Spider-man's Tangled Web #7

What is the true value of a secret?  Are we honor bound to keep certain things that we learn to ourselves if it puts someone else at risk?

That's the premise of this 3 issue story - this first issue sets the stage rather well, giving enough hints to leave the reader wondering where this story is going.

It opens with a gunshots and a man pinned under a flipped car.  We then are introduced to a cabbie named Charlie, who has brain cancer - and keeps having flashbacks to that shoot out.

He goes to see another doctor, who mentions the procedure would cost half a million.  Later that day, our cabbie witnesses a robbery and makes a phone call...to the Daily Bugle!

We are then shown a poker game with some low-lifes, and Charlie talking to a priest about his secret and how, if he told it, it would destroy one man's life but save someone else's.  The issue ends with Charlie getting in his cab and driving off.

This is a decent issue, but an all together forgettable story from this anthology title.  There are way better one's further down the road.  And why this story takes 3 issues to be told is beyond me.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself...this is a good first introductory issue - it sets up all the players very nicely.  The art is typical late '90/ early '00 Marvel art.  Not terrible, but not terribly exciting either.  I actually think the cover is the best part of this issue.

More on this story in the coming days.  Until then - happy reading.

Credits:

Bruce Jones - Writer
Lee Weeks - Artist

Rare Personal Note

Sorry for disappearing for a bit - the holidays are really busy for me and the Fam.  Also, Santa was good to me and brought quite the large stack of comics for me to read.  So I took some time off to just enjoy building forts with the boy, staying in my PJ as long as possible and reading comics.

I'm back and hope to continue reviewing Grendel, Tom Strong, and anything else I come across in my long boxes.

Thanks for stopping by - hope I can point you in the direction of some good reads.

Spider-man's Tangled Web #6

The last issue ended with the Rhino, after being spurned by his newest infatuation - a mob boss's daughter named Stella - undergoing a treatment to enhance his brain power.

Brains and brawn you say?  All in one package?  What could happen?

Well, in short, Rhino wins Stella back, breaks out some of his buddies, and goes on a crime spree.  And is surprisingly successful!

He goes on to live a life of wealth, culture and luxury - and eventually all the things that brought him joy (Stella, the theatre, poetry...weird to think of the Rhino reading Yeats or Elliot) have lost their luster...the world, it seems to the Rhino, is now an extremely boring place.

Stella, claiming the passion of their relationship has faded, leaves the Rhino, and he sets up a meeting with his long time enemy, Spider-man.  The Rhino revels to Spider-man that he's discovered Peter's secret.  Cut to the Brooklyn Bridge, where a revelation occurs.

He needs to be dumb again.  So, he goes back to the Doctor, has the operation reversed and by the end of the book, he's happily running through walls again.

This is a great little two part story about a villain who is mainly used as a punching bag for either Spider-man or the Hulk.  The art is a bit odd - it treads a line that is at times very realistic and at times very stylized.  But it can't quite seem to make up its mind.  I'll admit, a very cartoony portrayal of these events would not have worked, as the subject matter necessitates a more true to life feel.   It really shows the potential Rhino has...but on the other hand, just how unhappy that potential can make us.  Is ignorance really bliss?  Are we better off being dumb and joyous or smart and miserable?

But - hey - it's just a comic book...they can't possibly illicit these kinds of deep questions, right?

Until next time - happy reading.

Credits:

Peter Milligan - Writer
Duncan Ferredo - Art