Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
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Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #101
Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #101
Cover Date: Apr 85
Title: "Echoes..."
Credits:
Carry Burkett - Writer
Juan Alacantara - Penciler
Jack Abel - Inker
Keith Williams - Assistant Editor
Christopher Priest - Editor
Review/plot:
This issue and the next are fill-in issues by Cary Burkett in between Al Milgrom and Peter David's runs. Other than these issues, the only other Marvel Universe books that Burkett has written were issues of Marvel Team-Up, but i liked them so i'm glad to see him here. This story definitely has a fill-in quality, but it does fit nicely into current continuity, with Spider-Man feeling lonely after his recent break-up with the Black Cat.
He's also got to dwelling on Gwen Stacy. Peter's memories of Gwen are a bit more... racy than i would have imagined.
Meanwhile, Whiplash Backlash Blacklash attempts to rob a bank on behalf of Cross Technological. The security at the bank is heavier than expected...
...and Blacklash is forced to take one of the wife's guards as a hostage.
The guard goes after Blacklash on his own. Spider-Man also gets involved.
Sneaking into the building, Spider-Man sees the rope left behind by the hostage's husband, and he thinks to himself: "Now that's an odd place leave a rope! [sic]. Wonder if... Nah! What would he be doing in town?" I don't know who he's referring to!
Spider-Man catches up with the guard and webs him up so he doesn't get himself hurt, and then he faces off against Blacklash.
After it's over, both the guard and his wife are thankful for Spidey's involvement, as opposed to being upset that he interfered. The issue ends with Spidey leaving a flower at Gwen Stacy's grave.
A little sentimental but it's generally handled well. Unspectacular but decent art (except for the odd choice on Gwen). Fine for a fill-in. And a nice cover that makes a good use of Spider-Man's other costume's color scheme. You know, the costume he doesn't wear in this issue.
Quality Rating: C+
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A
References:
- Gwen Stacy died in Amazing Spider-Man #122.
- Spider-Man faced Blacklash previously in Marvel Team-Up #145 (which was not written by Burkett).
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
Never heard of Juan Alacantara before.
The 1980s and the ubiquitous nunchucks. Guhhh.....
The greatest thing about this issue is the cover.
FNORD - when you wrote -
"and he thinks to himself: "Now that's an odd place leave a rope! [sic]. Wonder if... Nah! What would he be doing in town?" I don't know who he's referring to!",
Were you kidding or really wondering? It seems to me he thought it was Batman.
I was being serious. If it's a Batman reference it's over my head, which wouldn't be surprising.
I remember buying this issue just because of that nice cover (hey, I was 10) and being surprised that he was wearing his red and blue.
I was a bit sad to see Blacklash go back to crime after his last appearance in MTU, but it gives us a good issue. (And is realistic in depicting a criminal returning to crime despite his intentions.
I really liked Spidey's motivation for not letting the guard try to save his wife Ïf I fail, you can wind up hating me, instead of yourself" or something along those lines.
I agree with Kveto about Blacklash and everyone about the cover.
This is a decent story but the issue after Spider-man breaks up with a woman he loved so much he actually told her who he really was is the wrong place for it!
Also, does it strike anyone else that going to a concert is a silly thing to do here? Remember the end of WEB#1? "BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG!" etc... I can see Spidey sitting there asking "Hey, when's the show going to start?" and somebody replying, "He's been playing for half an hour!"
"WHAT?"
Actually, thinking about it... I still want to see the continuity insert showing how utterly deaf Peter Parker clad only in undershorts managed to escape from that church and get all the way home.
