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Marvel Knights Spider-Man #12
Title: The Last Stand part 4 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Plot: Spider-Man and the Goblin are arguing on top of the bridge while Osborn holds MJ over the edge of his glider. Gobby tells Peter that Aunt May is still
alive, but she'll run out of drugs and suffocate in 45 mins. Doc Ock joins the fun and knocks MJ from Osborn's hand onto the bridge. The fight between Gobby
and Ock isn't too exciting though, because Ock is so drugged up he's moving at about half speed and the Goblin quickly pumpkin bombs him into the water. As he
fights Spidey some more, Norman tells him that Rachel Summers couldn't find May psychicly because he payed a mystic to keep her whereabouts unknown. At this point MJ finally uses that gun she's been toting around, but she obviously didn't get much training because the kick-back knocks her off the bridge.
     Spidey has played this scene millions of times in his head and realizes that the single strand is what snapped Gwen's neck, so he webs every joint in MJ's body and saves her. Just as Norman is about to run Spidey through with his
glider, Ock finally digs himself out of the water. This clash of the titans is quickly ended by a bolt of lightning (?!) that knocks Ock and the Goblin into the
water below. Spidey deduces that May was buried alive by Uncle Ben's grave (where the soil was fresh a few issues back) and goes and saves her. This is followed with several short scenes: Ock is pulled from the water by cops, but Norman's body can't be found; Spidey visits a hospitilized Felicia; Mac Gargan sits in a cell with with a crazy look saying "I'll never tell"; the new Scorpion suit is up for auction exactly as the symbiote was; and finally JJJ announces that
the Bugle will now be backing Spidey all the way. Aunt May then has to convince Peter that Spider-Man is a good thing. We end with a letter from Norman telling
Pete how much he respects and appreciates him.

Likes:

• No major characters were killed off for pure shock
  factor. Because we all know they'd just come back
  later.

•  The Goblin's face was consistantly crazily and
  creepily drawn.

•  The letter from Mark Millar at the end of the issue
  was a very good touch.

Dislikes:

• Doc Ock didn't look a thing like Doc Ock. The
  tentacles were the only thing that gave it away.

• The whole Goblin/Doc Ock issue was solved by
  lightning?! Come on!

• The letter from Norman at the end seemed incredibly
  off key, if you know what I mean.

• The whole issue just didn't do much for me. It's not
  that it was bad, it just wasn't the spectacular finish
  this 12 issue run deserved.

Favorite Quote: Green Goblin in response to Spidey
calling him insane: "Says the high school teacher who
dresses up like a spider every night."

Rating: 2 webs out of 5. Not bad, but it didn't really
have anything particular going for it. Kind of a let
down as an ending.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #11
Title: The Last Stand part 3 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Plot: The first half of the issue is taken up with some pretty solid battle sequences. That ends when Captain America & Co. show to save the day thanks to MJ's call to SHEILD. From there, Spider-Man rushes to save MJ, and is held up by the new Venom. Menawhile Doc Ock, brainwashed to kill Osborn the following night, hears that he's escaped, so he breaks himself out. Spider-Man overcomes this Venom easily and webs away to get to his apartment. On the way, he sees the Green Goblin holding MJ over the edge of the George
Washington Bridge.

Likes:

•  Really, really solid battle action here. We really
  got what we were hoping for from the last cliffhanger.

• Doc Ock escaping was a short scene, but great
  set-up.

• Millar writes crowds interacting with Spider-Man
  very well and very realistically

Dislikes:

• Venom is a relative pansy, this is no good.

• That freakin bridge again?! Tear down the GW Bridge
  and half of Spider-Man's problems go away!

Favorite Quote: Goblin to Scorpion (Venom) about
disrupting his plans: "Oh, well. That's fine then
isn't it? Moron."

Rating: 4 webs out of 5. Definitely a good issue, but
it lost a web for Venom being so weak.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #10
Title: The Last Stand part 2 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Plot: Spider-Man and the Black Cat break Norman out of jail after much protestation from MJ and many conscience moments for Peter. As soon as he's broken out, he double-crosses our heroes. He tells Spider-Man
that May and MJ are both going to die, and then 10 super villians step out of the shadows to surround them. Included are Electro, Shocker, Vulture, Sandman,
Hydro-Man, The Lizard, and others. The last frame is of Mac Gargan (The former Scorpion) now bonded with the symbiote come to join the party.
Likes:

• This arc is building up well. Last issue was really
  slow being nothing but answers, and this was mostly a
  break out sequence, but the cliff-hanger really packs
  a punch.

•  Mark Millar undoubtedly uses the rogues gallery
  better than possibly anyone since Stan Lee.

Dislikes:

• I thought the art was a little off this time. But
  not everything can be a masterpiece I suppose.
•  How did Spider-Man not know he was going to be
  double-crossed?
• Spider-Man called The Black Cat "Miss Kyle" once.
  I'm not really sure if this was supposed to be a joke
  or if Millar forgot he was writing about the Black
  Cat, not Catwoman.

Favorite Quote: MJ to the Black Cat: "Why don't you
just go and find yourself a boyfriend, huh?"

Rating: 4 webs out of 5. This issue picked up the pace
and set us on track for a great arc.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9
Title: The Last Stand part 1 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Plot: We start off with Pete in a reverie about all the loved ones he's seen die, determined for May to not be the next one (if she isn't dead already that
is). Most of the rest of the issue is an insanely revalatory conversation with the kidnapper, who turns out to be The Scorpion. Seems Osborn wasn't lying a
couple issues ago - he told Scorpion who Spider-Man was a year ago and said if he ever got caught, this is what happened. Osborn's had this plan since day one.
     The largest (and hardest to swallow) revelation we get here is that corporations have been controlling super-villians since the beginning. They assign
certain ones to constantly plague certain heroes so they never get a chance to look deeper at the companies. So the reason Norman's been afraid for his
life in jail is that he's afraid one of these corporate types is gonna take him out, because he was one of those guys before he became the Goblin, and he
knows too much. This leads to the explanation for Doc Ock being moved a few issues ago. They had him brain washed to kill Osborn. Finally, we find out that
Osborn has been revamping the rogues gallery. He is the one who put Owl in power, and Gargan (TheScorpion) has a new Scorpion suit waiting for him at
home. So, the reason May was kidnapped is because Norman wants Spider-Man to break him out of jail. If he doesn't, May dies. In the end, Gargan goes home and
finds the symbiote. It wants to bond with him.
Likes:

• Finally we get the answers! After 8 issues of questions building on eachother, we finally know what the heck is going on.

• This looks like it's building up to be a great story
  arc with Spider-Man forced to break the Goblin out of
  jail.

• Cross title continuity. When talking to Uncle Ben in
  a flashback, Pete mentions the new kid that the
  bullies are focusing on. This can only be Charlie
  Weiderman from the Skin Deep arc in Amazing.

Dislikes:

• The whole thing about corporations contolling
  super-vilains is extrememly far fetched. Especially
  with Secret War contending that Latveria controls all
  tech-based second stringers. Can't anybody just be
  crazy anymore?
• I wish Peter would quit saying he's hanging up the
  webs after he gets May back. We all know it's not
  gonna happen, so why keep repeating it?

Favorite quote: Peter to the Scorpion after he boasts
that he didn't recognize his voice: "Do we know each
other?"}

Rating: 3 webs out of 5. I'm really glad we got the
answers finally, but the corporation thing was just
too hard to swallow.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #08
“Venomous”-Part 4 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Cho
Inker: Rachel Dodson
PLOT: The new Venom crashes Peter high school reunion, and in the process kills several of Peter’s ex-classmates. The fight is long and brutal. Angelo Fortunato and the costume seem to be getting along just right, and Angelo is learning Venom’s tricks quite rapidly. The fight spills out on the street, and the crafty veteran Spider-Man begins to take over the fight. Angelo wants to cut and run, but the symbiote has other ideas. 
      As Angelo is leaping away, the symbiote disconnects, and Angelo falls to his death. In another part of town, Eddie Brock attempts suicide. Now that this whole Venom affair is over, Peter wants to put an end to this whole $5 million dollar reward for Spider-man’s identity contest the Bugle is running, especially with all the people getting hurt. Peter doctors some photos and tells J. Jonah Jameson that Spider-man really is his son, John Jameson.      
    Jonah decides to give some of the reward money to Peter and agrees to keep everything quiet. Peter ends up giving the money to the Vulture’s kid for they operation needed. Peter finally gets a call from the mysterious kidnapper telling him that he has had a hand to play in everything that’s been going on in Peter’s life as of yet. He also wants to meet Peter the next day. Oh, and one more thing. It seems that he has the uncanny ability to stick to walls.

• Great action scenes. This is one very entertaining book to read.
• I was undecided whom I would like as the regular artist on this book, Dodson or Cho??? After this issue, I would have to say Cho. That fight scenes were sharp, Venom looked slick, and he did a great job with the shadow work.
• What I love most about this book is that almost every issue has a great cliffhanger ending. We finally get a sneak peak at the mastermind, and I am shocked to see that it is someone who seems to have spider powers. This defiantly gets the different theories about who it could be out there. Does it have something to do with the Ditko era or the Clone Saga??? I don’t know.

DISLIKES:

• I really did not like the way that Peter fooled JJJ into thinking his son was Spider-Man. I also don’t think that JJJ would have just let the subject die that easily.
• I really hated Angelo Fortunato take the literal plunge so quickly. He was a very interesting character, and his Venom character looked wicked.
• I also hope that Eddie Brock is not dead. If he is to go, there are a million more ways to make it a more spectacular death. I feel that he could be a valuable character if done right.

FAVORITE QUOTE: Mystery kidnapper to Peter: “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we??? There’s a lot of people involved in this situation, Peter, and to tell you the truth, you’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg so far.” 

RATING: 4.5 webheads out of 5. A real page-turner that will keep you restless waiting for next month issue to come in.

Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)  

Message Board: What did you think of AC-Web's Review? Discuss it on this thread on the Crawl Space Message board.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #07
“Venomous”-Part 3 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson

PLOT: Two weeks have passed and there has been no word from Aunt May or her kidnapper.  Spider-Man spends his anxious time hammering down on his rogue gallery such as the newly escaped Lizard, Hydro-Man, Sandman, Rhino, and the Enforcers.  In another side of town, the auction for Eddie Brock’s symbiote has been completed.  The winner was Don Fortunato, who will be handing over the symbiote to his good for nothing son, Angelo.  Fortunato is also giddy by the prospects that the alien symbiote also knows Spider-Man’s secret identity.
      Back to Peter, he decides to join Liz and MJ to his high school reunion.  What he sees is that much hasn’t changed with the dumb jocks from high as they proceed to try to bully him.  At that instant, the new Venom locks onto Peter Parker and goes onto tear into some of Peter’s old school mates before locking his attention back to Peter.

LIKES:

• The new look Venom is a welcome change.  The old look was “kewl” but lost its appeal quickly, along with the story. 
• I like the way Millar was able to include some of Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery without making them the main focus of attention.

DISLIKES:

• I can’t really see jocks bullying around Peter Parker at their high school reunion. 
• Angelo Fortunato as the new man behind Venom is not a terrifying notion.  Other than for revenge because his old man said so, there really isn’t much justification for him to have a grudge against Spider-Man.
• There wasn’t much movement to the Aunt May kidnapping other than knowing that two weeks passed without any contact.

FAVORITE QUOTE: The new Venom to Spider-Man: “What’s that you’re trying to say, Mr. Parker.  What am I doing here?  Man, what does it look like I’m doing here you bi, stupid idiot?  I’m kicking you @$$! 

RATING: 3 webheads out of 5.  An average issue in what hopefully will be a blockbuster conclusion.

Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)  

Message Board: What did you think of AC-Web's Review? Discuss it on this thread on the Crawl Space Message board.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #06
“Venomous”-Part 2 of 4
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
PLOT: When we last left Spider-Man, greedy members of the SWAT team were pouncing on him. They were trying to capture him for the five million dollar Bugle reward that was donated by an unknown donor. Spider-man easily escapes this predicament and heads to the Bugle to try to nab some bucks from the fight he and drugged Doc Ock had. While there, John Jameson makes a quick stop to visit his dad. After a chat, Spider-Man next heads back to visit Norman Osborn in jail to try to get any additional help from him to locate Aunt May. His trip is fruitless, as Osborn offers none. Finally, Spider-man makes a visit to the X-Mansion as another resort to find out what happened to Aunt May. Rachel Grey is able to find out that someone strong kidnapped her, and it was violent. She fears that Aunt May is dead. In another part of town, a great number of Spider-Man’s rogue gallery get together to bid on Eddie Brock’s symbiote.

LIKES:

• Some very funny panels, especially the one where the accountant looking guy asks Jameson for the cash reward because he is in a Spider-man costume.
• It’s good to see some of Parker’s old supporting cast making a return appearance on his book and having Peter scratch some cash by shooting some pics.
• I like the easter eggs that the Dodson’s add into the panels such as the appearance of the X-men, Fantastic Four, and many of Spider-man older and more obscure villains.

DISLIKES:

• Two issues into this Venomous story arc, and we don’t really see much of Venom.

• There wasn’t much action in this issue. It seemed kind of padded.