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| Amazing Spider-Man #45 | |
 WRITER: J. Michael Straczynski
PENCILLER: John Romita Jr. COVER BY: John Romita Jr. INKER: Scott Hanna STORY TITLE: Until the Stars turn Cold REVIEW: The Amazing Spider-Man series has never been better. Not only does this issue serve an action-packed story along with outstanding art, it takes us back on memory lane all the way back to the Lee/Ditko era with the classic Amazing Spider-Man #33 issue (The Conclusion to The Master Planner Storyline). For those of you who are too young to remember this memorable issue, let me refresh your memory: In an attempt to overthrow the Master Planner, who was revealed to be Doctor Octopus, a furious battle between Spider-Man and his arch-nemesis was engendered. In a moment of carelessness, Spider-Man became trapped underneath tons of debris from a falling piece of equipment, allowing his adversary to flee the scene. Lying on the ground, just a few meters away from him, was the cylindrical container Spider-Man had come all this way for. Enclosed within that container was the antidote to a deadly viral infection, which Aunt May had contracted. After having gone through a spirited psychological struggle, Spider-Man had drawn together all of his remaining strength and had managed to extrude himself from this rather precarious situation. The antidote was later delivered to his Aunt May and all ended well. Some would say this issue of Amazing Spider-Man is quite reminiscent and perhaps – to a certain extent - redundant when compared to that classical issue. However, Straczynski pulled it off and made it convincing all over again. In last month's issue of Amazing Spider-Man, our favorite wall-crawler was apparently left to die, crushed underneath tons of rubble from a collapsed hotel where a battle between Spidey and TWO Doctor Octopus had taken place. Spider-Man was actually caught in the middle of this "family feud" that started when Carlyle, a senseless businessman had tricked the real Dr. Octopus into sharing information about his tentacles, which he later replicated and improved to commit heinous crimes while the real Dr. Octopus was unwillingly detained. However, the real Doc Ock had now managed to escape and had followed Carlyle through the city to try and stop him. A battle had naturally ensued between the two super-villains and Spider-Man, who happened to be nearby visiting Mary Jane on the set of her new movie called "Lobster Man", had dropped in to subdue the two super-villains. Unfortunately for him, things did not work out very well. ACT 1: Now trapped within the wreckage, Spider-Man attempts to crawl his way out while struggling to stay conscious due to the lack of oxygen. His sole purpose is to get out alive so he can stop Carlyle from hurting anybody else especially since the latter is heading towards the same movie studio where Mary Jane is shooting her movie with Aunt May hanging out. ACT 2: While Spider-Man tries to escape his death, Carlyle reaches the movie studio. However, before any harm can be done, the real Dr. Octopus enters the scene. From that point on, the most riveting battle between two super-villains is shown in this amazing splash page (courtesy of Romita Jr's). Although Dr. Octopus manages to lay down a few punches, he is no match to this new and improved version of himself and is quickly beaten to the ground. ACT 3: Fortunately, Spider-Man finally drops in. He throws a few punches in Carlyle's direction but most without result. Beaten and exhausted, he is clueless as to how to stop this new Dr. Octopus...until the original Doc Ock himself provides the answer. While he was battling Carlyle earlier, he had managed to crack Carlyle's tentacles control box upon his back, hence providing Spider-Man with the best shot at stopping this menace. Attuning his spider-sense to the current danger, Spider-Man jumps and literally squeezes through the tentacles and manages to empty the content of his web-shooters inside Carlyle's tentacles control box. The web fluid expands through the control system and Carlyle is quickly immobilized. ACT 4: Later that day, Peter rejoins MJ and Aunt May at a nearby restaurant and the conversation that started last issue between MJ and Peter finishes on a happier note. MJ tells Peter that if he is willing to wait for her – so she can figure out where she fits in his life – that she will think about coming back to him... | |
