Chi-Town’s Breakdown: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Volume 2) #9

Marvel Staff                           Crawlspace Staff      
(W) Tom Taylor                      Reviewer: Chi-Town Spidey
(A) Juan Canbal                     EIC: Brad Douglas
(C)  Ken Lashley

Recap: There’s a misunderstanding between Spidey and the Prowler!  Prowler explains the suits are bad!  They team up with The Rumor!  Spidey learns stakeouts via Cop TV Drama!  Rumor infiltrates Fairgray Pay. , gets captured, and battles Helminth!

Story: Rumor tells Spidey and Prowler a “Why, back in my day..” origin story that features Captain America.  The flashback shows us how she and Helminth met and how she kicked his arse the first time.  Afterwards, she takes a nap and Spidey gets the gist of what Helminth is after and goes to see Tony Stark to smudge up his recently washed windows and to ask for a favor.  Prowler (against Spidey’s wishes) heads back to the sinister Fairgray Pay to stop Helminth, but of course our villain is waiting for him.

Thoughts: So we finally find out who The Rumor is.  Basically Japan’s answer to Captain America, who fought along side both Cap and Bucky during WW2.  Then Pearl Harbor happened, people at that time got scared and prejudice reared it’s ugly head on all Asian-Americans.  Marnie knew it was bull and even Cap knew it was bull, still she’s not an idiot and played along because she feels that people are going to need her in those camps.  The markings of a true hero and what I really like is the deep respect they both have for each other.  I feel that Taylor is playing off of what still lives on today during this time, although I could be wrong.  The Marvel Universe is supposed to reflect our real world scenarios no matter how much I dislike those negative scenarios that really shouldn’t exist, but I digress.

It took nine issues, but we finally got a Rumor origin and backstory.  Honestly, I’m glad that will be ending soon.  This is a person that is from Peter’s neighborhood and this series focuses on that, but I rather see more of what’s going on with Aunt May and Mary Jane then Peter’s neighbors.  Don’t get me wrong, I do like Detective Sebbens, that story characterization holds promise to a new character.  Rumor just feels, THERE and her character was dragged out until we got some kind of explanation.  In camp that’s where Rumor meets Helminth who’s real name is Kennith.  He too was experimented on (that one went south) and he’s able to suck out information/life out of someone or drain their life force.  We are seeing what they were and what have they become.  Rumor does give an idea of what Captain America would look like if he didn’t fall into the ice.  

Taylor still delivers the goods on Spidey’s characterization.  Humor and all.  Peter’s more in control by thinking and talking things through where as Prowler just wants to punch this shady business in the face.  HARD.  Not saying Peter doesn’t, because he really does, but he’s thinking this through for a more effective strategy.  Which leads him to ….*heavy sigh*..Tony Stark.  Honestly, do we need Tony in this book?  Seriously?!  Look, I know he’s the “GODFATHER” over there in the MCU, but can he NOT be in a Spider-Man comic anymore.  Why couldn’t Peter go to Mr. Fantastic or STEVE ROGERS for that matter.  Since you know, Marnie KNOWS Steve.  Then the Women of Liberty can help as well!  WHY TONY STARK?!  We’ll find out next issue, but I guarantee whatever solution Stark comes up with, Reed Richards would of presented a better one.  Despite my displeasure of Iron Man being in the book, Taylor still delivers the goods to Spidey humor, especially when he’s thinking out loud.

In Conclusion this is more a filler issue that will lead us to the climatic of the next issue.  Taylor writing is good and Lashley’s art is pretty solid and easy to follow along with the story.  I was expecting a little bit more and a little (A LOT if I’m being honest) less of Tony Stark.  New characters that drag on bring it down for me the overuse of Tony Stark because of the MCU.