Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #314
Cover Date: Apr 89
Title: "Down and out in Forest Hills"
Credits:
David Michelinie - Writer
Todd McFarlane - Penciler
Todd McFarlane - Inker
Glenn Herdling - Assistant Editor
Jim Salicrup - Editor

Review/plot:
This is a Christmas issue, with the story being that Peter and MJ get kicked out of their apartment...

...and Peter, not wanting to move back in with his Aunt because he considers himself an "adult" now, scrambles to try to find a place to stay with all of his supporting cast, but in the end realizes it's more "adult" to accept help from his aunt and allow her to find happiness in helping him.

This would just be a touching, if slight, little holiday story, but it actually has some impact because a) Peter and MJ really are kicked out of their apartment; there's no reversal at the end. So they'll be staying with Aunt May for the time being. And b) the reason they've been kicked out is because of Jonathan Caesar, the building owner that was obsessed with Mary Jane and already tried to kidnap her once.

After some recent comments, i think i'm going to have trouble not seeing the Felix the cat inserts now.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: I've given Harry Osborn and Aunt Watson Character tags because Peter and MJ, respectively, talk to them on the phone, and i've also included Jonathan Caesar who is really only behind the scenes, but the events here are a direct result of his actions. Peter and MJ are without an apartment beginning this issue and living at Aunt May's house, and that has an effect on other books, including this month's Spectacular Spider-Man #149.

References:

• Jonathan Caesar kidnapped Mary Jane in Amazing Spider-Man #304-305.
  
• Peter doesn't bother Joe Robertson with his housing problems since he knows Robbie is dealing with the trial regarding Tombstone. The footnote just says to see recent issues; i'll link to Spectacular Spider-Man #144 which shows that we're definitely going to court.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Spider-Man Legends vol. 2: Todd McFarlane Book 2 TPB

What's with all the insert panels, Todd? At least make them intersting or add to the storytelling.

Why is Flash alone and homeless in this story? One would think he'd be staying with Betty, considering that she destroyed his apartment.

Yeah this one. I remember how disappointed I was to pick this up following the cool Lizard issue. This is also the issue I brought up to you last year (or 1988 lol) regarding how the sliding timescale works with seasonal issues.

Since Robert mentions seasons, i should have mentioned that Fantastic Four #325, at least by the story title, is also meant to be a Christmas issue, but i haven't bothered to line it up with this issue (even though it wouldn't be hard; we'd just have to make Johnny Storm float in space a little longer). As Robert implies, with the Sliding Timescale you never know when a Christmas may pop up in the Marvel universe.