Welcome back everyone! The review section is basically completed, the layout looks pretty good, and reviews for Amazing Spider-Man will keep coming right on time as usual. Peter Parker: Spider-Man reviews should be back on track soon. For now, here's David Gable's take on Peter Parker: Spider-Man #8. Let me know what you think, e-mail me.
The Amazing Spider-Man #8
Written by: Howard Mackie
Artist: John Byrne
Inked by: Scott Hanna
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Summary/Review:
This wraps up the story started in last month issue, revealing Mysterio as the man behind Flash's dream world. We learn that almost everyone who knows Spidey including Peter has been kidnapped by Mysterio, and implanted in this imaginary world as a hope of learning Spidey's true identity. Not realizing Peter is really Spider-Man; Parker aids Flash in over powering Mysterio's mind control and breaking free. Mysterio escapes and Flash leaves everyone behind, reminding them that his saving their lives was reality. Aside from the one glaring hole, this was a great comic! Byrne's art was awesome, the story itself was actually pretty cool and fun to read, but what the hell happened? With virtually no explanation whatsoever, we are left to assume Mysterio single handedly captured Peter Parker, Flash Thompson, Aunt Anna, Mary Jane, J.J., and all the others! What happened how could he possibly do it? Too many huge questions were left unanswered to take away from an otherwise extraordinary comic. Peter Parker: Spider-Man #8 Written by: Howard Mackie Artist: John Romita Jr. Inked by: Scott Hanna Editor: Ralph Macchio Summary/Review: First I want to give you a quick overview of the stories in the post-relaunch issues, to give you a little perspective:
#1: Introduction of Senator Ward and Ranger. 
#2: Thor tie-in.
#3: Ice-Man and Shadrac.
#4: Marrow and Hunger, more of Sen Ward.
#5: The Spider-Women.
#6: Kingpin, Bullseye, and Senator Ward.
#7: Blade, Hunger, and a mysterious box.
OK, #2 was a Thor tie-in, and #3 and #5 are Spider-Woman tie-ins. The rest of these events are tied together here in issue #8. Mackie has also brought in some of his pre-relaunch stuff, like Jimmy-6, Crown, Hydra, and Morbius. And it's done in such a way that the stories that came before now actually make sense. Plus, for the first time I find myself wondering what the Senator is up to.
This is what Mackie does best: the shadowy underworld dealings and things that go bump in the night. It's unfortunate that Marvel has him doing Amazing as well, where he can't do the darker stuff. There he's out of his element.
This issue isn't perfect. The revelation of Crown's involvement (I won't say HOW he's involved) comes across as a bit "Oh by the way," and Spidey does utter the phrase, "Hydra's the worst bunch of bad guys ever!" (Holy trite expressions, Batman!) However, this is really nitpicking with what is easily the best post-relaunch issue in either of the core titles.
If you've been following Spider-Man since the relaunch, you should really like this issue. If you dropped the titles after "The Final Chapter," but would like to check up on things, this would be a good issue to do just that.
My grade: A-
Review by: David Gable
