AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590 REVIEW

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 590

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Barry Kitson
Inker: Mark Farmer
Story Title: “Face Front Part One: Together Again…For the First Time”

Plot

A past adventure. Wedgies. Spider-Man gets a second job. Johnny Storm is annoyed.

The Commentary

I was not at all sure what to expect from this issue. I had heard the rumors and the rumblings but I tend to ignore such things because I have gotten back to that point where most of the time I really just want to be surprised at what I read and watch, especially if I have some kind of emotional investment in the project. Considering I am now reviewing this title, albeit being rather late about posting said reviews, I feel some sense of wanting to have the stories just unfold without any preconceived notions.

I’m glad I did that really because I thought that this was a very solid issue. The opening scene was classic Spider-Man teaming with the Fantastic Four though I was a tad confused as to why Peter was running around with his mask off proving that the Brave New World of Brand New Day has rooted itself into my brain and become the status quo, which is kind of sad but whatever. Anyway, I picked up on what was going on rather quickly and thought that it was a fun sequence with some trademark Dan Slott funny yet character driven dialogue.

Things really kicked into high gear, though, when the story shifted into the present. I really dug the scene with the Looter, mainly because of what Spider-Man did to him but also at the fact that the Dark Reign has finally begun to fall in this title. The shot of Spider-Man perched in front of the Iron Patriot poster really drove home the point that Peter’s “arch-enemy” is now in a position of supreme authority. I wish it would be more of an issue for Spider-Man because the Green Goblin is one of his big bads if not the big bad but this is the new Marvel where if it suits the powers that tradition and the like is tossed to the side because it would be awesome to have Norman Osborn in charge then so be it.

But I digress…before I start to get pithy.

Again.

The emotional lynch pin of this issue stems from the fact that Spider-Man and the Human Torch have been friends for decades (our time at least) and now, all of the sudden, Johnny can’t remember who Spider-Man really is. He knows he should and when they get back to Macroverse his suspicions are further confirmed by the statue of Spider-Man sans mask. Johnny is upset and rather understandably so. I’d being rather annoyed if I knew something one minute, couldn’t remember it the next for some inexplicable reason and then the guy I think of as a buddy…no, a friend won’t come clean I’d be pretty cheesed off as well.

So while it was neat to see an FF and Spider-Man team-up from two eras and while it was neat to have Ben written by Dan Slott again the real reason I liked this issue so much is that Slott seems to be dealing with some of the repercussions of Brand New Day and the admission that at one point it was all so different.

The Final Analysis

Barry Kitson and Mark Farmer’s art was fairly spectacular this issue but I am kind of predisposed to like both artists. In fact the only thing that truly bugged me about this issue is the fact that because we didn’t see what was under Peter’s mask at the end of the issue I am worried that a cop out is afoot. It wouldn’t be the first time such a thing happened and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it now.

Then again Peter’s identity could be revealed again for the first time.

Did they really have to go for that old chestnut as the title for the story?

I expected a little more, frankly.

Though you know what I really liked about this issue?

I mean really, really liked?

When Reed gave Peter a check made out to cash.

Finally! Someone thinks of doing that instead of making it out to Spider-Man!

4 out of 5 webheads.