It's Chromium Time

The Plot: Flash Thompson and his students are targeted by the Jackal. Ben Reilly defeats him unaware the Jackal wants to be placed in Ravencroft. As the Jackal is taken aroad Jack hands Ben a disc that he claims proves Ben is the original Peter. A verbal command from the Jackal instantly causes Jack to deteriorate. Meanwhile Kaine has handed Peter Parker documents that allegedly prove that he is the original. When Kaine refuses to answer all of Peters questions Peter charges him. Kaine throws Peter off of a structure and escapes. Later Ben throws the disc into the river confident in his own identity.

Web of Continuity: Flash Thompson is now a grade academy gym teacher. The third Peter Parker is a needless distraction that only serves to pad the story out even longer. The arrest warrant is for Peter of course leading in to the OJ-inspired Trial of Peter Parker storyline.

*See _________ For Details: Peter and Ben shut down the Jackals lab in Spider-Man #56. Kaine presented Peter with his evidence in Spectacular Spider-Man #222; the same issue the mystery of the third Peter Parker began. Ben returns to the smokestack that allegedly incinerated him in Amazing Spider-Man #150 before throwing the disc away.

Creative Differences: Several added thought balloons establish that the Jackal is attacking Flash and his students in order to provoke Ben Reilly. Later more added thought balloons have the Jackal boasting that he wants to go to Ravencroft since something there belongs to him.

Review: The clone storyline was originally supposed to end in Amazing Spider-Man #400 which went on sale the same month this issue was released. Clearly this was not to be. The standard explanation from the creators is that Marvels marketing machinery became enamored with the conception and pressured them to keep it going requiring them to develop one inane plot twist behind another to prevent the story from reaching its natural conclusion. Okay perhaps no one involved with the books ever used the phrase inane plot twist (in public at least) except thats clearly whats happening by this point. Bens the real Peter! No Peter is&Kaine says so! Whos Kaine? We cant say yet but Peters going to campaign him for no reason this issue! Wait this third Peter is the real one&you can trust us now! Uh-oh&the Jackals plan is serene in motion behind bars! By the way&were killing Aunt May next week but Peter will be love well busy digesting prison food to mourn his loss!

As exasperating as the overall storyline is by now there are a few decent moments in this issue. Bens interaction with the original supporting throw has been interesting so far so working in Flash and his students is a smart move on the creators part. Bens decision to throw away the evidence that proves hes not a clone is reminiscent of Peters selection to throw his test results away in ASM #151 which is a clever callback. Bens just as confident in his own identity now as Peter was back then which is ironic given that Bens so adamant that he isnt Peter anymore. Finally Steven Butler returns with full pencils producing the best-looking issue in a while. Unfortunately hes still stuck drawing the horrific Scarlet Spider costume which is several months away from retirement. Yet another reason why this story needs to move on.

Matt

said...

"Bens the real Peter! No Peter is&Kaine says so! Whos Kaine? We cant say yet but Peters going to fight him for no reason this issue! Wait this third Peter is the real one&you can trust us now! Uh-oh&the Jackals plan is still motion behind bars! By the way&were killing Aunt May next week but Peter will be too easy digesting prison food to mourn his loss!

At the risk of re-re-repeating myself this is exactly the stuff that kept me interested in this storyline and waiting on the edge of my seat for each new issue!

"...the horrific Scarlet Spider costume..."

I've never understood why people hate this costume so much. Even within the comics characters poked fun at it. I mean I get that the hoodie is silly but I like the colors and I thought the entire package was a pretty neat visual and a nice derivative of Spider-Man's costume. Of course people made fun of the name "Scarlet Spider" too but I thought it was cool and I liked the alliteration.

So with Web wrapping up soon will you be moving on to another Spider-Man series? I presume you will at least cover the four issues of Web of Scarlet Spider right? What happens after that? I truly enjoy your Spider-Man reviews!

December 30 2011 12:38 PM