Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #47 (488) Review

Amazing Spider-Man #47
“The Life and Death of Spiders”
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
PLOT: The Spider-Wasp monster from the Astral Plane known as Shathra continues as a threat to Spider-Man, but this time, the threat comes in a form of a media blitz against the web-head in her human form, otherwise known as Sharon. Shathra’s lies about Spider-Man is all over the news, and Spider-Man’s friends and family are left not knowing if what is said is true or not.  An enraged Spider-man goes to confront Shathra while she is giving an interview and a second battle between Spider-Man and Shathra begins.  Spider-Man is so engulfed in his rage, that he allows his spider instincts to take over without even knowing it, and this is what Shathra was hoping to accomplish.  Spider-Man realizes that he is out of control, and decides to leave to collect himself.  While attempting to get away, Shathra shoots Spider-Man in the back with one of her stingers.  The stinger begins a paralyzing effect on Spidey and is barely able to escape.  He eventually finds himself at a museum and falls unconscious into a spider exhibit, and a bunch of spiders swarm over Peter’s body.
LIKES: One of the reasons that I enjoy JMS’s current run on Amazing is his ability to bring in new ideas and characters.  There have been two impressive battles so far between Spidey and Shathra, and Shathra has had a bit of an edge in each.  It seems that JMS will begin to incorporate the totemistic angle of Spider-Man’s power once again, which is evidenced by the reappearance of Ezekiel, and the spiders covering Peter in the end.  It will be interesting what this will lead to in the next issue, and how the conflict between Peter and Shathra will be resolved.  
DISLIKES: In the beginning of the book, Peter is at school helping out one of his students in his science project even though he knows that Shathra would once again attack.  I know Peter was there helping out his students, but if Shathra found him while in school, there is no knowing how much damage would have been done, and how many of his students may have been hurt.  Also, it was hard to believe that most of the major news station would make a major story on a random person coming in and making accusations on anybody without any conclusive evidence.  
RATING: 4 webheads out of 5:  It has been an interesting story arc so far.  It will be interesting to see what Ezekiel’s conncetion to these events are, and how the spider’s swarming Peter are involved.

Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)