Amazing Spider-Man #328Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #328 Review/plot: I did not go back to compare, but a lot of the panels in this issue feel like they are heavily referencing McFarlane's earlier work. It could just be the uniqueness of McFarlane's style combined with the use of the character, though. The Hulk may not technically count as an Acts of Vengeance villain, since Spider-Man and the Hulk have met many times, but the background villain here is Sebastian Shaw. The twist is that the Acts of Vengeance cabal, including Magneto, approached Shaw about attacking Spider-Man in return for them destroying the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle. But Magneto was the one responsible for getting Shaw kicked out of the Inner Circle in the first place (i assume Magneto didn't offer to destroy himself). And Shaw figures out that Magneto probably wanted him to get killed by the newly reported "godlike" powers that Spider-Man now has. So that's why he's decided to recruit the Hulk instead. As for those godlike powers, Spider-Man is currently using them to attack some terrorists that have taken hostages at the Statue of Liberty. People just can't seem to help referencing the 1989 Batman movie at this time. Spidey then flies home. So weird to see him this way. The Hulk shows up while Peter is supposed to be hanging around a shooting of Mary Jane's new soap opera show ("Secret Hospital"). This is after ducking an invitation to continue hanging out with Flash Thompson and his latest girlfriend; there's been a running joke through the Spider-books that Flash keeps winding up with women that aren't very likeable. The Hulk says that he's got nothing against Spider-Man, but Shaw offered him enough money that it doesn't matter. He's also been given info that the Avengers will be otherwise occupied at this time, and that does bear out. Spider-Man shows up and interprets the Hulk's comments to mean that there's a bounty on his head, which isn't quite accurate. It then turns out that the Hulk forgot about the time difference in traveling East, so he starts turning into Banner and jumps away, telling Spider-Man to fight him the next day on Roosevelt Island. So after a day of not being able to pay attention in class, Spidey goes to meet the Hulk on the island. At first Spider-Man is holding back thanks to the recent Goliath incident, so while Spidey's new powers are noticeable, they're not immediately ending the fight. But then two kids fooling around (and smoking, tsk tsk) on the island, named Stan and Steve... ...try to interfere during the fight to help their hero Spider-Man. The Hulk thinks to himself that he's going to scare the kids off, but Spider-Man doesn't know that he's just going to feint at them, so he risks using his full power on the Hulk. And knocks him into orbit. And then Spider-Man flies up to help him. When Spider-Man brings the Hulk back to Earth, the Hulk says that in return he won't kill him, but at this point Spider-Man is wondering if he can even die. Shaw, transporting a confused Banner back to Nevada, decides that Spider-Man's powers are important enough to warrant further involvement from him, and he starts thinking about sentinels. One thing i really like about this issue is that Michelinie acknowledges the status quos from other books. The Shaw/Magneto connection is interesting (if perhaps a little under-explained), Spider-Man is anguishing over events from the non-Amazing Spider-Man books at a time when this book has otherwise felt kind of disconnected from them, and Michelinie even takes the time to have Bruce Banner contact his job back in Nevada to call out sick. I also liked McFarlane's art, which is perfect for a big wild fight between the bulky Hulk and the extra-powerful version of Spider-Man. Quality Rating: B+ Chronological Placement Considerations: Web of Spider-Man #60 was the last Acts of Vengeance Spidey book. Spectacular Spider-Man #160 is next. Takes place after Hulk #363. References:
Crossover: Acts of Vengeance Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: Spider-Man Legends vol. 3: Todd McFarlane Book 3 TPB Inbound References (1): showCharacters Appearing: Black King (Sebastian Shaw), Captain Universe (Uni-Power), Flash Thompson, Hulk, Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man CommentsSpider-Man punching the Hulk into orbit! I was in, maybe 9th grade at the time, and that was probably the coolest comic book moment to me to that point in time. Posted by: Bill | April 3, 2015 7:29 PM Another highlight of the great Acts. One of my favourites. Posted by: Grom | September 14, 2016 11:34 PM In case we need a "jumping the shark" moment, one candidate could be "the time Spider-man punched the hulk in the balls hard enough to send him into space." Posted by: kveto | May 12, 2018 5:32 AM Comments are now closed. |
|||||||||
SuperMegaMonkey home | Comics Chronology home |