Issue(s): Spectacular Spider-Man #154
Cover Date: Sep 89
Title: "Claws"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sal Buscema - Inker
Glenn Herdling - Assistant Editor
Jim Salicrup - Editor

Review/plot:
This issue features a lull in the gang war storyline that's been running between Gerry Conway's titles. Spider-Man knows that the war isn't over, but there's nothing going on for him to investigate at the moment.

Meanwhile, Hammerhead and the Chameleon regroup.

Hey, Hammerhead. You lost a fight to Spider-Man recently too!

The Chameleon is now pretending to be the Arranger, who has been on the run since the Lobo Brothers attacked the Kingpin's building. Chameleon didn't bother to tell Hammerhead about the new role he is playing.

Meanwhile, the real Arranger is buying silver bullets.

As for the Lobo Brothers, the update is that Eduardo is still macking with Glory Grant.

With no gang stuff going on, Spider-Man instead notices that Puma is in town, and i guess decides to start some unnecessary trouble. So he breaks into the Fireheart Enterprises offices to investigate, and he gets into a fight with Puma.

Puma is stronger than Spider-Man, and since we'll see Spider-Man throwing tanks around in Amazing Spider-Man #320, Puma must be able to throw planets.

In the end, pointless fight is pointless.

A clue to what Puma is doing in town happens earlier, when J. Jonah Jameson gets notified that someone is trying to buy the Daily Bugle in a hostile takeover.

Peter later visits Kristy Watson, still suffering from bulimia, at the hospital.

That third panel is both hilarious and tragic. She looks like a super-villain, but she's thinking about how no one needs to know that she ate and then vomited up a candy bar.

Here's Sal Buscema's answer to the cheesecake in Amazing Spider-Man #320.

This would have been better if Conway could have contrived a better reason for Spider-Man to get into a Misunderstanding Fight with Puma, but Spidey basically breaks into his office for no reason. Even with that, it's a well crafted and entertaining issue.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• At the beginning of this issue, Spider-Man reads a newspaper summarizing the events of Web of Spider-Man #54 and asking "Mob Wars Over?".
  
• Puma owes Spider-Man a debt of honor because of Web of Spider-Man #50.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I never understood what the point of Eduardo's goons watching him and Glory make out was.

I think it's hilarious that the goons think their "fortune is made" because he's an "excellent lover." What a creepy gang.

I love Sal's art. I also like the way he doesn't have to resort to cheesecake shots when showing MJ workout like Todd. Different generation of artist with different sensiblities.

FNORD - the following two comments are referencing an issue that takes place after this issue -
"Puma is stronger than Spider-Man, and since we saw Spider-Man throwing tanks around recently, Puma must be able to throw planets."

"Here's Sal Buscema's answer to the cheesecake we saw in Amazing Spider-Man #320."

I'm assuming this issue was shifted back at some point after your review of it.

Thanks Clyde. The issues came out around the same time, so the point still stands, but i've updated the wording.