The Chi-Town Breakdown: ASM 849

(Writer) Nick Spencer
(Artist) Mark Bagley
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 9/9/2020
Issue Number #849
Price Tag: $3.99
Buy: Comixologyor GCC 

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The Chi-Town Breakdown
Alford Notes
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  THE STORY

  THE  BREAKDOWN

  The Choice

  Order UP!

This is a a set up issue.  Come one now, you can’t deny that.  With the solics that we’ve already seen, it’ pretty much a given.  The BEAUTY part about this set up is that we are so intrigued with the story, the character development, and art that it makes us want MORE!  Spencer knows that we want to get to ASM 850 right away, but delivers a fantastic appetizer before the main course.  A Spider team has been formed and guess what, they are assembled to STOP Spider-Man, out of fearing his choice is a mistake.  We at the Crawlspace, like when Spidey is flying solo, he doesn’t really need a team to fight his own battles in his own book.  This time, Spencer delivers a twist!  It’s Peter against this team, so you will see confrontation.  I bet even George wouldn’t mind it so much.  We also know that Kindred is pulling the strings being that he gave the Order of the Web a warning while they slept.

  Behind Door Number One!

So what is behind this door?!  Norman stated that Ravencroft has plenty of weapons at their disposal but we keep seeing this door with someone trying to get out.  The first time we saw it, Sin-Eater’s boot was within a panel, but he didn’t get to Ravencroft till now right?  I’m unsure since he has to the power to smoke-teleport on in and out like a genie.  Could be that jumping time panel thing that Spencer has been known to do which I’m betting is the case.  Is it Norman as the Goblin coming out?  Maybe it’s not a cell or more of a door to the outside and the Web of Order is trying to smash on in.  The cult of sin just got an upgrade..could be them. 

  Continuity Candy Shop

<– THIS panel speaks volumes!  Harry did in fact die in Spect 200, then OMD erased that and said he was away.  I think BND gave a (crappy) explanation on why Harry is alive, maybe Neil can explain that one.  I honestly think that Spencer has something cooked up his sleeve.  Why bring this up if he didn’t?  I have said this before, Spencer acknowledges the past and that it did happen.  He’s not trying to change or reboot something in Peter’s life, he sees that something is broken or out of place and he FIXES IT.  I’m with Dark Mark on this one, Kindred has to be PRE-OMD Harry.  All the clues and evidence on what we know so far leads into that.  Harry has always been like a Kindred Spirit to Peter. There’s a panel of Flash Thompson in there dying and Peter referred to him as an ally when he was also a friend.  No this historical panel is in there for a REASON!

Then we have Peter talking to Ghost Spider and she makes the “Deal with the Devil” statement.  It’s bit of a stretch, but Spencer likes to play with words.  It’s FUN!  We have already seen Peter and Mary Jane together and Spencer has cemented that those two are destined to be together forever.  Gwen was Peter’s FIRST LOVE, but Mary Jane is Peter’s TRUE LOVE.  Peter wants to propose and the relationship is strong in this series.  Spencer did hint that from his FIRST issue so expect that sub plot to follow through.  S

 Nitpicks

* Uh-Oh!   Something wrong here.  Any true Spidey fan or art fan for that matter would know that this issue was not drawn by Marcelo Ferreira.  It was drawn by Mark Bagley.  In fact, I caught a few reviewers from other site saying that Ferreira’s art in this issue is amazing and stunning!  Yeah..that’s a for sure sign NOT to take that reviewers word seriously.  “Bags” did a great job with this book in pure Bagley form!  Always a pleasure to see his artwork and Marvel Editing..you have ONE job.  😀  

* UGH!  I was hoping that Spencer would avoid this but even he has the move the plot along.  Peter is talking to Ghost Spider about his problem.  Since she’s a Gwen from another dimension he figures that she’s the perfect person to talk to in order to get a perspective on what his Gwen would think.   This is out of character for Peter.  The person he should be talking to is Mary Jane.  MJ and Gwen were very close friends and if anyone knows what Gwen would think about this, it would be MJ.  Sure that’s an awkward convo to have with your true love when talking about your first love, but MJ was cool and supportive when Peter told her about Felicia now knowing his secret.  It’s more awkward to talk to Ghost Spider about this in my opinion.  She’s not like the studious good girl (boring) Gwen we all know.  She’s in a band and has more spunk in her than 616 ever did.  Not to mention she’s much younger than 616 Gwen.  I get the MJ is in limbo right now because AMJ has concluded, but Spencer kinda changed that course two issues ago.  Ghost Spider knows nothing of 616 Gwen, just what she heard.  It’s awkward for her to even show up in the 616 universe, so I don’t thinks she’s the best person to ask about this particular case.  According to Slott’s Clone Conspiracy arc, Gwen found out that Peter was Spider-Man before she died.  She hated it.  In my opinion, Gwen would try to be controlling an force Peter to quit being Spider-Man.  Honestly, Peter should have known better.

  Grade

Aside from the Nitpicks it was a good solid issue that really gets my hopes up for more!  I’m enjoying the series and Spencer as the writer.  I hope to see much more of the fun ride that he’s taking us on!  There’s two things I want to see in this series.  Peter and MJ back as a married couple and Carlos Gomez as an artist for at least a 3 issue run.  That would be AMAZING!  See ya next time Crawlspacers!