Issue(s): Web of Spider-Man #2
Cover Date: May 85
Title: "Treasures!"
Credits:
Louise Simonson - Writer
Greg LaRocque - Penciler
Jim Mooney - Inker
Keith Williams - Assistant Editor
Christopher Priest - Editor

Review/plot:
Continuing the gripping saga of Aunt May's hat.

Actually, it's a cute sub-plot which began in Louise Simonson's first issue of this "series" (which was Marvel Team-Up #149, before it was renamed and re-focused as Web of Spider-Man). In this issue, Peter Parker actually has enough money to buy the hat for his Aunt. But on his way to give it to her, he's attacked again by the Vulturions.

The Vulturions have personal reasons for going after Spidey (they were all low-level criminals who were put in jail by him in the past), but they're also attacking him in a bid to become the Kingpin's super-assassins.

Unfortunately for them, the Kingpin doesn't appreciate that their unsolicited audition disturbs his sick wife, so he doesn't lift a finger to help them, and also has his minions restore the hat to Spider-Man when he loses it during the battle.

Louise Simonson has an expository style of scripting that causes everyone to say and think way too much about what they are doing...

...but generally her writing isn't bad.

There is a somewhat funny line where Spider-Man is thinking about the fact that Mary Jane knows his secret identity, and he thinks, "I'm just surprised that other people haven't figure out my secret I.D. too!".

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: An opening scene with the Vulturions takes place a week earlier than the rest of the series, but that shouldn't really have an affect on anything.

References:

• Reading an editorial he's written, J. Jonah Jameson describes the battle with the Juggernaut in Marvel Team-Up #150. As publisher of the Daily Bugle, Joe Robertson says he won't publish the editorial, but JJ says he's got another, secret, avenue to publish the editorial.
  
• Debating whether or not to help the Vulturions, the Kingpin thinks back to their last encounter in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #100. There's no footnote for Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #96, but it was the events of that issue that caused the Kingpin's dislike of Spider-Man to get personal.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The Kingpin's fixing up the hat will come back to haunt Peter in Amazing Spider-Man Annual 19, where we learn that unknown to the Kingpin, Smythe placed a tracking device in the hat.

I love spiderman