Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #505 Review

Amazing Spider-Man #505 (#64)
“Vibes”
Writers: Fiona Avery & J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
PLOT: Fiona Avery continues to take the reigns of Amazing Spider-Man for a third straight time.  After a pretty good two-parter, featuring Loki, Avery gives us a self-contained issue.  Mary Jane decides it is time to get back to her acting, and Peter has a hard time saying good-bye. (Who can blame him after the last time MJ left to pursue her career).  In LA, MJ’s reception for a role is not what she expected and is practically dismissed.  MJ lies to Peter and told him that the reason she did not take the job was because the pay was bad.  Peter, alone in NY, decides to put on the webs and go out as Spider-Man.  He helps the police stop a bike thief, who turns out to be a juvenile with a gun.  Spider-Man talks him into turning himself in without a fight, and there is a reunion between the juvenile and his father at the end.
LIKES:

• John Romita’s artwork was the only great thing about this issue.  Especially the page where Spider-Man is upside down, trying to read one of those big clocks.

DISLIKES:

• This issue was pretty much a filler issue if I ever saw one.  Worthy of spanning the pages of Unlimited Spider-Man instead of Marvel’s flagship title. (Come on, Spider-Man HELPED the police stop a bicycle thief).
• MJ is lying to Peter, and that is no good.  I thought that was one of the reasons for their separation (Byrne era) and they were going to stop that.
• Also, MJ needs to give up her acting/modeling career, which probably won’t happen until JMS is no longer writing Spider-Man.  This is just not a profession that mainstream readers can relate to.

RATING: 1 and ˝ webheads out of 5.  A very bland filler issue to say the least, which should not happen to one of the top ten comic books in the industry.  JMS is back, and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to his Ezekiel story.  It’s sure to be more exciting than this issue, which isn’t saying much.

Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)