The Chi-Town Breakdown: ASM #884

It’s the last ASM written review for 2021!  Let’s be honest, we all thought Peter and Mary Jane would be engaged by the end of this year, at least! So what did this last issue bring us for the close to 2021?  What does ASM look like in 2022?  Let’s fine out together, right here on the Spider-Man Crawlspace!

(Beyond Trust) Patrick Gleason, Zeb Wells, Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar, & Kelly Thompson
(Writer) Patrick Gleason
(Artist) Patrick Gleason
(Colorist) Morry Hollowell & Nathan Faribairn
(Letterer) VC’s Joe Caramagna
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 12/29/2021
Issue Number #884
Price Tag: $3.99
For a different perspective:
Alford’s Notes and Read’s Reads

Story:  Janine is enjoying the spoils of the Beyond Corp by relaxing in a heated swimming pool reading Glory Grant articles on Spider-Ben.  Meanwhile, Aunt May’s very own “Nurse Racket”, is pushing Peter hard on his physical therapy.  Peter’s cheerleaders are in full swing with a heart warmth text from Mary Jane and lipstick message on the hospital ceiling from Felicia.  Peter also finds out that he made the highest bid for Spider-Man Cosplay equipment while he was doped up on meds.  His spider-sense goes back into overdrive again sending sheer pain throughout Peter’s body and in a dream like sequence, he abandon’s his spider sense.  Peter is feeling much better now that his spider-sense is gone and he is in no more pain.  So he does the next best(?) thing and gets back into Spider-Man mode.  Things don’t really work out the way he thought (no surprise there) since he has no spider sense and is not quite 100 percent yet.  Thankfully, Captain America is there to help him out and get him back to the hospital.  After an Uncle Ben flashback, Peter is reminded that he is not to give up no matter how much it hurts and embraces his spider-sense once again.

The Breakdown:

• The Lesson
• Makes Sense
• Nitpicks
• Grade

The Lesson:  Patrick Gleason both pens and illustrates this issue by reminding us that Uncle Ben is the moral compass in Peter Parker’s life.  Honestly there’s nothing much to gain from this issue, just the fact that Peter has to be reminded to “Never give up”, no matter how much pain he is in.  I have been in Peter’s shoes before, both literally and figurately.  Sometimes the odds are stacked up against you, but it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.  Will it be a tough rode?  Yes.  Can you get through it?  Most likely.  Will you win?  Depends on much you are WILLING to pay and in this case, it’s the sheering pain Peter needs to go through.  He can’t give up and he has to keep fighting.  It’s the hurdles you go through that show what kind of person you are.  The determination to beat the obstacle and win, either for yourself or for love ones, that decide the outcome of the fight.  To NEVER GIVE UP.  Gleason is stating who Spider-Man is SUPPOSED to be and how he is SUPPOSED to inspire us in our real world situations.  That type of lesson works, I’m proof of that.

Makes Sense:  Despite Gleason doing a good job with Uncle Ben’s characterization, it falls flat with Peter’s characterization.  Peter has been down this kind of road before, more times than we can count.  What on earth would give him the green light to go back out as Spider-Man after JUST waking up from a coma, using COSPLAY MATERIAL no less?!  His migraine is gone, might as well suit up?  Car jacking thugs got the best of him and he almost DIED if it weren’t for Captain America.  Parker, honestly, should know better.  He’s clearly not ready yet and now he’s back in the hospital with more bumps and bruises?  What will Aunt May think?  Mary Jane or Felicia since they KNOW he’s Spider-Man?!  You can’t rush this kind of recovery Parker!  Like I said, you figure Peter would be smarter than this.  His spider sense is gone and he’s not even at 50 percent yet, he needs to be benched.  I know Peter wants to do “The Right Thing” and he is the TRUE Spider-Man, but the right thing to do is to get better first!  Cosplay Material with a white robe and slippers….this almost drips of Slott Spidey writing.  Peter’s humor is there and that is rewarding to see, but he’s really biting off more than he can chew

Nitpicks:

• I get Felica’s flirtatious nature, but that lipstick kiss mark is way to big.  Black Cat doesn’t strike me as a gal that would kiss the ceiling or make time to draw a lipstick kiss mark ON the ceiling.  I do however like Peter’s annoyed reaction to it.  
  
• Gleason’s art is a bit too dynamic for me.  It’s almost hard to see which panel I’m suppose to read first.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s visually stunning, but a bit too much for my taste.  Like J.J. Abrams with lens flares and I kinda don’t like how he draws MJ as a goth-looking chick.  

Grade:  This issue falls but keeps it from being a splattered stain on the pavement towards the end.  Going with a C-.  Peter shouldn’t have suited up this early in the game and really should have known better.  I know the characteristic of Peter is that he makes mistakes, but honestly he was doing way to much with COSPLAY MATERIAL.  C’mon now, I cosplay as Spider-Man with no powers and even I know what he did wasn’t needed at all.  Gleason’s art is STUNNING but can come across as too much and could have told this story in a different way that would give Peter proper tone to his characterization.

To that I say “See Ya Next Year” Crawlspacers!  I hope all of you had a rewarding, safe, and happy holiday season!
Here is hoping for a strong and good New Year!  Dark Mark starts it off next time….welp, there goes the “strong” portion out the window.