We’ve come to the end of January, Crawlspacers. Oh boy do we have some treats for you this week. So, first off, you need to read Mary Jane/Black Cat Beyond one shot first before you read this issue. Otherwise you’ll get all jumbled, then blame yourself, eat ice cream in your sorrow and state “I should have listened to Chi-Town.”. We don’t want that! I don’t want that! So here comes the roller coaster of a review folks, right here on the #1 most trusted Spider-Man website, “We know our “THWIP”, now and forever!”, The Spider-Man Crawlspace.
(Beyond Trust) Patrick Gleason, Zeb Wells, Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar, & Kelly Thompson
(Writer) Jed MacKay
(Artist) Carlos Gomez
(Colorist) Bryan Valenza
(Letterer) VC’s Joe Caramagna
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 1/26/2022
Issue Number #87 LGY #888
Price Tag: $3.99
For a different perspective:
Alford’s Notes and Read’s Reads
Story: Felicia meets up with Steve Rogers at a pub to scarf down some chicken wings and enlist his help, because it’s time for Peter Parker to spider-up and there’s no better person to drill him back into shape, than Captain America and The Black Cat. Felicia breaks down the boot camp routine that Peter needs to follow if he ever wants his Spider-Suit back. Working out as “Bag-Man”, Peter’s web-swinging looks like someone playing the Insomniac Spider-Man game for the first time. Back at Beyond, Ben is getting his check up and playing “Name that Villain” from Spider-Man’s rouge gallery. Meanwhile things are progressing for Peter but not fast enough for Felicia and she demands that he picks up the pace. Maxine Danger has Dr. Kafka in a corner and threatens to inject her with Green Goblin’s “contained sins”. After some sparring and team up action with Captain America, Peter reassures his trainers that he isn’t giving up. Ben forgets what happens with great power (uh oh) and Janine surprises Mary Jane at her apartment and is completely shocked she’s cosplaying as Black Cat (read Mary Jane/Black Cat #1).
The Breakdown:
- The Cheerleader
- Captain’s Orders
- Mixed Batter
- Queen Goblin
- Redheads Unite
- Nitpicks
- Grade
The Cheerleader: Felicia Hardy has always been one of Peter’s cheerleader. Although his super heroics she considers to be misguided, she’s more concerned about the man within the suit. MacKay pens her once again within characterization. She doesn’t like Ben and knows that this world NEEDS Spider-Man, the only man to fill in that role, is Peter Parker. She’s very concerned and wants Peter at full strength, going so far as keeping his spider suit until he proves that he can wear it once again. She has faith in Peter, but is frustrated with his inability at the same time. Spider-Man is a very important piece in her life and she’ll be damned if anyone takes that away from her. Both her and Peter share some good banter between work out routines and its rewarding to see. I kept on waiting for her say “Get up, or I’m telling Mary Jane on you.”. Give credit to MacKay once again. He knows what he’s doing.
Captain’s Orders: You can always count on Steve Rogers to be the trainer or coach that lifts your motivation. Wise words from an old veteran, Peter has been on both sides of Captain America. Steve knows of Peter’s wiliness and strength and has complete faith that he’ll bounce back and start climbing walls. It won’t be easy for Peter, but Cap will make sure he stands beside his teammate every step of the way until Spidey reaches his goal. Humorous that even Cap wonders why Felicia couldn’t at least give him the mask.
Continuity Alert! Animal Crop Top Prank gift makes a comeback from ASM #249
Mixed Batter: See what happens when you leave the cake in the oven too long?! Ben’s memories and brain has been completely fried. I really feel bad for the guy, seriously, I do. This guy has been through a lot since he was first created and sadly the time in the 90’s when he was Spider-Man has been the only prime peak in his life. So now we have a Spider-Man running around with no sense of responsibility what so ever. I am betting this is the kind of tool that Maxine Danger really wanted. A man to do the job and ask questions later, IF he feels like asking those questions. Peter’s lesson may have been stripped from him, but he may learn is very OWN lesson down the road. Maybe a death of a loved one?
Queen Goblin: Maxine Danger is all about business, I mean check her haircut. Yep, those are the sins of Norman Osborn that the Sin Eater took from Norman, contained in a jar. Not sure HOW Beyond was able to do that, but there’s a lot of things at Beyond that go “beyond” my understanding. Kafka is in a world of change. Maxine is not going to let her go and will make use of the clone asset that she has obtained. The question, Is Kafka going to play ball or will the roll of the Queen Goblin be enforced upon her? Perhaps she becomes the Queen Goblin and attacks Beyond, which is why Ben will fight her. Whatever the case may be, we will find out next issue!
Redheads Unite: Janine and Mary Jane meet! The meeting of the redheads! Peter’s MJ and Ben’s MJ! I was wondering when these two would meet up. Didn’t expect Mary Jane to wear a Black Cat costume during that time and I know Janine didn’t expect that either. As much as I’m looking forward to seeing how Peter gets a handle on his recovery, I’m quite interested on how this new dynamic will play out. I don’t remember, but I don’t think these two have ever met before. Of course MJ will be on Peter’s side and Janine will protect Ben as best she can. However, I am expecting a team up and I hope we get that discussion within the first four pages of the next issue. More importantly, Janine will show the drive to MJ who will share that info with Peter. Maxine Danger may come after Peter if that drive is tracked, or MJ for that matter.
Nitpicks:
- That paper bag must have fallen off Peter’s face at some point during his workout routine.
- Not complaining MJ, far from it, but how did you get home safely from the hospital WEARING THAT? Didn’t occur to you to maybe change your clothes?
- Not a nitpick, but I love Peter’s shirt that said “I’m Not Daredevil!”
- Cover page: “Writer: Zeb Wells”. C’mon now…but I suppose this is what happens when you have multiple editors on board? Zeb Wells went on Twitter to address this error.
…that may have been intended as a joke but, we’ve seen the “I just don’t want to” with the Shed Storyline…
Grade: A+! What a great week for Spider-Man Comics. Focus on Peter’s recovering and Mary Jane/Black Cat trending on twitter! Jed MacKay, take a bow. You knocked two comics out of the park! He shows off that he KNOWS and respects these characters! Of course Carlos Gomez brings us an utter masterpiece of art! I can’t sing enough praises on that guy! Do we need Wells and Romita Jr? I rather have MacKay and Gomez on ASM!
Whew…I’m tired. Dark Mark takes if from here next issue!
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@Michael: Storming Norman will be back soon, I’m sure.
@Mark: I know right! As much as I hate to receive any kind of compliment from you, I’ll take it. It has to be the sins of Norman Osborn, that or really bad orange jello. I mean Beyond does make food. I know, that “Blessing” by Peter threw me off as well, I’m leaning toward that being said as “moving the plot along.”. Maybe editorial mandate, but definitely just to move this story along. Reading now and until Peter becomes Spider-Man seems like a “must read”. Finally getting what we’ve been waiting for.
Great review chi-town!
I also LOVED this issue! It explains so much (why Ben has been so inefficient lately among other things), picks up on story threads left unresolved (like the sins of Osborn- called it by the way!), And tells a great Peter Parker AND Ben Reilly story!
@Marc: I hope the will spin it off into its own series. I’d read that a lot more than yet another story about Peter and MJ splitting up.
@Michael: I don’t think it’s the main reason Spencer run ended on a dud. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a much more minor sin (get it?) than the whole switcheroo of OMD with sin past, and ending with our favorite couple not engaged!
Great issue and review! Two in one week, so, as much as I hate to compliment you, nice job, Chi-Town!
Also, I didn’t pick up on the container being the sins of Norman Osborn, but that makes sense to me. I think Janine will be on Peter’s side because she knows Ben needs help and may resist it. The best outcome for her right now is for Ben to ditch Beyond that for them to go on the lam. That would make a pretty good series, too, I think. Ben and Janine on the run from place to place (a la Incredible Hulk TV show) moving from adventure to adventure with Beyond constantly on their trail.
My one problem with how this is playing out, and it is not exactly a ‘problem’ as much as an unaddressed issue, is why is it assumed that Peter is determined to get his name back from Ben? I mean, we know that is going to happen, of course, and we know that Beyond was behind the U-Foes, which is what pushed Peter to give Ben his blessing. However, Peter doesn’t know the U-Foes were behind it yet. He’s training to get back to being Spider-Man because that is who he is, but he gave Ben his blessing, so the logical thing for Peter to be planning would be to just be another Spider-Man (much like Miles is). But they are acting like Ben stole his gig from him and he’s got to get it back from him. It just feels like they are operating a little early on that front.
Those of you not reading because you didn’t want another brain trust or clone story – you need to start reading. These stories are great! I am enjoying this as much as (and probably more than) the Spencer run (I’m treating the final issue much like the last two Star Wars movies and pretending it just doesn’t exist). The pacing is tight, the characterization is spot on. We are getting plenty of Peter Parker (especially considering this looked to be a Ben Reilly book). I’d give this particular issue an A. I sure wasn’t expecting this when it was announced. I mean, I liked it enough to read Chi-Town’s take on it. If that’s not an amazing endorsement, well, I just don’t know what else could make you guys read it.
One of the variant covers for Amazing Spider-Man 2 in April features the Green Goblin, so that’s probably where they return to Norman.
@Michael: Never really focused on that, since we are all concerned about the main reason Spencer left. It’s a possibility. Oh yeah, you know those sins will return to Norman. How much you wanna gamble the they return to Norman in issue 900 or just right before?
I have to wonder if one of the reasons why Spencer’s run ended anticlimactically was that he was told he couldn’t return Norman’s sins to him because they were going to be used to turn Kafka into the Queen Goblin. Anyway, I guess once Peter and Ben save Kafka, the sins are going back to Norman.