Issue(s): Untold Tales of Spider-Man #24
Published Date: Sep 97
Title: "What Would Spidey Do?!"
Credits:
Kurt Busiek - Plot
Tom Defalco - Script
Bob McLeod - Penciler
Bob McLeod - Inker
Glenn Greenberg - Assistant Editor
Tom Brevoort - Editor
Bob Harras - EIC

Review/plot: Spidey convinces Batwing's mom to stop rejecting her son.

Flash and Liz track down the person who's been masquerading as Spider-Man and discover that it is Jason.

They talk him out of using a gun and try to get him some help.

The plot's ok, but Defalco's scripting is off. You've got five year old kids making references to Ellery Queen, ferchrissakes.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: According to the continuity chart in UTOS #25, this issue takes place between ASM #22 and #23.

References:

• Flash Thomspon recalls the first time he saw Spider-Man in person, in Amazing Fantasy #18.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? Y

Reprinted In: N/A

I know it's my own fault for bringing reason and logic and the best interests of the company and the storytelling into a 90s Marvel conversation, but I really don't understand why they had Defalco (a minus) scripting the stories of Busiek (a plus). Just seems like a really poor treatment of a great asset - but then again since they cancelled the book soon after, obviously it wasn't selling and wasn't seen as much of an asset. But still, you hate to see it. Altho they saddle good writers with bad artists all the time, so it's not unheard of.