Strange to me that the Moon Knight of this universe has Romita, Sr. Spider-Man eyes. Good for him, I guess. This issue opens with 2 pages of Danny Rand’s early parole hearing in prison. We remember Danny from trying to stop a robbery in that Wizard ½ issue. He assures the board that, if he were released, he would never use his Iron Fist against people again. It’s staged very much like the first scene in the George Clooney Ocean’s Eleven. Then, we get back to the end of last issue.
Elektra: World’s Greatest Detective.
I didn’t really need to run that page, I just think that exchange between Spidey and MK is very funny. Spidey says it’s just occurred to him that he can leave, and he does. And then Moon Knight appears on the front page of the Daily Bugle under the heading “MOONMAN COMETH” (Sidebar: “Silvermane Dead”). JJJ does not like that headline, but Robbie thought it was classier than what he wanted. Then Ben Urich runs in to tell them he’s determined the fire was started at a Fisk warehouse, and he’s off to the races. Peter is there to hand over a copy of the evening edition (? Why?), and when JJJ calls their subject “Moonman,” Peter slips and says his name is “Moon Knight.” Caught, he says some kids at school said so. JJJ says Moonman is funnier and shoos him away. Pretty good! Peter is then at his desk, fretting in Peter Parker fashion, when the phone rings. It’s May, wanting to know if he skipped school, because they called. He gives a bad excuse, and she asks if it’s about MJ. She says they’ll talk about it when he gets home. When they hang up, she says to thin air, “Stop running away from your life. Just like your father.” On his end, Peter looks typically upset for the period.
Shortly, Spider-Man is swinging around, ranting internally about how Fisk never goes away, finding his way to Fisk Tower, landing on the roof. And then the door opens. Elektra says Mr. Fisk would like to speak to him. After some banter…
He’s 15, after all.
For the record, I do want to go to work and do as little as possible and get a big cookie for it. Two, even, if possible. Kingpin produces a file on Hammerhead. In very classic post-1980s Kingpin fashion, he proceeds (Ignoring Spider-Man’s constant yammering) to explain who he is, that he killed Silvermane and caused the fire, that he’s considered crazy and violent even in Kingpin’s circles, and he’ll be out doing all this unopposed unless Spider-Man stops him. He has even provided Hammerhead’s home address. Our guy asks if Kingpin is expecting Spider-Man to take out Hammerhead for him.
It’s like your typical mid-to-late 80s Kingpin/Spider-Man scene, except it’s working a whole lot better. The power imbalance between the very young Spider-Man and jaded old Kingpin enhances the situation, and the fact that this is all new for these versions of the characters does, too. In the letter page, we are assured the USM video game is in continuity. We’ll see about that!