Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #93
Cover Date: Aug 84
Title: "A hot time in the old morgue tonight!"
Credits:
Al Milgrom - Writer
Al Milgrom - Penciler
Jim Mooney - Inker

Review/plot:
Spider-Man and the Black Cat have a fight and part ways.

Since them being apart goes against the Kingpin's plans, the Answer sets up a fake hostage scenario where Spidey rescues the Cat and they reconcile.

The Black Cat is aware of the deception and is doing so under the Kingpin's orders.

The Answer also uses the distraction to steal a body from the police morgue. We'll find out whose it is next issue.

There's a cool scene where Spider-Man, flustered from his argument with the Black Cat (and possibly affected by the Cat's bad luck power), accidentally shoots his web shooters as if they were on the bottom of his wrist, like his old costume, and he takes a fall.

When the Answer wants to listen in better to Spidey and the Black Cat's conversation, he just "simply increase[es] the acuity of my hearing". Who is this guy, Apocalypse? If he can have any power he wants, why work as the Kingpin's lacky?

The subplot with Flash Thompson having trouble with Sha Shan continues. I know Peter's got the busiest life in the Marvel Universe, but he's not a good friend for not following up with Flash after their previous conversation got cut short. Sha Shan tries to call Peter this issue but he's not home.

This was a really good issue due to the unusual fact that the Kingpin and Answer manipulate Spider-Man without him knowing it, and that's the whole story. There's no follow-up where he catches on to their scheme and wins the day. A unique kind of story. And Milgrom's scripting seems like it's getting better as well.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• We're going to have a reference to Secret Wars in just about every appearance of Spider-Man with the black costume, so just get used to it.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The Marvel Appendix does a good job of explaining the Answer's powers (based on a flashback in the Lethal Foes of Spider-Man series):
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/answersp.htm
Basically, he can come up with whatever power he needs in a given situation but as soon as the need fades, the power fades.

Michael