Why no credits on this cover? Did they know I would be unhappy to know Bob Gale wrote it? We’re 7 months into the reboot and we already have a 2nd Spider-Man imposter? Sheesh. Gale is joined by Mike McKone, Andy Lanning and Jeromy Cox. I tell ya, Mike McKone, not really one of my guys, and yet, he draws a killer Spider-Man. We begin with Peter being rejected from a new job, because Dexter Bennett has been calling around town warning people off of him. He’s had 8 interviews go bad because of this, he says in a caption that transitions us to the next page…
Despite all the above, this Dreimeyer guy doesn’t appear to be an existing character, which is… pretty ridiculous.
The events of the Civil War? Where he unmasked on TV? The events that led to you fighting an evil spider-woman, Betty? Meanwhile, at the Bar With No Name, a “The Basher” is on TV, yelling at Spider-Man that last time they fought, it ended in a draw, and he’s not man enough to show up to a rematch. This, too, is not based on any past event, and this character is made up for this issue.
McKone appears to have drawn Menace’s glider backwards there, but A) the design is needlessly convoluted and B) I don’t think LaRocca drew it the same way twice, so he can certainly be forgiven. Likewise, I’m not gonna give him any grief about the wrong Ox hanging out with the Enforcers, as that is also needlessly convoluted. The Bookie keeps taking bets and setting different win conditions, I don’t know anything about betting on things. Meanwhile, Peter Parker is seeing the Basher video in his new apartment. He doesn’t remember ever fighting this guy. Vin has shown Peter the video because he thought there might be news in it for him, as Peter has neglected to tell him he got fired. Vin says the cops won’t do anything because they have no file on Basher and he’s not done anything wrong. Vin further says he doesn’t think Spider-Man has any reason to show up. Internally, Peter agrees, but he thinks he’ll go scope things out as Peter Parker, just to see what’s going on. Kinda feels like I know where this is going. Hey, remember Aunt May? Remember how MJ gave up her marriage to save May’s life? Shouldn’t she, like, be an important part of this comic book? Aside from a brief cameo last issue, it’s been ages since she appeared.
Boy do I not care about any of this! I woulda bet money Joe Quesada’s “no one is allowed to smoke in Marvel Comics” edict was in effect by this point, when did that happen?
Well, there’s Joe with the sentiment, anyway. Why didn’t we check in with “Marvel low lifes” who have a real job, like gooning for Dr. Octopus, or being in a gang and calling yourself “Skrag” or something? I guess that would’ve been off topic. Well, then, Basher is on the roof, yelling movie quotes. Peter Parker is on the street, watching. And then, sure enough, as the Bookie’s dad predicted, a fake Spider-Man shows up. But the real Spider-Man worries that guy might be related to the Spider-Tracer Killer, so he suits up, too. Basher challenges the fake Spider-Man to fight without his webs.
Hilarious vintage homophobia.
While that Bookie contemplates his mistakes, Spider-Man chases Spider-Man across town, thinking there’s something familiar about him, and that he has some moves. When the fake refuses to talk for a few pages of running, Spidey finally ends the chase.
Come on, ya dorks, Spider-Man was at the Bar With No Name in Punisher War Journal 4, and maybe other times. He knows all about this. Cannot believe the Squid is here.