The Chi-Town Breakdown: ASM: 64

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(Writer) Nick Spencer
(Artist) Federico Vicentini
(Colorist) Marcio Menyz
(Letterer) VC’s Joe Caramagna
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 4/21/2021
Issue Number #64/865
Price Tag: $3.99
For a different perspective:
Alford’s Notes and Ryan’s Reads

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Story Time:  Norman is rushing to Kindred to find that Baron Mordo is preforming a hex on him to get him to talk.  Fisk and Osborn debate about who has the bigger ego.  Meanwhile Tombstone and Robertson come to blows in the now trashed apartment where Peter, Randy, and Fred live.  Spider-Man interrupts the two blaming himself for this mess, because that’s kinda his thing.  We see a flashback on Fred getting knocked out and *Peter quickly changing into his new suit.  Madame Masque gets the upper hand on Spidey and she, with her new partner Crime Master, escapes with consolation prizes Randy and Janice.  Robbie and Tombstone work together to save their kids by interrogating the supervillain Mirage.  Crime Master and Madame Masque spill the beans to Randy and Janice on why they were kidnapped,  Spidey goes to get help from Fred, only to find that Fred has decided that he’s going in alone.  Doc Ock is in a graveyard looking for a lead in the gap of his memories, where a Kindred-pede takes control of the villain. 

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The Breakdown:

• Finding Results
• Friendnemies
• The Real Plan
• Going In Alone
• Doctor’s Call
• Nitpicks
• Grade

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Finding Results:  Kindred for the last few issues have been given everyone the “silent treatment”.  Mordo prefers him to “SPEAK” now, or scream, which ever Kindred prefers.  I like how Spencer is playing this and it’s very interesting to look at.  While Dr. Strange is confronting Mephisto about Peter Parker’s Soul, Baron Mordo is confronting Kindred about the power he processes to bring back Fisk’s wife.  Although bringing back Vanessa is the ultimate goal to achieve the Tablet of Death, you can bet that Mordo will find out who Kindred is and why he’s so fixated on Spider-Man.  That in turn will intertwine with what Dr. Strange is doing over at Mephisto’s Casino.  This of course will connect with OMD and have the two magical arch enemies got toe to toe with each other.  Not sure if this will cross over with the Dr. Strange books, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it does.  I know the Kindred thing is being played out a bit too long and I know I have addressed that to you Crawlspacers in the past.  Like I said.  Enjoy this ride.  We are getting what we exactly wanted.  Spencer is actually giving it to us with Marvel’s approval (it seems).  Peter and Mary Jane are back together.  It’s cemented in stone that Mary Jane is completely and utterly in love with Peter and Peter NEEDS, WANTS, and LOVES Mary Jane in his life.  After 60 plus issues, Nick Spencer has delivered that fact.  He IS addressing OMD.  He just needs to make it as interesting and entertaining AS POSSIBLE.  How it needs to “make sense”.  How it needs to feel that we’ve been rewarded for our patience.  No need to hold on, Crawlspacers.  We are already at the point.  Now, it’s time to enjoy the ride.

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Friendnemies:  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  When rivals that come together to form a bond that leads to a common goal.  Although Robbie and Tombstone completely hate each other, they’ll put their differences aside to rescue their kids.   Spencer knows that, he also knows that when this is all over, how humorous and entertaining it will be when the fathers talk to their kids.  You are already seeing it now while they are trying to find them!  I really like what our very own George Berryman has stated in the podcast reviews.  “I want Janice to come out and say that’s she’s pregnant.”  To say that right in front of their fathers, I’m pretty sure Robbie, Tombstone, and Randy would faint and hit the floor!  He’s playing these two as the good cop and bad cop.  I’m sure you can guess which is which.

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The Real Plan:  Crime Master and Madame Masque are orchestrating the whole “miscommunication” in order to be on top.  Ever since Kingpin became Mayor he’s kept the underground crime on a tight leash.  The Mob bosses have there own little territories that they are content with, however some of them want more.  There’s no Turf War.  No Power Grabs.  Since Kingpin wants structure and order within those territory, there’s not much room for growth for these Mob Kings or Queens.  Fisk took “the fun” out of it.  Crime Master and Madame Masque are using this as an opportunity to better their career and give the charade that they were just doing the job they were given to do.  They actually don’t want Kingpin’s get out of jail card, they actually want to be the one’s that can give out the get out of jail cards.  A method to their madness per say, but I don’t think this is another Spencer subplot.  This will end once King’s Ransom arc concludes.

You still gotta love how Spencer is writing Randy and Janice.  It’s hysterical and sweet at the same time.  You know these two being together is a bad idea, yet you find yourself rooting for them to come to each other’s arms in the end.  The Sinister Syndicate is bound to show up and save them, well at least Janice.  However, the team did find Randy cute when they Facebook stalked them!  Maybe they will do Janice a favor and help him out too.

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Going in Alone:  Fred has become Spider-Man.  What he’s feeling is exactly what Peter feels EVERY.  SINGLE.  DAY.  You always imagined what if someone else felt the same guilt and acted on pure responsibility that Peter goes through as Spider-Man.  Spencer delivers that answer.  Instead Fred is feeling guilt and acting on pure stupidity.  He’s playing right into Fisk’s hands and doesn’t know it.  Not saying Spidey hasn’t done that, however when Spidey does it, he KNOWS what needs to be done and thinks of a plan to execute and there are times when his emotions get the best of him.  If they do, he is faced the consequences for his actions.  Fred KNOWS what needs to be done and fires his boot rockets to go flying in full force, consequences be damned!  Spencer shines when it comes to Fred Meyers and you can best bet that it’ll be an enjoyable read.

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Doctor’s Call:  Doc Ock is back?!  Why is he in a graveyard?  What’s he looking for?!  Memories.  Let me catch you up.  Way back in Superior Spider-Man (Vol2) #11, Otto make a deal with Mephisto in order defeat the Spider-Man of Earth-44145.   This deal restored a version of Otto’s original body as Doctor Octopus prior to any damage it took and gained the original mindset of Doctor Octopus with no memory of Spider-Man’s identity or the time he spent occupying Peter Parker’s body.  So now, Otto’s looking for answers since he can’t remember that period of time when he took over Peter’s body.  It’s all coming back full circle.

Since Mephisto is already talking to Dr. Strange about OMD in ASM #60 and we at the Crawlspace have already assumed that Kindred is linked to OMD/BND somehow.  It’s pretty much confirmed.  I’m theorizing that Kindred is using all of Mephisto’s deals (old and new) to use, in order to destroy Peter Parker.  That means taking control and using Doc Ock.  Oh Spencer,  you cleaver little continuity crafting artist!  Given what we’ve seen, we can only assume that Doc Ock did some research and went looking for his old body.  Kindred saw this as an opportunity to create something Sinister for Spider-Man.  Something like…a Sinister War?!

Least that’s what Marvel is promoting in the Amazing run for July.  So now Kindred has control of Ock, and my guess is he’ll be forming a new Sinister Six, so who will the rest of team be?  Here’s what we know.

Vulture:  Still in play as we saw from AMJ #6.  Has his own team, The Savage Six
Mysterio: Not really, he’s busy making that movie with MJ.  However, Kindred does have a control over him.
Kraven: Dead.  His **“Flour no more” son isn’t though.
Electro:  The new one is with her girlfriends over at the Sinister Syndicate.
Sandman:  Given the events in Spectacular Spider-Man, he keeps to himself.

So Spencer will definitely put his own little spin on it.  Not sure how the Sinister Syndicate will think of this, but a battle between the two evil teams is something that will be welcomed under Spencer’s pen.  Let’s also remember that Vulture has his Savage Six.  Oh man…the possibilities are endless and Spencer will make that VERY entertaining, no doubt in my mind.  A Sinister War is coming and if it involves all three of these teams(supposedly).  Oh, and I like to point out that it’s SO REWARDING not to hear Dr. Octopus say “DOLT!”.  His speech pattern reminds me of the David Michelinie era where Doc Ock sounds smart instead of an uber Dr. Who fanboy that thinks he knows better.

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Nitpicks:

• When Spidey says he lives a few blocks down from where Peter lives.  In front of a mob boss and and journalist.  I mean seriously…ANYTHING but that.  What wrong with “I was swinging around in neighborhood.”  You basically gave your home address to the two people you DON’T want to give your home address to.
• Unstable Molecules in Spidey’s new suit that helped him with the quick change.  Looks a lot like Nano-Tech from the Unlimited Spider-Man cartoon.  Did some research and this is what I found.  I am now scientist.  So I wouldn’t know. 
  

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Grade:  Giving this an A.  The writing is great, the art is goon enough.  A little fast paced, but not too shabby and really looking forward to what is coming up in future issues.  Remember Crawlspacers, ENJOY THE RIDE!

 

** “Flour No More”  Thanks to Javi for that tidbit on our Podcast Review Show.  Flour of course is the running gag here on the Crawlspace in reference of CLONES.

 

UPDATE!!!

After an hour when this review was published.  Marvel made this announcement on twitter.

https://twitter.com/SpiderMan/status/1384952262146015236

To which I responded