Issue(s): Marvel Team-Up #124
Cover Date: Dec 82
Title: "The ties that bind!"
Credits:
J.M. DeMatteis - Writer
Kerry Gammill - Penciler
Mike Esposito - Inker
Linda Grant - Assistant Editor
Tom DeFalco - Editor

Review/plot:
In this issue, Professor Power, formerly a non-powered villain, has his mind transferred into the body of his dead son. The body is further enhanced with an exo-skeleton suit that gives him super-strength and other powers.

This issue also has the Beast introducing his girlfriend Vera to his parents. It's also the first time he's seen them in person since he turned blue and fuzzy.

Hank's father is similar to Hank, with a sense of humor (and is drawn to look like an older version of Silver Age Beast in civilian garb, which works surprisingly well), and he's very accepting of the fact that his son is a mutant, but his mother is clearly not - and DeMatteis isn't very subtle with the writing, either.

But when Professor Power attacks...

...Hank's mom realizes she still loves her son. Moved by the familial love...

...Power ceases his attack and flies off before the Beast or Spider-Man can catch him.

Professor Power isn't all that interesting a villain.

Also this issue, Aunt May has moved out of her nursing home and back into her and Peter's old house.

She's converted it to a boarding house and brought a number of her friends from the retirement home along with her. The characters, introduced here (Chekov, the Palermos, and such) become minor supporting characters in the Spider-books.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - Aunt May starts up a boarding house for senior citizens. Professor Power gets an upgrade.

Chronological Placement Considerations: Aunt May opening up her boarding house is referenced in Amazing Spider-Man #235, so this issue must take place before then.

References:

• Professor Power's son died in Marvel Team-Up #118.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Tales #241

Man, Hank must have been avoiding seeing his parents for quite some time, even with the sliding timescale!

considering how much the Beast plays the field, seeing him act like Vera is a girl he wants his parents to meet makes him seem really shallow.

I never really liked the way the Beast was attractive to every normal human he meets. I always thought he must have some unconscious pherome power like the Mandrill.

It was nice to see the the Beast's mother be the bigoted one rather that his father, who comes off as a decent guy.