Writer: Tom Taylor  Artists: Juann Cabal  Editors: Nick Lowe  E.I.C: C.B. Cebulski   Crawlspace Staff: Chi-Town Spidey  Crawlspace E.I.C:  Brad Douglas

Story:  Spider-Man is getting some bridge work done with Doc Ock and is almost defeated with Spider-Bite comes to the rescue! Spider-Bite is a ten year old kid that has all the power of Spider-Man and helps Spidey in defeating Doc Ock. In the grasp of the mechanical maniac is a box that holds something important to Spider-Bite and he needs to get it back. Once Spider-Bite and Spider-Man chase after the villain they are encountered by the sister six, or should I say sinister SIXITY! All of Spidey’s villains are there! Both Spidey’s win the day by battling the man behind it all, STILT-MAN! They retrieve to the box and inside is just a Spider-Man action figure that Spider-Bite holds dear. All comes to make sense when this adventure wasn’t “real” at all and was Spider-Man making a wish come true for cancer patient Nathan. Family/Friends/Nurses all dressed up as villains to make this dream come true for him. Nathan gets tired and Spidey suggests that that was enough adventure for today. Nathan is pretty upset because he doesn’t want the adventure to end and is afraid that he won’t wake up if he gets sleep. With the parent’s permission, Spider-Man dresses Nathan in a warm outfit and takes this Spidey-Fan on the one thing that he and any other Spider-Fan would love to do. Web swinging in the city.

Analysis:  This one is a tear-jerker so grab your kleenex.  What’s best about this issue is that it still stays in theme of the series, but also, stays true to the character.  Spidey doing Friendly NEIGHBORHOOD things within his NEIGHBORHOOD.  Spider-Man has always been the relate-able type.  Now so, more than ever since you have different incarnations of Spider-Man out there.  For 616 Peter Parker though, this isn’t uncommon for him to do and provide.  He’s done this plenty of times.  Long time Spider-Man fans recall Amazing Spider-Man #248 “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man”.  Mind you that this issue isn’t as powerful as ASM#248, but powerful enough to make you smile and eventually tear up.  Think Bat-kid but instead of Batman it’s Spider-Man.  I actually like seeing the “dream” during the first half of the issue then setting into the reality of it.  It let’s us see where Nathan’s imagination has taken us including thinking Stilt-Man was Spidey’s greatest foes.  Why hold such admiration for Stilt-Man?  Nathan’s father played that part for him.  Even when little Nathan has an outburst of not being tired, he apologizes almost immediately.  His parents and Spidey understand why he did it, but what’s really impressive is that the kid understands it to.  He’s frustrated, scared and in the situation out of his control.   Spider-Man being his role model, he knows how to set his ship back on course when he hits rough waves.  The role model himself, Spidey is powerless to help.  He knows that, he accepts that, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to like it or take it sitting down.  Spider-Man does EVERYTHING in his power to make this Nathan’s dream come true.

The Writer:  Tom Taylor brings us another heart string moment.  Last issue we deal with Peter dealing with the news of Aunt May.  This issue is short of like a sequel to it.  It’s relatable since Peter’s Aunt is basically going through the same thing as Nathan.  This could be Peter’s way of understanding what may come to his Aunt and also lending out a helping hand in the process.  In Peter’s mind he’s thinking “How can I make this better?”.  Pure genius on Taylor’s part.  Dives really into the depth of the character.  What Peter is going through and how he can make this better, not just as Peter, but as Spider-Man as well.  Love how Taylor writes Spider-Man so well.  All the correct characterizations of Parker are there and as well as Spider-Man.  Perfectly done, Tom!

The Art:  I have said this about Juan Cabal before.  He doesn’t disappoint.  I’m really not critic on artwork as long has it’s able to follow through with the story.  Cabal’s art is easy to look at and even easier to follow.  If I where to nitpick about one thing, the close up shots of faces could use a little work, seems a bit flat but again, I can read it and follow it.  That works for me and damn this splash page is awesome!

I relate a lot to this issue…you wanna know why…head over HERE.

Final Grade: A+