Issue(s): Web of Spider-Man #106
Cover Date: Nov 93
Title: Crisis of Conscience: "Judgment Day"
Credits:
Terry Kavanagh - Writer
Alex Saviuk - Penciler
Stephen Baskerville - Inker
Eric Fein - Editor

Review/plot:
This issue expands on some of the hero vs. hero fights from Infinity Crusade #5. It's (naturally) from Spider-Man's perspective, and continues the "Crisis of Conscience" theme from the previous two issues although it takes place at a later point. We see Spidey still showing a semblance of free will, but also of interest in the scene below is Storm, who starts off questioning the commands of the Goddess in light of her views on the "sanctity of life" (similar to what we've seen in Infinity Crusade #5 and Silver Surfer #85), but is then quickly provoked into violence.

We also see that Spider-Man was partnered with Puck so that Spider-Man could benefit from his military experience.

I get the idea, but it's so hard to accept that a character who has been around since 1962 and who has been in more published super-fights than any other character needs guidance from an on-and-off, usually non-powered, member of Alpha Flight. Don't get me wrong. I love Puck. I don't love his retconned backstory (or stories), but i totally understand that in-universe, Puck has more "experience" than Spider-Man. It's just hard to get myself to "believe" it.

By the way, these scenes are probably the most focus that Captain America gets during this crossover, for whatever that's worth. I think he's an interesting character to become susceptible to the Goddess. We've seen Storm sort-of resist the Goddess, and some other characters, like Spider-Man and the Silver Surfer resist to varying degrees as well. But from what we see of Cap, he's all in.

Anyway, Puck gets knocked out three pages later so it's all kind of moot.

In fact, the closest we come to anything from the beginning of the story having relevance in the end is when, a second after Spider-Man says that he has to see his fight with the Thing "through to the bitter end", he tries to stop Jean Grey from "mind-searing" him. But then the universe blows up.

Also in this issue, Joe Robertson and Betty Brant are in the darkroom discussing their investigation of J. Jonah Jameson's wife when JJ walks in. So Betty pretends that she and Robbie are having an affair.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place during the hero vs. hero fights in Infinity Crusade #5. It actually starts a little earlier, at the end of Infinity Crusade #4, and concludes with the nova explosion from the end of #5.

The Nightwatch back-up from this issue is covered in a separate entry.

References:

• In the beginning of this issue, we see Thanos telling the unbrainwashed heroes to get ready for his "diversion" from Infinity Crusade #4 before their assault on Paradise Omega.
  
• During the fighting Rogue tells Hercules that she owes him for a sucker-punch he gave her in Infinity Crusade #5, and the Thing is similarly recovering from a nerve blow that Gamora gave him in that issue.

Crossover: Infinity Crusade

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Weird that there's a double outline word balloon coming from Spider-Man at the end of the first page posted. Maybe it was supposed to be another thought balloon? As is, Spider-Man hangs there silently for a while, then screams "PUSH STORM OVER THE EDGE!"

"Friends fighting friends... and everyone's so edgy that Jean Grey's telekenetic shove might just be enough to...."

"PUSH STORM OVER THE EDGE!!!!!!!!"

It's crappy, but it makes sense to me!

I think the idea with Puck is that they have doubts about Spider-man being ruthless enough and think that Puck will keep him in line.

That's two comments defending this rubbish and I hate this issue! It's the first thing I've rated one star. (Though I don't have a lot of the recently covered early 90s comics.) The writing's disjointed and unnatural, everyone talks in the same oh so annoying voice (but in a world of tainted heroes.... What place is there for oh so perfect bananas? [kavanagh dialogue]), everyone acts out of character and random things just happen. Part of the issue is the stupid back-up strip (which is still better than the main part) and most of the actual Spider-man bit is just recapping bits from Infinity Crusade with stupid badly written comments.

That this isn't the worst Infinity Crusade tie in only means that there is an issue of Moon Knight left.

No, I take that back. The Moon Knight one is at least new rubbish rather than just recaps made stupider. I can't even mentally process what happens with Betty and Robbie in the only actual event in this issue. Robbie is Jonah's friend and happily married. Why doesn't he say something? Why doesn't Jonah? He just seems to think that Robbie cheating on his wife is business as usual! Jonah Jameson! The most opinionated loudmouth in the world! Why aren't they trying to get Betty psychiatric help?

I don't mean that Betty needs help if she was sleeping with Robbie; I mean that she is acting like a mad fantasist and has been for some time. Then again, everyone has been acting like that in the Terry Kavanagh issues.

Do Terry Kavanagh fans exist in real life? I've seen people defend the likes of Mackie and Austen, but I've NEVER heard of anyone being nostalgic for his stuff.

I own all of his X-Man run which probably makes me his biggest fan (but only by default) and I would still be quick to nominate him for the worst comic book writer of all time...

For writers who actually had runs on things i can't think of anyone else...

@AF: I liked his X-Man run as well.

Alex Saviuk's pencils looks really good paired with Stephen Baskerville's inks. I just wish the writing was better.

Kavanaugh's writing is garbage but the colors are good. Is this the beginning of computer coloring on this title or is this one of the last hand-colored issues?