REVIEW: Amazing Spider-man #419

[Douglas Clayborn Peterson]

"Beware the Black Tarantula"
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Steve Skroce
Inker: Bud LaRosa

I think I'll spoil some space:

The issue starts out with a mysterious figure (another one?) musing on the
state of the NYC crime scene under Fortunato since the disappearance of
the Heros. This figure turns out to the the Black Tarantula, who
apparently isn't related to the previous two Tarantulas. We then see
Spiderman keeping an eye on Ben Urich, who learns of a suggleing deal
between the BT and the Rose through an underground contact. Spidey then
saves Ben from some thugs.
Back at the Bugle, Peter learns about the smuggling operation, and asks
Robbie for an assignment. Robbie says he's too busy keeping up with the
Graydon Creed assassination (which happened in X-Factor just this week,
good job Ralph!) to have many assignments, but tells Peter to take a
picture tomorrow of some street preacher (probably setting next month's
issue up). We cut to the Rose's headquarters, where he's discussing the
emerald smuggling with his henchwoman Delilah. Cut to the Parker
residence, where MJ is repainting the baby's room and talking with Aunt
Anna. Seems Anna is taking some adult education classes at the local high
school. Peter comes home, thinking that he's living in the same place and
has the same job he did in high school. He and MJ discuss moving into
the city. MJ says she's considering going to college. Pete muses that
this would help her "get her mind off ... everything ... that's happened
recently." (Funny how they don't even mention Ben.) Pete also thinks it
would be a good time to finish his Master's Degree. Pete swings off to do
good.
We see Spiderman and Urich seperately gather info on the Black
Tarantula. Pete calls Urich to let him know where the deal's going down.
INTERESTING DETAIL ALERT: At the Bugle, Angela Yin in looking through old
photos and comes across the one of the doctor that was working for the
Goblin in Revelations. She thinks "[The Parkers] won't want this photo."
Hmmm...
Spidey and Urich go to the shipping pier. The BT's men double-cross
the Rose's men and open fire. Some big goon beats the tar out of Delilah.
Spidey tangles with the goon, but can't faze him until he [Spidey] pokes
him [the goon] in the eyes. A bomb goes off. (Whoops. Guess I forgot to
mention how the bomb got there. Oh well.) Everyone escapes. The Black
T. is very displeased with "El Uno's" failure. Next month: X-Man!

That was quite a long summary, but there was a lot of interesting stuff
going on. For one thing, I enjoyed the characterization in this issue
(much better than this month's Sensational). I like the idea of the
Parker's going back to school; I think it can lead to some good
storylines.
DeFalco's writing was very crisp in this issue. Spidey's dialogue in
the fight scenes was very humorous, and the character work was good. This
issue reminds me of the issues he wrote in the late 200's -- fun,
well-written, and solid. I hope he keeps it up. Also, he came up with a
really neato use for Spidey's powers I had never seen before. He used his
sticking ability to pick up tires with his feet, and used those tires to
trap a thug. Very cool, I thought.
As for the art, after a shaky start last month, Skroce has improved a
lot. He's not great, mind you, but very much improved. He can draw a
well-paced fight scene, and not everyone is grossly distorted in this
issue. Somewhat distorted, but not grossly. I think the main problem I
have with his art is that he makes everybody appear lumpy. Not many
people are lumpy, that I know of. Still a vast improvement over last
issue. Overall, a fun, solid issue.

What do you think, sirs?
Clay

[Air Judden]

Douglas Clayborn Peterson <dpe...@emory.edu> writes:
> DeFalco's writing was very crisp in this issue. Spidey's dialogue in
>the fight scenes was very humorous,

Very, very humorous. 2 parts come to mind...one was what Greg
was talking about: Where the criminals were looking out saying
"shall we mug him?" (or something like that), and Spidey, looking
over their shoulders says, "No, I think we should let him go"...they
whirl around and look at him, and he says, "don't I get a vote?"
Bugs Bunny, deja vu.

Then, when he hammers the big goon at the end, the baddie says "I
almost felt that" and Spidey pokes him in the eyes. The baddie
says, "What kind of honorable manly attack was that?" (or something
similar), and Spidey says something like "Blame in an upbringing
wasted on the Stooges."

....loved it!

> As for the art, after a shaky start last month, Skroce has improved a
>lot. He's not great, mind you, but very much improved. He can draw a
>well-paced fight scene, and not everyone is grossly distorted in this
>issue. Somewhat distorted, but not grossly. I think the main problem I
>have with his art is that he makes everybody appear lumpy. Not many
>people are lumpy, that I know of. Still a vast improvement over last
>issue. Overall, a fun, solid issue.

I agree. I don't have a beef with his work. What I find odd is
I thought they put the best artist on the flagship title, ASM...
notable exception was McFarlane's Spider-Man, but there was no
way they'd let him write the flagship. IMO, Ringo and Ross are the
2 best (I prefer Ross) and JM jr has a strong following. IMO,
Skroce is 4th best of them. I'm suprised he's drawing Amazing.

Judden

[Angelo]

Greg Helton (ghe...@airmail.net) wrote:
: Douglas Clayborn Peterson <dpe...@emory.edu> wrote:
: >"Beware the Black Tarantula"

: >Writer: Tom DeFalco
: >Penciler: Steve Skroce
: >Inker: Bud LaRosa
: >
: >I think I'll spoil some space:

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: > DeFalco's writing was very crisp in this issue. Spidey's dialogue in
: >the fight scenes was very humorous, and the character work was good. This

: >issue reminds me of the issues he wrote in the late 200's -- fun,

: >well-written, and solid. I hope he keeps it up. Also, he came up with a
: >really neato use for Spidey's powers I had never seen before. He used his

: >sticking ability to pick up tires with his feet, and used those tires to
: >trap a thug. Very cool, I thought.

: I thought the coolest thing in the book was when the three thugs were
: discussing their plans to mug Ben Urich and Spidey joins them and says, "I
: say we just let him go." Very Bugs Bunny, but very cool!