PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #305 REVIEW

Writer:  Chip Zdarsky

Artists: Adam Kubert

Editors:  Nick Lowe

E.I.C:  C.B. Cebulski

Crawlspace Reviewer: Chi-Town Spidey

Crawlspace E.I.C: Brad Douglas

Alternate Peter finds out his assistant Tessa is a mole for Osborn and fires her on the spot.  Peter, Teresa, and Jameson drive with the “Alternate Avengers” and “Alternate Doom” to Oscorb Industries where he can make the modifications to his Time Machine to send Peter, Teressa and Jameson back to their own time and reality.  They have very little time to accomplish this and Norman shows up in battle armor along with this world’s Doc Ock and Kraven.  Gwen is a sniper on the roof and gets a hit off on Kraven but is detained by Dock Ock.  Suddenly Alternate Peter shows up in his Spider-Man costume to save the day.  Yes, his costume is a nod the Spider-Man game coming out exclusively to the PS4.

So while Alternate Spider-Man and Gwen fight off the baddies, they bite more than they can chew and get into trouble.  Doom is making the finishing touches on the Time Machine when Doc Strange see’s that there’s a commotion outside.  Spider-Man busts through the wall and knocks down Osborn who was about to kill Alternate Spider-Man.  The rest of the alternate avengers join in on the fight and the day is won.  Alternate Peter and Gwen make up as Peter, Teresa, and Jameson jump into the time machine and hopefully head back to their own reality.

Zdarsky’s writing and Adam’s art is okay.  This issue is both readable and likeable.  Although I do feel that this has dragged on far enough and needs to come to a conclusion.  Pretty sure the reader is ready for the next chapter to begin.  I like how Jonah finally realizes that he was wrong about Spider-Man all these years.  He has witnesses a world without Spider-Man and is feeling very guitly about it.  Cap gives him some solid advice and is sporting a beard, because of the Infinity War movie.  It’ll be interesting to see Jonah and how he acts when they get back home.

What I ESPECIALLY like is that Zdarsky knows how to write a MATURE Peter and does this with Alternate Spider-Man.  I wanted Alternate Spider-Man to take our Spider-Man’s place.  I’m just tired of the “man-child” Peter.  That’s not the Spider-Man I know.  His alternate doppelganger seems to be more adult that he is and that is very much welcomed.

Not a fan of Gwen, I 110% support the Peter and Mary Jane relationship and marriage.  Her character in here was okay though.  Quite different from the Gwen we know back in 616.  I again prefer this version over the one we know in 616.  Teresa Parker.  This is a character I honestly want Zdarsky to focus more on.  She needs more characterization between Peter and his world.  I would love for her to find some was to get Peter and Mary Jane back together.  The fight between Spidey and Alternate Norman Osborn was pretty epic I think.  Especially THIS Panel

What I didn’t like is our Peter is still out of character and immature.  He can beat ass if he wants to, not denying that.  The main grip though is that this arc just needs to end.  Enough with the Time Travel.  If feels like it’s gone on too long.