Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #506 Review

Amazing Spider-Man #506 (#65)
“The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter One”
Writers: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
PLOT: The long awaited Ezekiel story arc, as well as John Romita Jr.’s final arc before he departs to other Marvel books, is finally upon us.  We start in Peru, where Ezekiel goes to find an Incan ancestor, Miguel, to what seems assist him in replenishing his spider powers.  Even though he helps him this time, he warns Ezekiel that he is no longer welcomed, because if he comes back one or the other will die.  Ezekiel states he just needs a little to get Peter to help him, but it may incidentally lead to his demise. Ezekiel makes his way back to New York and encounters Peter.  He ends up at the Parker apartment where he eats dinner with Peter and Mary Jane.  Afterwards, Ezekiel warns Peter that he is in a great deal of danger from his last and greatest supernatural enemy yet, The Gatekeeper.  He tells Peter he has two options, stay where he is and fight him, but he will put many people, including his loved ones in danger.  The other option is for Peter to go to South America with Ezekiel, and together they will work to defeat this enemy.  In another part of the city, The Gatekeeper begins to take his form.
LIKES:

• We finally start unraveling the mystery of Ezekiel after many years of wondering what his true intents are.
• The Gatekeeper has a very dark and ominous presence, and I would have not guessed that he is composed of spiders.
• Mary Jane finally came clean about her deception to Peter when she spoke to Aunt May about her trip to L.A.
• Top-notch artistic effort by John Romita Jr.  The page with Spider-Man’s past enemies while JMS has been on board Amazing is great, as well as the last page when The Gatekeeper is revealed.

DISLIKES:

• Even though I like the idea of MJ moving out of the movie studio, I’m not too crazy about her singing showtunes.  I would rather have her move out of the whole entertainment business.
• Even though I like that the Ezekiel storyline is coming to a close, I don’t like that it has taken this long.  I hope I won’t be disappointed.

RATING: 4 webheads out of 5.  Good start to a storyline that has been highly anticipated and which has high expectations.

Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)