(Writer) Zeb Wells
(Artist) John Romita Jr.
(Colorist) Marcio Menyz
(Letterer) VC’s Joe Caramagna
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 10/12/2022
Issue Number #11 LGY #905
Price Tag: $4.99
STORY: Betty gets a call from Peter (because he’s clueless) to confirm that she did in fact have her baby. She ends the call to check on young Winston, the Hobgoblin has paid a visit. Scene shifts to Oscorp Inc where Peter and Kamala are pointing fingers at each other on who is to blame for scheduled trail that’s not happening. Osborn is aggravated, but his attention is on someone else. Peter completely ignores his responsibilities and leaves his job early (because that’s who he is now) to go and ask Black Cat out to dinner. A shocked Felicia, continues to play the cat and mouse game with Peter and responds with a “Maybe”. Peter returns home to Ned Leeds waiting for him and shows Peter pictures that Osborn and Roderick Kingsley have been talking. Peter refuses to help Ned crack this case (because he works for Osborn now) and approaches Norman himself. Norman explains that Kingsley wants his empire back from Osborn and Norman kindly obliges (because he’s a “good guy” now). They meet at the docks to deliver the final transfer paperwork and is bombarded by the Hobgoblin. Issue ends with someone monologuing in Winston’s room while the Baby and her mom are napping.
THE BREAKDOWN:
- Well’s Forced Romance
- Hobgoblin Returns
- Answers In 2023
- Nitpicks
- Grade
WELL’S FORCED ROMANCE: I thought that when Peter received a kiss from Felicia in ASM #900 it was just a flirty birthday present. I still think that was Felicia’s intention. Zeb Well’s seems to be pushing for this to make it “a thing” OR to interpret Peter as a even bigger loser. I know that Spidey/BC shippers are all hoping for this to happen, but there’s a few things I noticed during their conversation that gave me that insight.
- For those who haven’t been reading Jed MacKay’s Black Cat, you are really missing out. He understands the character of Felicia Hardy and the dynamic she has on others. The “Maybe” answer from Felicia could be either be that she still plays the cat and mouse game with Peter, she ENJOYS doing that no matter how “serious” Peter may be getting. You can tell when she’s shocked after Peter askes her out She’s aware that Peter would never allow her to live the kind of lifestyle she lives if they were in a relationship, hence that it’s something to “think about”. OR it’s really up to MacKay to see if he wants to continue on from Well’s stepping stone. Well’s is not going to do anything that’ll mess up MaKay’s blueprint for Felicia. The love triangle between Peter, MJ, and Felicia would be explored MORE in the new Mary Jane/Black Cat mini series that is coming up that Jed is writing, given the solics the Felicia has “a new (old) man in her life”. So indeed Felicia does have a lot to think about because she does have “someone” in her life.
- I am so disappointed in Peter. I’m ignoring the fact that he ditched work responsibilities just to ask a “hot girl” out on a date. I’m ignoring the fact that he’s smart enough to text her to meet after work. To act this way though???
Why is Peter acting like he’s having a panic attack after asking Felicia out to dinner?! He’s done that before in the past and never acted like this afterwards. He’s been intimate with gorgeous women in the past and NOW all of a sudden he has a panic attack, just after he asked her out? Granted he may be in the gutter after the UNEXPLAINED 6 month mystery box, but without the reader knowing context (if there really IS context to that matter), this is completely a prime example of the story or editorial agenda moving the characters instead of the characters moving the story. To seem to completely give up on Mary Jane after announcing that she’s the most important person in his life (FYI she is from this reviewers standpoint) is completely out of character for him. Hard to tell how Well’s is writing Peter.
Counter Point: I NEED to be fair here. It’s the right thing to do. One could argue that Peter just needs a win. ONE WIN. He has a job now, but it’s working for Osborn. He saved Mary Jane, but she still won’t talk to him. He patched up things with Aunt May, but she still doesn’t trust him. Even as Spider-Man, he needs help when defeating his own villains. He considers himself still at rock bottom and maybe a date with Felicia will pick him up. It still half a win though if she accepts based on the points I made up on top.
HOBGOBLIN RETURNS:
Just like Norman, Ned was healed from the Goblin Serum. Now with Betty and father to Winston, Ned swears that men like Osborn and Kingsley will never harm him or his family again. Now, all signs POINT to Ned since Hobgoblin was holding Winston at home and Ned asking Peter to help crack the case and expose Kingsley and Osborn, however he also may not WANT to be the Hobgoblin, but is forced. Really hoping it would be Paul (there’s still time)…anyways, there’s on thing that we need to consider. The Cover. That’s Queen Goblin’s hand holding up Hobgoblin’s mask. It would make sense for her to persuade Ned into this lifestyle since she has all of Norman’s “evil sins” inside of her and doesn’t want Norman to make a deal with Kingsley. I’m also theorizing that she’ll have the same effect on Betty, which will turn her into Hallow’s Eve. Makes sense right? It makes more sense for that new villain to be Janine, Ben’s gf, but this entire run hasn’t made much sense since issue 1. As we learned, you can’t really trust the cover, but you can’t completely rule it out.
Is Hobgoblin quoting something from a book? I can’t be sure, I googled it and found nothing. I thought about asking Dark Mark, but then I realized I would have to ask Dark Mark. Can’t have any of that nonsense…we already got plenty with this issue.
When Ned went to Peter for help, I don’t like Peter just turning him down because he’s working for Osborn now. “It’s a really good job.” is his excuse. Granted he would inquire Norman about Kingsley, but Peter has got to know, that no matter how good Norman acts, he can’t be trusted. Making a promise to keep Ned in the loop AND still keep his job would be the RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. Wow. There’s that word again. It’s like Spider-Man and Responsibility go hand to hand. (FYI, it’s supposed to)
ANSWERS IN 2023:
I agree! There HAS been quite enough stalling around here. Back in APRIL of this year when Amazing Spider-Man #1 came out, we got this from Nick Lowe.
So you think that those answers would be coming in by now??
NOPE. You’ll have to wait around A YEAR (11 months April’22-Feb’23) to get any kind of answers. So for those of you who are wishing to wake you up when this run ends with answers, we’ll be sure to update you come February of next year. On the bright side the Mary Jane/Black Cat mini written by McKay is actually something we will be looking forward to. However, this run has been a slew of negative emotions. Granted there have been some really cool moments, especially with the villains, in these issues, but this “Mystery Box” is just dragging out. Seriously Marvel, you could of had this WITH Peter/MJ engaged with a gang war in the background. Spencer’s mystery behind Kindred was intriguing. Granted (because of editorial mandate) it didn’t land how we wanted it to, but it was still intriguing. This mystery is more annoying like kids in the back of the car asking…
So glad that Lowe can “comfortably” say that now. 🙄 As an avid Spider-Man comic reader, this run has NOT been “more bang out of my buck” and I seriously hope that this mystery is well worth the time we spent. If it is, then I’m prompt up you readers to get the trade paper back. I don’t have faith that Marvel will pull this off and I beginning to think that this “6 Month Later” is just an excuse to write Spider-Man how they want to write him with NO explanation on WHY they ware writing him and his supporting cast this way, until they have to. I hope I am very wrong!
NITPICKS:
- Peter acting completely irresponsible. I don’t find that relatable at all.
- ASM 14 will explain the disappearance of the Collection Agent that stalks Peter’s place. (Didn’t Paul pay him off?)
- Peter’s relationship with Norman is “a long story” that just seems to be getting longer.
- Peter knows about the Gold Goblin suit….doesn’t suspect anything. (sigh)
GRADE: This issue is a D. It was completely boring. Of course I am a fan of JRJR artwork, but his art should flow with good story telling. Yes the Hobgoblin mystery has returned and the most obvious suspect is implied in this issue, but nothing more that that. A tease if Peter has completely given up on MJ and gone after Felicia because of ONE kiss. No explained content to past events because of the mystery box, so Peter is completely out of character and we have to wait till NEXT YEAR to actually see the answers and if that was worth while. The story is driving the characters instead of the characters driving the story.
Next Dark Mark will take you to a showdown down at the docks! It’s Spider-Goblin vs Hobgoblin!
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Too bad Deb Whitman never became a villain.
@Aqu: They accepted my criticism letter back in issue #5. All I got was a “We can’t please everyone” response.
@Mark: ASM #12 – Enter Deb Whitman, she’s killed by the Hobgoblin
Chi-Town: *Okay, NOW it’s getting interesting!”
@Mark – At least Amazing Grace provides a (sub)standard by which to gauge other issues. I guess as long as there aren’t any chickens going forward we should be okay.
@Mark
Well, it’s pretty much unforgivable. I hope he at least gave you a bonus.
BTW, still no trace of my letter? I’m starting to think they really don’t accept criticism.
@Michael and @Evan
Michael – I appreciate pedantictry! I said it right one time and wrong the next. That’s totally on me!
Evan – That’s a nagging thought in the back of my mind as well. I hope we are both wrong. Until then, these are the cards we’re dealt and it isn’t ‘Amazing Grace’ levels yet, so I’ll play them. And no, I still haven’t forgiven BD for asking me to review those issues.
It pains me to say this, but I can’t shake the feeling that Nick Spencer has spoiled us, and all this clever speculation, taking into account character motivations and history, is giving the current writers too much credit.
I certainly enjoy reading all of this commentary, so Marvel, please prove me wrong.
@Dark Mark- I don’t mean to be pedantic but Kafka is the Queen Goblin. Madelyne Pryor is the Goblin Queen. This is important because they’re BOTH going to be appearing during Dark Web. (And no, I don’t know why Wells did this, except to drive reviewers crazy.)
The problem is that we know this isn’t a regular breakup. There is something keeping them apart, and it looks like Peter did whatever it is. So logically everyone knows this relationship is doomed because Peter hasn’t really moved on or even shown any interest (in fact he’s shown the opposite) so like what’s the point.
We the reader know this is going knowhere, Peter himself in story has to know this is going knowhere
@Geiseric – I think the Black Cat move on Peter’s part, while not executed well by Wells, makes sense in the context of the story. He’s been down and out for over 6 months now. Before that, BC was there helping him every step of the way. MJ has made it clear they are not an item. Why wouldn’t he go back to BC?
Now, whether we want that to happen or not is a different story.
I’m more confused on what the point of this is. MJ and Peter will obviously get back together, there is to much set up for it not to happen. I think near the beginning of the run wells said this stuff would be done by end of the dark web dymtuff which makes sense as MJ seems to be a big part of that.
So why have the black Cat stuff at all it seems so pointless. This does feel a lot like Spencer at his worst where you just keep prolonging the mystery and adding new stuff without wondering is this actually interesting
ASM #12 – Enter Deb Whitman
Chi-Town: *Oh no*
Right, green curtain.
Betty was still pregnant in 900, but I think she was about due. At least that’s what I think Marvel will get at.
That’s were I have a problem, with the Kindred Mystery the things and events that were happening around it we LOVED. Despite how the mystery ended (editorial stepped it because Nick left) we still were satisfied with how it began and where it was supposed to go. This one feels like, it’s ticking people off like OMD/BND and the outcome won’t be satisfactory at all.
Highly doubtful on Betty, Peter gave a shot with Felicia because she wasn’t upset at him. Mockingbird would be next up given the events in ASM 900.
@Chi-Town – Yeah, just a distraction at worst. At best, a fun part of the current arc. We’ve had two writers in a row who felt the best method was a long mystery to be solved. Do you think that is a coincidence, Wells just trying to duplicate what Spencer did (not saying that in a bad way, just when you see someone in your field that you admire, you tend to try and do things their way), or Lowe feeling like this has to be done to tell a proper story and get readers to stay invested?
Either way, I think it is safe to say that most of the commenters here are not appreciating the way the mystery is unfolding. I want to like it. I want to get engaged in back and forth with you and the readers on this site like we did with Kindred. That was fun (until it wasn’t). I would love to hear from someone who is liking how the six months is playing out. That way maybe I can refocus and enjoy it more.
I think the biggest difference in my take on this run and many others is that I am an eternal optimist. We were told that six months ago, it was a VERY big deal and that, hoo boy, we’re going to love it and it is perfectly reasonable that Peter and MJ are acting this way. While I wish I had more to go on, I am going to buy that and try to work with it to interpret these stories. That way I can have some enjoyment of this character I love to read. If (and probably when) the story does not live up to those promises, then I’ll be irritated and upset, but until then, I’ll have more fun.
We better watch out – at the rate Peter is going, he’ll be hitting on Betty before you know it.
Question – wasn’t Betty still pregnant in issue #900? Am I remembering that incorrectly? I did not enjoy that issue, so I may just be remembering it wrong, but when I saw that she not only had the baby, but had it a while back, I felt that seemed odd. Not that I wanted detailed story on her birthing process, but still. Plus, what news agency is Ned Leeds working for?
Oh, and the curtain is green.
Mark: Why change it?! Exactly!! Although you are right that we have something to think about at the end of this issue, the problem is WE already have something to think about with the 6 month mystery. Why add more to this plate? Would you consider this a distraction…hey look over here, ignore what’s behind the big red curtain.
Three issues in a row…point to a theme..
ASM 9: Peter on MJ “SHE’S THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE!!!”
ASM 10: Peter to Gwen: “I still love you!”
ASM 11: Peter to Black Cat: “Wanna go out?”
To me, that’s not moving on. I think after 6 months, Peter’s just horny. He needs a win in that specific department.
C for me. The bit with Felicia was wayyyy off. Peter acts as a 15 yo asking a girl out for the first time, not a grown man trying to rekindle things with a VERY open ex.
Ned being the hobgoblin seems too obvious. I wander if it is the clone that supposedly died. Since queen goblin is a clone of Kafka and the next big arc is about clones… That would fit thematically. And it would explain why he is protecting the baby, Betty and even Ned.
So the quote struck me as odd as well. There is a similar quote from a Lovecraft short story, “The Hound” which reads like this:
“Madness rides the star-wind . . . claws and teeth sharpened on centuries of corpses . . . dripping death astride a Bacchanale of bats from night-black ruins of buried temples of Belial. . . . Now, as the baying of that dead, fleshless monstrosity grows louder and louder, and the stealthy whirring and flapping of those accursed web-wings circles closer and closer, I shall seek with my revolver the oblivion which is my only refuge from the unnamed and unnamable.”
The story is about a grave robber that steals some magical amulet that drives him crazy and is about to commit suicide to be free from the madness. Kind of fits into Queen Goblin’s motif, so maybe? If so, why change the one word?
I did not like the art. So far, JRjr’s art has not been my particular favorite, but not distracting, but this issue felt distracting. I think it was because I had a difficult time recognizing the faces for the characters.
I did not mind the the Black Cat scene (liked the windy part), but agree that the “my legs are jello” scene was rather asinine.
So the ending – now we have something to try and figure out:
– Someone put Betty to sleep. Is that scene supposed to be when Hobgoblin gets back from the meeting or while the meeting is happening? I assume it is Goblin Queen while the meeting is happening.
– Someone is dressed as Hobgoblin and it is not Norman or Kingsley – who is it? Well, Ned seems to be an obvious choice. There doesn’t seem to be a good other alternative. And where is Peter when all of this is going on? Way to have Norman’s back. If it is Ned, then he may be under the control of Goblin Queen, which is why he may have quoted something similar to a character who was about to commit suicide. I was initially thinking that it was not Ned and that we are again supposed to figure out who the Hobgoblin is, but I think now that it is Ned and the trick is going to be to figure out that he really is a good guy now and we need to figure out who is controlling/manipulating him.
I like it when we have conflicting representations of Norman. If he a good guy now who is just misunderstood? Is he tricking Peter for his own purposes? If he is still truly evil, did he hire the Hobgoblin to come and disrupt the meeting? Are his mood swings because he now has the Green Goblin as an alternate personality and while Norman really is trying to do good, his goblin personality is trying to undo it?
That’s what I like about this issue. It’s giving me things to think about. I also got to look up a literary quote, that’s a plus. I give it a B. I might would enjoy the six months mystery if it gave me more to think about but it’s just there not doing anything other than tell us Peter is in a bad place. It would be helpful if there was a supporting character who cared and was trying to uncover what happened and we got to watch that rather then just say something happened that changes how all these characters work, but we won’t tell you what happened or really give you any clues to work with.
Evan: I suppose that’s fair to say about the nitpicks. The mystery element is a cheap way to get the reader to (keep reading) and I do support that btw, AS LONG as the mystery element is intriguing and not “Oh this again…”. Glad you are liking the reviews, 🙂
Michael: OMG, I did miss that! WOW. I was so heated up on the story, I completely missed that Spidey IS in his old costume. Yeah, the whole conversation between Ned and Peter just didn’t fit right.
@Chi-Town — I have to say, I don’t think any of your nitpicks are nitpicks per se — They are valid, straightforward, and apparent to anyone reading the issue. Especially the first one!
That panel with Hobgoblin waxing poetic sort of surprised me. I don’t think he’s quoting anyone. I might be mistaken, but I don’t remember him ever talking like that before. It reminded me more of Otto Octavius, or even Master Shredder saying something like “Tonight I dine on turtle soup.” It was weird.
Whenever there’s a mystery box element in a story, like there is here, I often feel like it’s a cheap way to get me, as the reader, to speculate and philosophize and start a conversation with others, so the more resentful , stubborn, and petulant part of me doesn’t want to give the writer or Marvel the pleasure. I just want to sit back and wait (and wait and wait) for the so-called resolution and see if it’s a worthy payoff. I’m not so good at speculating about things like this anyway. I do enjoy your speculations and everyone else’s on the Crawlspace, though.
And most importantly, even though I hate to know that you’re not liking what you read, it certainly makes for your most passionate, incisive, and, frankly, entertaining reviews. So thank you for enduring it for our sake.
Note that Peter is in his old costume this issue. I think someone pointed out to Wells “Illyana is still queen of Limbo during Judgment Day, so the Free Comic Book Day issue would have to take place after Judgment Day but Peter’s wearing his old costume in the Free Comic Book Day issue”, so Wells decided to show that Peter still wears his old costume sometimes.
Re: Peter and Ned- is there a reason why Peter couldn’t have just explained to Ned that Norman’s change of heart is due to a magic spell and Peter’s trying to make sure he doesn’t revert to his old self? I don’t blame Ned for reacting the way he did- Peter was basically “Norman killed my girlfriend but he says he’s turned over a new leaf.”
What I’m wondering is that if Kafka is behind this new Hobgoblin, and wants to be free of Norman’s sins, then why is she going about it this way? Is there some reason she couldn’t just kidnap Betty and Winston, and then threaten to kill them unless Peter has Clea or Wanda or whoever cast a spell to return the sins to Norman?
I’ m convinced the Hobgoblin isn’t Ned because Ned is too obvious at this point.