or he can do sad, very little middle ground. Well, while Peter’s weeping into his costume, some guys somewhere are in a panic as they learn someone has stolen “the Star of Persia” out of their impregnable vault, and left a cloth with a big “? on it as a calling card. Then we cut to Spider-Man watching from outside as Liza reads to Flash in the hospital. Why Liz and not Betty? Or both? Spider-Man is busy beating himself up for what happened to Flash… you know, despite literally refusing to bring Osborn to justice for it. Like what happens when Flash wakes up? He’s still the alcoholic who almost destroyed a school. Spider-Man could have cleared his name or something, but no. Better to wallow in self pity while letting Osborn go free. Then his pity party is interrupted when he notices a trail of mysterious flowers on rooftops. And they’re making his Spider Sense act really weird.

Look at all those Spider-Men! That’s more original Spider-Man poses than in Buckingham’s entire run to date, AND they look better than anything he did when tracing and recycling. Something’s changed. Next day, the main guy who got robbed is telling some people he’s going to have to explain what happened to “the Board,” and that they’re going to connect the dots to “what happened in Bangladesh.”

Sure, whatever.

They’re running out of time to tell us what the deal is with this dog. So, it was night time when Spider-Man had his incident, then daytime in that meeting, then Peter says it’s been 2 hours, and now we’re on a roof at night. What… time is it?

Oh boy. That lady continued to have flashbacks to, presumably, what happened in Bangladesh as she picks up, then gently releases a passing spider.

Where is Flash’s family?? His mom, dad, sister? Why is Liz acting like she and Peter are all he has? Her and Flash have barely spoken since the 60s! Peter starts a-wallowin ‘ in that self-pity some more until he happens to look out the window and see Barker wearing a big cape or something with the “?” on it.

Spider-Man chases the mystery woman through the city as he marvels that she moves impossibly fast and as Bucky finally employs 2 of his most recycled poses. Come on, man. What’s your deal? Then…