(2007 Cover Date Issues - Most current first)

July 25, 2007

The Black Cat makes an appearance in Heroes For Hire V2 #12.
Zombie Spider-Man makes a full guest appearance in Black Panther #29.
An Alternate Universe Spider-Man in a Fairy Tale setting is featured in Spider-Man Fairy Tales #3.

Story
It is now time for the "feature event" from this "Back In Black" storyline. A battle that has been brewing since Aunt May has been shot from a rifle of an assassin hired by the Kingpin. It feels like ages ago, but Peter has been been looking for the man responsible for calling the hit on his Aunt, and he finally made his way to the prison holding the Kingpin on the last page from last issue. Before Spider-Man begins his beat down, the Kingpin makes a nice long speech that serves no purpose. Peter may as well be wearing earplugs at this point, as everyone knows exactly why he is there, and nothing is going to stop him from that objective. After several pages, Spider-Man begins his pummeling of the Kingpin with a deadly combination of kicks and punches. Does this silence the Kingpin? No. Spider-Man then proceeds to beat the crap out of the mountain of a man called the Kingpin. Peter then gets a little personal, takes off the top part of his costume and mask, and then goes man-to-man. Peter clearly tells the Kingpin that he is not there to kill him, yet continues to physically abuse the man also known as Wilson Fisk. At one point, Fisk lets his anger get the best of him, and he rushes at Peter. Peter easily brushes him aside, beats him like a punching bag again, and then calls him a "fat man with an attitude". Did the Kingpin, a usually very intelligent man, really think he had a chance winning a physical encounter with Spider-Man? Peter ends his little "meeting" with Fisk by embarrassingly slapping him around, and then threatens to kill the Kingpin. Does he do the deed? Does Peter cop-out? Oh yea, Aunt May is still dying.

Art
Good.
Best Page: The full-page shot of Spider-Man running towards the Kingpin.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Peter does not kill the Kingpin, even after beating him close to it.
Peter threatens to come back to kill the Kingpin if his Aunt does indeed die.
Aunt May is still dying.

Story
The two-part "The Last Temptation Of Eddie Brock" began last issue, and ended in rather bizarre fashion, as Eddie Brock has lost what little of his mind is left. Eddie is in the terminal ward of a hospital dying of cancer, and it happens to be the very same hospital that Aunt May is being held (see the current Amazing Spider-Man storyline for the reason why). Brock is still being haunted by Venom (or the memories of the symbiote) While in the hospital, and after he discovers that the aunt of his most hated foe is in the same building as him, he goes off the deep end. Brock begins talking to himself, and he ends up opening a parcel that contains a cheap nylon Venom costume. Where does he go from there? This second part opens with Eddie having another one of his "conversations" with "Venom", while looking pathetic in his cheap Venom suit, that looks like he got it from on of those seasonal stores. Anyway, Eddie ends up killing a nurse, yet no one hears the commotion involved. Elsewhere, Peter, Mary Jane, and Anna Watson (she still exists?) get together with Madame Web and form a séance in order to communicate with Aunt May. I have no idea what fully happened during the séance. I was hoping for something funny like the séance scene from "Ghost", but it wasn't there. During the time of the séance, Crazy Eddie has entered Aunt May's room, and it's not to steal her lime Jell-O. Does he kill Aunt May? Yea I know, doubtful since her death is being featured for about a half year over in another title, but lets look at the last couple pages anyway, but in the spoilers below only. The issue ends with Peter sensing that something is amiss in his aunt's room.

Art
Gorgeous.
Best Page: Full-Page Spoiler page with Eddie Brock near the end of the issue.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Aunt May states that she does not want to come back from the séance.
Eddie fights "Venom's decision" to kill Aunt May, and does not go through with killing her.
Eddie attempts to kill himself by jumping out a window.
Spider-Man saves Eddie with use of his webshooters.
Eddie Brock is apparently "in charge" of "Venom" by issue's end.

July 18, 2007

Spider-Man makes a small guest appearance in World War Hulk #2.
Spider-Man makes a cameo appearance in Avengers: The Initiative #4.
Spider-Man villain Morbius is featured in Legion Of Monsters: Morbius #1.
Norman Osborn makes an appearance in Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures #1,
Spider-Man makes an out of continuity appearance in Giant-Size Marvel Adventures The Avengers #1.

Story
The three issue Miss Arrow/ The Other storyline comes to close, as the once mysterious Miss Arrow has been revealed to be the entity known as "The Other" (introduced in a storyline of the same name from about a year ago. After initially being introduced as a nurse at Midtown High School, she has grown "attached" to gym teacher Flash Thompson, Peter's old friend/ adversary from the same high school years ago. Miss Arrow has become quite jealous of Flash since he began seeing long-time supporting cast member Betty Brant, but se still decides to use him to help her reproduce in order to survive. That was until Spider-Man showed up near the end of last issue, when the Other had a change of mind for her "mate", and prepared to shove a gestated egg down his throat. After a couple of pages dedicated to the Robertson's (Joe was fired from the Daily Bugle last issue), we get back to the action. The Other takes a little too much time speaking to Spider-Man, before she attempts to "reproduce", and the egg is blasted to pieces from a rifle blast shot by Betty Brant. Betty then proceeds to fire away at The Other, she turns into countless spiders, and then escapes. Spider-Man goes after her and chases her for several pages before they end their battle in the central park zoo aviary. A nice little ending to "The Other" saga. Next issue, we get something that many readers have been waiting for: A good long talk between J. Jonah Jameson and Peter!

Art
Very Good.
Best Page: The page where The Other is blown away from a rifle shot by Betty Brant.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
The Other is killed by her natural predator: Birds.
Peter learns that Joe Robertson has been fired from the Daily Bugle.

Story
Stuart Immonen eases his way into the regular penciller duty on a title that Mark Bagley has flourished on for well over 100 issues. The two artists share the issue work-wise, in a one-shot story that features a long-awaited talk between young Peter Parker and his Aunt May. Peter's Aunt only recently discovered that her nephew was secretly Spider-Man since the Clone Saga, and has since slowly recuperated from a heart attack. She is now home with Peter, and it's now time for that little talk. Many good pages of their talk is illustrated by Mark Bagley, where Pete informs his Aunt of how he received his powers, and the fact that he believes that it is his fault that Uncle Ben died. Surprisingly, after their long talk, Aunt May appears to accept the fact that her nephew has been (and will be) living a dangerous life relatively well. Intertwined with the talk, is where new penciller Stuart Immonen first shows up, as Peter faces off against his newest foe: Ultimate Spot. After the Spider-Man - Spot battle, we resume Peter's talk with his Aunt, and the issue ends on an uplifting note.

Art
Very Good to Excellent.
Best Page:  The last full-page shot of Spider-man swinging through city.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Spider-Man defeats the Spot, and leaves him for the authorities.

July 12, 2007

Spider-Man 2099 makes an appearance in Exiles #96.
Spider-Man appears as part of the New Avengers in New Avengers #32.
Peter Parker/ Spider-Man makes an out of continuity appearance in Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #20.

Story
As we learned last issue, Carnage, one of Spider-Man's most deadly foes, has escaped from S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and is on the loose in New York. However, while still powerful, the alien symbiote isn't at full strength yet and it hasn't yet completely subdued its new host (whose identity we don't know). Carnage smashes into a coffee shop as May "Mayday" Parker and her high school friend are enjoying an after-school conversation and cup of Joe. The host thinks Mayday can help her, but Carnage just wants to kill everyone. Thankfully, he runs away before anyone can be hurt. However, Mayday can't shake the thought that something about the villain seems familiar. That has her worried. In addition, Mary Jane is considering a job offer to work as a guidance counselor at Midtown High. "Could my life possibly get any worse?" Mayday thinks? It sure can, as Carnage decides to visit the Parker household!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Art
Another solid outing from Frenz & Buscema. This creative team really has a lot of chemistry.
Best page: Probably Mayday's fight with Carnage at the coffee shop.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Carnage breaks into the Parker household and kidnaps Peter Parker and her baby brother Benjamin.
Mayday and Mary Jane arrive home to find "Help Me" written in blood on a broken mirror, presumably by Carnage's host.

July 5, 2007

Ultimate Spider-Man makes a guest appearance in Ultimate Power #6.
Spider-Man makes an out of continuity appearance in New Avengers/ Transformers #1.
Zombie Spider-Man makes an appearance in Marvel Zombies Vs. The Army Of Darkness #5.

Story
Another fine little stand-alone story set when Peter Parker was quite a bit younger and still in high school. This tale begins with Peter as part of another one of his school field trips which ends up with the class somehow bumping into a super-villain or two. At the Manhattan Museum of Art, the class is viewing the incredible collection of priceless paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art. Unknown to everyone in the museum, is what appears to be a statue of a gargoyle, but this is no real statue. Peter Parker senses something strange about this statue, and lights a match under the nose of the statue. The flame flickers, meaning that this statue can actually breathe, and it comes alive. The statue turns out to be the Grey Gargoyle, who was originally introduced way back in Journey Into Mystery #107 as a villain for Thor. The Grey Gargoyle can turn anyone who he touches into a statue, but the resulting transformation would eventually wear off in an hour. Anyway, the Grey Gargoyle gets really ticked off by Peter's antics, and lets loose on the field trip class. He originally planned on "playing statue" until the museum closed, so that he may pick up a couple of "Souvenirs" like a kid in a candy store. After the Gargoyle breaks out of his pose, he goes after some of the teenagers, and touches Liz Allen, making her stone-like. The Grey Gargoyle steals the Venus de Milo (on loan from the Louvre), and hitches a ride from a nearby helicopter, made available by his "employer". Peter has since changed into Spider-Man, and he secures the area before going after the Grey Gargoyle. The Gargoyle is now at the home of a Mr. Caan, who has intentions of giving the armless Venus de Milo a set of real-life arms from a kidnapped spokes model. Mr. Caan wants the Grey Gargoyle to petrify her arms and use them on the statue, but the Grey Gargoyle is very hesitant to say the least. Seconds later, Spider-Man crashes through the ceiling window, frees the model, and apprehends Mr. Caan. The Grey Gargoyle attempts to escape by making his way down the tall building. It does not look like he made it.

Art
Very Good.
Best Page: The page with Spider-Man crashing through the ceiling window.

Continuity Police
No tickets given.

Spoilers
Mr. Caan is the man who paid for the wing in the museum that holds the Venus de Milo.
The Grey Gargoyle appears to have crashed to the streets below.

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