AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 620
Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Marcos Martin
Inker: Marcos Martin
Story Title: Mysterioso Part 3: Smoke and Mirrors
Plot
Mysterio prepares for the final act. Spider-Man vs. Silvermane. Spider-Man vs. Mysterio. Recruitment.
The Commentary
Average.
That’s how I would describe Mysterioso as a whole. What should have been an action packed, psychologically driven story turned out to be a rather pedestrian tale with a boring ending. I really wanted to like this because as I mentioned in the review of the first part of this story I like the organized crime centric Spider-Man stories. Mysterioso is not one of the best examples of that kind of tale.
It could be my fault. There are people that might really dig this story. I’m just not one of them. All of the elements that were supposed to grab me as a reader (the return of a classic villain, the return of the mobster type villains, the Captain Stacey reveal, the whole thing with Carlie’s father) didn’t have any kind of impact. The writing was solid. Dan Slott put a lot of effort into this final part of Mysterioso and it wasn’t as muddled as the second chapter. Despite all of that I just wasn’t feeling this one.
The one element of this issue and story that I did like quite a bit was the art. Visually this was a stunning story and there were some classic Spider-Man shots. Page twenty in particular stood out to me. There were definite Romita, Sr. echoes here and I dug the heck out of that as I am a big fan of John Romita, Sr.’s work on Spider-Man. Page eighteen was very cool and creepy as well. Marcos Martin is a very strong artist and has a great sense of storytelling. I especially like that some pages have more than three or four panels, which is becoming rare in the current comic book landscape.
Parting Thoughts
We are three or so storylines into The Gauntlet and so far I am not impressed. It feels more like a series of typical Spider-Man stories with an element that tenuously links all of them. So far all we have seen is a whole lot of recruitment and not much in the way of chipping away at Spider-Man until he is at the breaking point and then pouncing. Don’t get me wrong; it has been really cool to see some of the more classic villains. I’m just disappointed in how everything has played out thus far.
2.5 out of 5 webheads.
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Ugh… I have to say that I’ve been really supportive of Spidey since BND but I feel like I’m the only one getting drained by the Gauntlet.
@Extreme Spider – Bailey has given 0’s before. I think it was that issue in which Michelle punched Peter in the face.
Wow Mr.Bailey. Can This Be Your Lowest Review Ye?t
I have to agree that the Gauntlet doesn’t seem to be wearing Peter down much at all. They tried to make it look that way in #619 by making him doubt himself by seeing Capt. Stacy and thinking that he killed a man, but those things were explained away too easily at the end of the issue. I’d like to see the brain trust step up the Gauntlet way more.
I’m glad you mentioned about not being impressed with the Gauntlet so far. Frankly, I don’t see Peter getting worn down or drained or anything- they’ve made *verbal references* to it, but it certainly doesn’t SEEM like that’s what’s happening. I don’t buy it… This just seems like a bunch of “typical”, unrelated stories.
-DPFW
Good review as always, Mr. Bailey.
I think IGN’s review of this issue probably has it’s finger on what was off about this arc, even though they gave a more favorable review:
“Unfortunately, much of this issue remains bogged down by the current status quo of the Spider-Man universe. Whereas previous Gauntlet installments utilized current continuity to supplement the larger storyline, Slott’s three issues feel as though they’re entirely dictated and dependent upon it. The plot relies too heavily on the interest that readers have in Carlie Cooper and Mr. Negative, and this issue shines most brightly when it shifts its focus away from those characters.”
http://comics.ign.com/articles/106/1068482p1.html