Issue(s): Web of Spider-Man #45
Cover Date: Dec 88
Title: "Death from above!"
Credits:
Adam Blaustein - Writer
Alex Saviuk - Penciler
Keith Williams - Inker
Jim Salicrup - Editor

Review/plot:
This is a sort-of fill-in between Peter David and Gerry Conway's runs. Ok, it's a little more complicated than that. Conway was on Web of Spider-Man and David was on Spectacular, and then they switched books, except there were some fill-ins on Web before David's run started up there, and now that Peter David's run is ending Conway will be taking over Web while continuing to write Spectacular, except not until two issues from now, and then after two Inferno issues Conway gives way to Peter David one final time before starting his run again in earnest. Whew. And i say this is only sort-of a fill-in because it still features the regular artist Alex Saviuk and is written by former Spidey Assistant Editor Adam Blaustein, who may have planned the basics of this issue's plot with Peter David since it takes place while Spider-Man is still in Vegas after the crossover with the Hulk last issue. Ok? Maybe i should just get on with the plot summary...

One thing to note is that while Spidey is swinging through Vegas we see i think the first use of that warning system he built into his new web shooters since it was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #297.

Spidey is actually on his way out of Vegas. His book publicist has booked him on Rattlesnake Airlines.

Meanwhile, the Vulture is in the desert, talking to his friends, the animals.

They're actually "mummified" thanks to a new process he's invented. But he's clearly gone nutty. He's taken the loaded dice that the casino owners in Atlantic City rejected, and tried to sell them in Las Vegas, with similar results. And some of the guys that rejected the dice are on Peter's plane, getting rowdy with the stewardess.

Vulture attacks the plane.

Peter helps the stewardess, Sara, open the parachute cabinet, and everybody jumps plane, landing in the desert where the Vulture is waiting. He leaves them to die in the desert, also threatening that he could come swooping in any time to kill them. In fact, he almost immediately swoops back, taking away the ringleader of the casino goons for mummification. The rest of the goons run off into the desert, leaving Peter behind with an unconscious stewardess. He changes into Spider-Man and starts carrying her. He arrives at the Vulture's cave and gets into a fight...

...while also dealing with a (non-mummified) mountain lion...

..the goons...

...and the fact that he's out of web fluid.

Spider-Man puts up a good fight...

...but winds up getting injected with the mummification serum and knocked out.

He wakes up to find that the stewardess is actually from the CID.

It should be pretty easy for Sara to determine Spider-Man's secret identity if she wanted to, but she's shown to be grateful to him so i imagine she's deliberately looking the other way.

This wasn't going to launch Adam Blaustein's writing career or anything, but i mean, it's a fill in. What do you want?

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place the same day as Web of Spider-Man #44 and Hulk #349.

References:

• Spidey used up most of his web fluid fighting the Hulk and Warzone last issue and in Hulk #349.
  
• The Vulture's attempt to sell loaded dice in Atlantic City was in Web of Spider-Man #24.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

I thought it was a very solid fill-in. Usually, I find them lacklustre but this one was pretty good.

I agree. Especially since it actually took place after a current adventure & featured the Vulture. IMO, he's pretty high up on Spider-Man's rogues gallery.

This was a pretty poor appearance for the vulture. He's a dopey one and done villain here.

That Sara girl for sure knows Spidey's identity as they were the only passengers on the plane other than Rattlesnake's entourage.

Ahh, I see fnord already pointed that out.