The Chi-Town Breakdown: ASM 850

(Writer) Nick Spencer
(Artist) Ryan Ottley
(Artist) Humberto Ramos
(Artist) Mark Bagley
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 10/7/2020
Issue Number #850
Price Tag: $9.99
Buy: ComixologyorGCC

Story Time:  Spidey is swinging through and fighting off a bunch of “Cult of Sin” followers who are now showing their “negative” side.  Norman is giving his Darth Vader speech to Peter throughout the narration adding key words in there such as “legacy” and “son”.  Sin-Eater has now inherited the powers of the unstoppable Juggernaut.  After a power-aid gulp from the Goblin formula, the Green Goblin is back!  Spidey is not too fond of working WITH Norman in hopes to stop Sin-Eater and Norman is soaking up ever taunt he can to Peter.  Both Green Goblin and Spidey fight off against the rioters, that is until Sin-Eater busts in Kool-Aid style to do what he came to do, cleanse Norman.  Both Peter and Norman fight back and saves Norman’s life.  More damage is done via Sin-Eater and Norman than saves Peter’s life and considers the “dept paid” and both escape to ANOTHER secret area that Norman created.  Meanwhile the Order of the Web haven’t done anything but debate on what to do and it’s Spider-Ghost that comes up with the most logical, realistic, RIGHT thing on how they should help out Peter, by not doing anything…now.  The secret sub-basement Norman keeps busy in also has an EMP able to blackout the eastern seaboard and the two use this to create a tremor that would cause liquification to hold super size Sin-Eater.  The plan works and surprise, surpirse Norman is about to double-cross Peter and kill him when the Order of the Web saves him.  They escape the sub-basement only for Peter to make the choice to leave Norman there.  He’s not killing him, but he doesn’t have to save him either.  Then we see Kindred looking at a gravesite.

The Breakdown:

• Nick Spencer listens to George Berryman
• Norman HATES Peter
• Norman and Spider-Ghost
• Spider-Man’s Choices
• Nitpicks
• Grade

Nick Spencer listens to George Berryman:  Here at the Crawlspace we have a roster of people that share a mighty passion for the Wallcrawler and his supporting cast.  I have been very avid on the Marvelous Mary Jane, Dark Mark shares his excitement on bad villains, JR knows everything Norman Osborn, and if you are looking for symbiotes, talk to Tyler.  However, our very own George Berryman has been VERY VOCAL on what kind of person Spider-Man is and HOW he should be written and it seems (at least that’s how I read it) Nick Spencer, has been listening.  The Order of the Web have agreed to stop Spider-Man from saving Norman, but in this issue it’s Ghost Spider that convinces the team NOT to intervene.  She explains a few key points that George has been vocal about for the last ten years.  Let me explain…

1. Ghost-Spider is not 616 Gwen Stacy!  Spencer delivers a panel explaining the differences between her universe and the 616.  The main reason WHY she’s so popular (besides the Cosplay aspect) that she’s NOT 616 Gwen.  She looks the same, but acts completely different.  Even her “Peter” is completely different from the 616 Peter.  I believe this is Spencer’s way of telling the reader, stop comparing Ghost-Spider to 616 Gwen Stacy.  Let’s be honest, 616 Gwen would have NEVER let Peter continue to be Spider-Man if she knew and still wanted to be in a relationship with him.
2. This is Peter’s Fight!  How many times have we heard George and the rest of the Crawlspace express.  “Peter needs to fight in his own damn book!”.  Spider-Man doesn’t need a team to help him ALL the time.  Spencer makes that clear.  Sure a helping hand is appreciated and Peter isn’t going to shy away from it, but he more acceptable of fighting his own battles because he doesn’t want anyone else to take the burden!  Spider-Man is so unique and amazing as a loner.  He’s smart enough to figure things out himself and where his choices could lead to.  The Order of the Web don’t need to butt in because HE’S SPIDER-MAN.  Instead they ACCEPT his choice and support him by helping out through HIS actions.
3. Peter is a TRUE HERO and does what he believes is RIGHT.  He’s the one and true Spider-Man.  There are others like him, but Peter Parker is the REAL DEAL.  He makes mistakes but his heart is what guides him to make the choice that he thinks is best.  Sometimes it a decision that he doesn’t even like, but it’s for the good of what is good!  Spencer delivers that many characters want Norman dead and let Sin-Eater do his thing, but what they don’t realize is that, THAT could lead to something WORSE.  Peter does realize that and fights on.

Norman HATES Peter:  We all know that Norman is a few screws loose.  That much is clear, but we now have a reason on WHY he hates Peter so much.  Rejection and Dept.  Osborn didn’t like that Peter rejected the notion and idea that Peter should be the son that Norman never had, but what really got to him is that after Peter rejected and beat the Goblin, he saved him.  Norman’s memories came back and for all this time he felt he owed Peter a dept.  This hurt him deeply and drove him even more mad and insane.  Spencer implies that his schemes in past were unsuccessful.  The only way to clear the dept was to save Peter’s life, one time then we go back to The Green Goblin when he first appeared.  Could be some interesting stories on that front.

Norman and Ghost-Spider:  Norman learns who Ghost-Spider is and plays into that.  For those of you who still think Gwen was perfect for Peter..I’ll just leave this right here to REMIND you why that’s NOT the case.  “Happier Times.”  Yeah, I bet.  Creep Factor x Continuity = Villain.  Nuff said.

Spider-Man Choices:  Throughout the arc of Sin-Rising, it’s Peter’s choice to save Norman despite him being the monster that he is, but now Spencer puts a spin on.  He goes back to basics.  The “bombshell” that was left at the end of his issue is Peter leaving Norman to face the Sin-Eater when he gets out.  Basically, “I tried Norman, I put fourth the effort but, you are on your own from here on out.  I won’t let you free in this world.”  So why did Peter make this choice?  Simple.  He sees it as letting Norman get away if he saves him.  As in letting a burglar get away.  The panels down there best describe it.

ARTIST GRAVE!  YIKES!
Even the Artists of the book are safe from Kindred.

Nitpicks:

• Not a big fan of the revolving door artist movement.  Ottley, Bags, and Ramos have a fan-favorite smile but I remember big issues like this that tell the story with just one artist.  I’m actually tired of seeing Ramos as well.  He had his time to shine with he did Slott’s run.  I want Ottley to shine with Spencer’s run now.
• What really drags the issue down for me was the back up stories that really hold no meaning besides here’s why the comic is ten dollars.  “All you need is…” with Kusiek and Bachalo seemed like nothing more than a love letter to Beetles music and even harder to read mainly due to Bachalo’s art.  “Four Shoes” is like having an acid trip while watching a cartoon.  Then we have “Vulture’s Granddaughter”.  Not going to lie, Spidey was funny when he’s doped up.  I sill would have prefered side stories with Mary Jane and BOOMERANG!!!  Couldn’t we have that instead?! These stories just didn’t need to be here in my opinion.
• Spidey DOES get saved by the Order of the Web.  At the very last minute, but I won’t hold that against Spencer.  He gave us a good character growth not only in the Norman/Peter fued, but in Ghost-Spider as well.  I’ve actually come to like the way she’s written in this issue.
  

GRADE: B-  *this side stories brought down the letter grades for me*

Crawlspace EXCLUSIVE 850 VARIANT COVER.  Cosplayer: Nicole Bandit