Spectacular Spider-Man #262 (1998)

Spectacular Spider-Man #262 (October, 1998)
"The Gathering of Five, Part Four: A Day in the Life"
Guest Writer - John Byrne
Pencils - Luke Ross
Inks - Al Milgrom
Colors - John Kalisz
Letters - Comicraft's Liz Agraphiotis
Edits - Ralph Macchio
Chief - Bob Harras
Cover Price: $1.99

Wow, two Howard Mackie days in a row?  Well, if you look at today's cover, you might think so... buuut, it's wrong.  Today we're back with Byrne, for better or worse.

If you're thinking having the wrong credits on the cover is a sign of the tight editorial eye on this book... well, read on...

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Today's issue opens with an "Interlude"... the first of, I wanna say three.  In it, Norman is chatting up that weirdo from the Pawn Shop we met the other day, and we learn his name is Morris Maxwell.  Heck, we might've already known that.  Anyhoo, Norman is on the phone with someone named "Franklin"... who had agreed to be part of the Gathering of Five ritual, and now appears to have cold feet.  Norman demands he come, even though the Rite states that all five must come voluntarily.  Whatever the case, we pop over to the Franklin house and find out that someone had been listening in on that call.  We'll meet them soon... and, hoo boy, are they gonna be annoying.

Onto the "meat and potatoes" of the issue.  Spider-Man is going about his regular patrol, when two dorks on bikes notice him swingin' by, and decide to follow him and see where he's headed.  There's a really forced running gag here about one of these goofballs being a henpecked fiance or something... it's really not worth breaking down.

So, these cyclists follow Spidey to a... nondescript store.  Like, it's literally just a doorway... where a ski-masked would-be robber gets punched the eff out.

Spider-Man saves the day... webs the crook up, like all the way... he looks like a mummy.  No air-holes or anything!  He is then thanked by the proprietor of the establishment, who is overjoyed that... Captain America saved him.  The hell?  That doesn't make any sort of sense... would anyone in the world mistake Spider-Man for Captain America?  I mean, Daredevil... maybe?  Deadpool even... but Cap?  C'mahhhhn... (another) bad joke, Byrne.

Next, interlude the second.  Mary Jane reacclimates to the modeling world.  It's an "absolutely fabulous" scene... which is to say, everyone in it cannot help but to say "absolutely" and "fabulous" with every line.  Emjay is handed her contract... and it looks to be a biggun.

Back to Spidey, who is swinging by a pick-up basketball game, where some grown-ass adults have swiped the ball from some kids.  Welp, this looks like a job for Spider-Man.

Spidey challenges the grown-ups (who he addresses as "big kids", even though they're all drawn as adults) to a game... winner take ball.  Spider-Man actually hurls one of 'em into a wall... I mean, from the looks of it... I don't know if the poor goof even survived it.  Feels sort of out of character for Spider-Man, dunnit?  If he starts referring to himself as "The Spider", I'm outta here.

After returning the ball to the little kids, Spidey's back on patrol.  Those idiot cyclists are still hot on his trail... and get this, they ride out into traffic without looking, causing a nine-car pileup!

They decide to press on, because, screw gettin' in trouble for that.  They don't get far, however, as Spider-Man has set a sticky trap in their path.

One tries to get away, Spidey catches him, we learn these two geeks are lawyers for some reason (maybe Byrne had a bone to pick with lawyers around this time)... and they're frog-marched back to the scene of the accident.  Spidey leaves them with some officers, and swings through Central Park, where he overhears the a woman (the fiancee) trying to get a hold of the henpecked one.  ell oh ell.

We wrap up with our third interlude.  You lovin' all this Gathering of Five content we're getting?  It's pretty great, innit?  Here, we hang out with Norman at LaGuardia... where he's waiting for Franklin to show up with the fourth and final shard.  Someone does show up... but, it isn't the "Franklin" Norman had expected.

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Man, what a great chapter of The Gathering of Five, right!  Right?  Uh... Right???

I mean... honestly, just what the hell was this, and why did we need it?  We literally got four pages dedicated to the main story... a story, by the way, which will serve as a catalyst to reboot Marvel Comics' flagship character for the first time in nearly forty years.  There really should've been more care taken with this.  The whole thing feels like an afterthought at worst, and filler at best.

What's more, it's another (poor) fill-in by Byrne!  Spectacular Spider-Man was an important book in the Spider-family... leading up to this, it had been written by J.M. DeMatteis and Roger friggin' Stern... where were they?  Probably running as fast as they could in the opposite direction...

Okay, so try let's break this down.

Let's start with the stuff that's actually important to The Gathering.  Norman is reaching out to a "Franklin" to get that fourth 'n final.  Franklin is a bit trepidatious, which really, is the only way he should be when a) dealing with Norman Osborn, and b) putting his fate in the hands of a weirdo ritual.  His child, however, listened in on the call... and it looks like they're going to take his place in the ritual.  Be prepared... this character is going to be wildly unpleasant.  That's... it.  That's the entire Gathering of Five portion of this issue.

We do touch on another bubblin' subplot... pertaining to Mary Jane's return to modeling, which really just felt like Byrne shoehorning as many Patsy and Edina-isms into dialogue balloons as he could.  We get the impression that we're supposed to find the modeling biz to be vapid and superficial... which may further alienate us from Mary Jane.  Remember, we're supposed to be able to relate to the superheroes and their families, right?  That's what Marvel Editorial has been saying since Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 came out, anyway!

For the rest of the story... like, literally the other 20 pages of it, we get Spider-Man swinging through the city, using his powers in... I dunno, sorta mean ways.  He mummifies that one robber... no air-holes to be seen.  Not sure if that was an artistic choice, or if Byrne had that in his notes.  He beats up those basketball thieves... which, I dunno, feels sort of like an abuse of power.  Maybe I'm over-thinking it.  Spider-Man also takes great pleasure (perhaps too much) upon catching those cycling lawyers.  Makes me feel like Byrne might've had a few run-ins with lawyers, and he was taking out his frustrations here.  That's just my postulating, however... it could all be in my head.  Just seems weird that they'd draw attention to what these two losers do for a living.  I mean, who asked?

Overall... this was a complete waste of time.  The four pages worth of Gathering story could have easily fit in yesterday's issue of Peter Parker if we removed the nonsensical Spidey fighting a literal Dragon on the streets of New York bit.  Just such a waste... which, I hate to repeat myself, but... this story is setting up the Spider-Man reboot.  This is Marvel's flagship character... and they're starting him over, in large part due to what happens in this story.  They're treating it as an afterthought, which does nobody (but Byrne) any good.

Oh, and it's gotta be said... 1998 Byrne doesn't write a funny Spidey story.  I've read funny Spidey stories... this is not one of 'em.

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Cosmic Treadmill Presents... Comix Tawk, Episode 2: Dreaded Deadline Doom

More from the Patreon Exclusive Archives... the second episode of Comix Tawk, Reggie and my more "off-the-cuff" offering, wherein we kinda kvetch about anything going on in comics that finds its way under our skin.

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #96 (1998)

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #96 (October, 1998)
"The Gathering of Five, Part Three: Web of Despair"
Writer - Howard Mackie
Guest Pencils - Norman Felchle
Inks - Scott Hanna
Colors - Gregory Wright
Letters - Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Liz Agraphiotis
Edits - Ralph Macchio
Chief - Bob Harras
Cover Price: $1.99

Today we reach the halfway point of The Gathering of Five... which has been kind of a mixed bag up to this point.  This issue is written by the man who will helm both Spidey books post-reboot, so it's here where we might get a taste of what's to come.

Worth noting, and this isn't going to be a mind-blowing revelation to most of you.  Pre-Byrne/Mackie Reboot, there were four monthly Spider-Man books:

• Amazing Spider-Man
• Spectacular Spider-Man
• Peter Parker: Spider-Man
• Sensational Spider-Man

Post-Reboot, we're going to be down to just two.  The second volumes of Amazing and Peter Parker.  Both will be written by Howard Mackie... with art (and plot assists) from John Byrne on ASM, and art from John Romita, Jr. on PP:SM.  I'm going to be digging through the ol' Wizard Magazines of the day to see what "behind the scenes" stuff I can find, and include that here as well over the next few days.

Anyhoo, without further ado... let's jump in.

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We open at the Daily Bugle, where Peter Parker is burning the midnight... err, evening oil.  He is joined by Mary Jane, who has brought him something either called a "Merry Meal" or a "Sappy Meal"... seems as though creative couldn't make up their minds on this one.  Anyhoo, she's more or less here to test the waters with Pete about her perhaps getting back into the world of modeling... and, ya know, quitting school.  Peter is quick to ask her if she's "asking his permission", which seems to really tick her off.

As MJ leaves, Norman Osborn enters.  He's the co-owner of the Daily Bugle at the moment... so, it makes sense that he's here.  He's also a beloved member of society at this point, so it's not looked at as weird that he's now a prominent businessman.  Strange how Norman and Lex Luthor shared this odd trajectory around the turn of the century, isn't it?  Anyhoo, Norman's an a-hole to Peter... and shares with him a "hypothetical" story about people receiving a poison package, and basically melting... which really gets under his skin...

... so much so, that Pete grabs Norman by the lapels and asks him what he's done.  Osborn shrugs it off, and more or less laughs in Peter's face.  Basking in his newfound "belovedness", Norman tells Peter he's powerless in pretty much any situation they're in together.

We shift scenes to... oh boy... Madame Web.  I can't be the only one who rolls their eyes when she enters a story, can I?  Anyhoo, she's "dreaming"... and is visited upon by, well Norman Osborn.  He makes her an offer she can't refuse... that of a return of her youth... or, immortality.  All she's gotta do is take part in The Gathering of Five.  He tells her to find that "shard" anyway she can... and her mind instantly goes to Spider-Man.

Back at the Bugle, Peter heads into Jonah's office to thank him for letting him use the computer (what year is this?).  Jonah reveals that some news just came over the wire... a building full of people were just killed by melting after receiving some sort poison package.  Hmm.  Norman enters the office and tells Jonah he ain't runnin' that piece... and there'll be no questions asked.  He even tells Jonah to "think of his family" before he makes his next move.  Wow, Norman's a pretty bad-ass baddie, eh?

Peter jams out of the office and changes into his work-clothes which really tickles Norman.  He's seeing just how easy it is for him to play Parker like a fiddle.

As Spidey swings, he happens across a pair of nogoodniks attempting to mug a skinny nerd.  Peter can relate... and so, he stops in to lend the wimp a hand.  Once that's wrapped up, Peter gets a psychic distress call from... Madame Web.

Back at the Bugle, Jonah is stomping around his darkened office... he knows he's gotta do something to stop Norman Osborn.  And so, he reaches into his desk, and retrieves... his gun!  Knowing this might just be a one-way trip, JJJ leaves a sealed envelope addressed to Robbie in his desk.

Speaking of Robbie, let's check in with him and Alison Mongrain, eh?  They're at a run-down hotel... where the latter is being attacked by some creep... named Creep.  Robbie manages to kayo him after smacking him with a piece of furniture.  He tells Alison that she's gotta stay put... r'else she gon' die.

Back with Peter and the Madame, the old lady tells him that she needs him for something... something very difficult and dangerous.  Pete figures, ehh... she's helped me before, so why not?

One page later, Peter delivers her the Shard.  Wait... what?  Did we skip an issue?  How did he just get the shard?  Wow, that was underwhelming.  Maybe these things aren't as important as we've been led to believe?  I dunno.  Anyways, Madame Web has a "vision" of J. Jonah Jameson putting a gun to Norman Osborn's head.  She tells Spidey he'd better get over to the Bugle to intervene.

So, let's do that!  Over at the Bugle, Jonah enters Norman's office.

Ya know what would really suck right now?  If, instead of being able to get back to the Daily Bugle to diffuse this situation, Spider-Man got stuck fighting, say...  I dunno... a dragon on the streets of New York City?  Man, that would suck... good thing nothing that stupid would happen here.

So, back at the Bugle (feels like I've typed that a dozen times today)... Jonah confronts Norman.  Norman ain't sweatin' none'a this.  He tells Jonah he doesn't have the "stuff" to kill him... and even presses Jonah's gun into his own forehead... daring JJJ to squeeze one off.  This is some pretty good Norman.

Jonah drops the gun, proving Norman's point... that he just doesn't have it in him to kill.  Norman, however, does not have that same issue.  He snaps up the piece, and points it at Jonah.  He even mocks JJJ's hatred of Spider-Man, claiming that he only hates him because he's everything Jonah himself isn't.  Pretty good stuff.

Before Norman can perforate Jonah, Spidey swings in and webs up the pistol but good.  Jonah, it's worth mentioning, is cowering like a child... it's not a good look for ol' flat-top.

Norman, being a black-belt-level a-hole doesn't even let this stop him from running at the mouth.  He mocks Spider-Man... reminding him that he's now in a room with his two worst enemies.  He even dares him to take the gun and shoot them both right there.  Spidey turns to Jonah and offers him help... only to be pushed away.  Norman laughs, "Nary a friend in sight".  He tells Spider-Man that his suffering will end... soon enough.

We wrap up later that evening with... Madame Web handing over the third "shard" (and fourth piece, overall) for the Rites of the Five.  Norman is pleased... the Madame is not.

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What a weird issue.

It's not often I'm left this conflicted when writing the "review" portion of a piece.  There was a lot about this issue I liked, a lot I didn't... some I wanted to like that I didn't... and some that I didn't want to like that I did!  Such a strange issue.

Let's start with the strongest part (in my opinion).  This was some great Norman Osborn.  I really enjoyed his scenes... and watching him put Jonah in his place was oddly satisfying.  It's not often we see JJJ in such a vulnerable state.  It's also not so often we see him try and take a situation into his own hands.  This entire scene was a lot of fun... though, the dialogue was perhaps a tad on the stilted side.

Norman taunting Peter was also very well done... though, again... his "hypothetical story" might've been a bit "much", ya know?  Taking the "does any human actually speak like this?" factor into consideration might hurt how one receives this bit.  I do like the taunting though... it actually feels like Spidey's back is up against the wall here.

I compared the Norman Osborn of this era to the Lex Luthor of this era during the synopsis... and I'm sure I'm not the first (nor last) to do so.  They were both on this same weird trajectory where the public was beginning to look at them as "good guys", "saviors", "model citizens", even.  Heck, they both took over prominent newspapers in their respective universes!  Lex at the Planet, Norman at the Bugle.  Weird stuff... but, I enjoyed both of their stories!

Let's talk Madame Web.  She's a bore.  She's also a pretty lousy pre-cog, if she actually saw Jonah murdering Norman.  That entire bit was so weird.  She needs Spider-Man to undertake the dangerous and difficult task of retrieving the shard, right?  He does it between panels!  Wha--?  Doesn't that just sorta suck the significance right out of the thing?  It's not like we were "out of pages" here... I mean, we wasted two or three on Spidey fighting a friggin' Dragon!  The hell is this all about?

Okay, now the Madame's motivations... are sound.  I guess.  She's ancient, and likely not long for the world... and so, the possibility that she might become immortal after the ritual is pretty tantalizing.  The risk is worth the reward for her.  Fair enough.  I still think she sucks.

Mary Jane gets a blip here, seemingly only to remind us that the marriage is kinda rocky... and that she and Peter might want different things outta life at this point.  It was still nice to see her story-thread picked up on here.

Alison and Robbie get a very short bit here... fighting off the creep named Creep.  Yeah, I guess that happened?

The art, as with yesterday's look at Amazing, was... uneven.  Some good stuff, some not so good.  J. Jonah Jameson looks like he's been killin' it in the gym... I mean, dude's got broader shoulders than Thor here.  Overall, the art here was far better than in ASM... though definitely not as good as Joe Bennett's work in Sensational.

So... yeah, this is a weird issue, and a weird "review".  I really don't know how to capsule-ize my feelings.  I think I walk away from it with, err, net-positive feelings?  What can I say, I really dug the way Norman was portrayed here.

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From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast, Episode 1 - October, 1991

In a far better timeline, today (the first Saturday of the month) we would have released the third episode of From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast.  Due to the circumstances of this past month, we are not.  I apologize to anyone who was looking forward to it.  We were all looking forward to it as well.  The next episode is now set to drop the first Saturday of July... so, look forward to that, if... ya know, you are one who would look forward to that sort of thing.

In the meantime, however... and in the interests of "consolidating" the audio output of the Chris and Reggie Channel onto this here humble site, here's the first episode!  It's ten-hours long... so, if this is the first you're hearing about it (and you care to listen to it)... you've got plenty of audio to catch up on before the third episode hits.

Amazing Spider-Man #440 (1998)

Amazing Spider-Man #440 (October, 1998)
"The Gathering of Five, Part Two: A Hot Time in the Old Town"
Guest Writer - John Byrne
Pencils - Rafael Kayanan
Inks - Bud LaRosa, Jimmy Palmiotti, Rodney Ramos, & Rafael Kayanan
Colors - Mike Rockwitz & Mark Bernardo
Letters - Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Liz Agraphiotis
Edits - Ralph Macchio
Chief - Bob Harras
Cover Price: $1.99

We're two-days into our deep-dive on The Byrne/Mackie Reboot... and, ya know... so-far, so-good, right?  Well, least I think so.

Today we're going to discuss an issue written by Byrne himself (and tomorrow we've got one by Mackie), so maybe it's here where we'll get a better "feel" for what we're truly in for.

Let'sa find out.

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We open with Spider-Man hot on the trail of... the Molten Man.  Now, there's a boring member of the Rogue's Gallery, innit?  The Molten Man is stomping through the streets of New York City... leaving a path of, well, moltenness in his wake.  Spidey's not sure what he's up to, however, as he's not like trying to steal anything or hurt anybody.  Our man pops in to ask some questions... and it's as though Raxton's looking right through him.  He's in a trance or something.  Worth noting, at this point Raxton has been on the "straight and narrow"... though, is working for one of Osborn's companies.

Molten Man stomps through a department store, triggering the in-shop sprinkler system to kick on... which, when it hits him turns into a cloud of scalding steam.  Spider-Man stops to evacuate all of the shoppers, allowing Raxton to slip away.  Byrne has Spidey paraphrase a Superman tag-line, after which, he asks if he's infringed on a copyright.  And, yes, all of the jokes in today's book will be just as forced and unfunny.

We shift scenes over to a seedy-looking Pawn/Antique Shop, where Norman is chatting up a creepy old man about the MacGuffins.  Turns out, this fella has one of the "shards" (so, I guess that's the technical term for them).  It's here we learn that during the Rites of the Five... only three participants will be granted that "great power".  We'll learn a bit more about that in later on this issue.

Back on the street, Spidey is back on the Molten Man's trail.  It's... ya know, probably very helpful that dude leaves a path of melted slag everywhere he walks, right?  Anyhoo, Spider-Man realizes that Raxton has taken to the sewers... and so, he gives chase.  Worth noting, the New York sewer system smells worse than Jonah's gym socks.  Oy...

Just like in the department store before, the sewer is suddenly filled with scalding steam.  Stands to reason, right?  Anyhoo, Spidey surmises that the steam is upwards of 200 degrees, and realizes he's gotta get outta there before he cooks.  Unfortunately, there's a ledger truck set atop the nearest manhole cover.  Well, I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a call back to the Lee/Ditko "The Final Chapter", but... it's Byrne, so maybe?  Whatever the case, he's able to lift the truck and escape the steam.

Ready for another forced and awful joke?  I know ya are!  A bystander asks where Spider-Man came from, and... well...

At this point, Spider-Man swipes a map of Manhattan from a newsstand and tries to figure out his next move.  Hasn't he... ya know... swung through Manhattan every day for like decades at this point?  Oh well, I guess this at least gives us a nice sight-gag?  If only there were a Twitter or Tumblr to share this on back in ye old 1998.

Whatever the case, he somehow deduces that Raxton is headed toward the docks.  As it turns out, at that very moment, Robbie and Alison Mongrain are arriving at said docks aboard a tramp steamer.  So... we might assume this issue is happening like a week or two after the last one?  Heck, I dunno how long it takes for a slow boat to travel across the Atlantic.

Just then... the Molten Man strikes... Super-Shredder style, right through the docks!  Thankfully, he announces himself upon arrival.  Wait, did I say "thankfully", I meant to say "mind-bogglingly".

Raxton tosses Robbie aside and b-lines it toward Alison.  She takes off toward dry land.  Robbie asks "what hit him", so I guess the Molten Man's proclamation one page ago that he is, in fact, The Molten Man wasn't enough for him.

Robbie grabs a conveniently placed crowbar and smacks Raxton in the back with it.  It is ineffective.  Lucky for him, Spider-Man has shown up.  In a neat bit, Spidey webs up his fists and feet so he doesn't burn himself on the Molten Man.

While Spidey and Raxton beat each other upon the head and shoulders, Alison and Robbie plan their next move.  Alison announces that they gotta find Peter Parker.  Robbie protests, suggesting they stay and help Spider-Man (that's cute, Robbie).  Alison winds up convincing him that it's best the flee the scene.

Spidey and Raxton fight through the dock (dude is molten, after all) and wind up in the drink.  Spider-Man is almost pulled under a large barge... where he fears he might be turned into "Spider-Man pate".  Oy.  He manages to escape the pull and return to dry land... however, the Molten Man is nowhere to be found.

We pop over to the Osborn Building, where ol' Norman is still chatting up the old weirdo from the Pawn Shop.  Their discussion is interrupted by a phone call from... good grief, the friggin' Scrier.  It's... kinda funny seeing this Scrier holding a telephone, though I can't explain why.  Anyhoo, the Scrier reveals that the "mission" (referring to whatever the heck the Molten Man was supposed to do) has failed.  Norman, as you might imagine, isn't happy.

After hanging up on the Scrier, Norman and the Weirdo get back to their discussion.  It's here we learn some more about the particulars of the Rites of the Five.  Ya see, there are four "shards" plus the spindle... that much we knew.  There will be five participants all seeking "great power"... yeah, we knew that too.  Only three of the five will actually get "great power"... we just learned that a few pages back.  But, what is this "great power"... and what happens to the unlucky two?

Well, the "great power" includes, well... POWER.  Also KNOWLEDGE and IMMORTALITY.  So, there's the lucky three.  Those less lucky will be "gifted" with DEATH and MADNESS.  So, it's a 60% chance you get something good... buuuuut, there's always the possibility that this might be one'a them "monkey's paw" sort of situations.  Annnd, that's where we leave it.

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So, this was... uh... less good than the first chapter?  Fair to say?  From soup to nuts, writing to art... this was definitely a far weaker outing.

Let's get the Byrne out of the way.  This wasn't outright bad or anything, but some of these "jokes" were pretty cringy, forced, and felt like they were trying too hard to evoke of a different era of Spider-Man.  I mean, quipping about Jonah's sweat socks?  The "daddy spider and mommy spider" bit?  C'mahhhn.  I expect a little more creativity when it comes to quips.

We did get from Point A to Point B, which was good.  We got Alison and Robbie back to New York, we learned a bit more regarding the "gamble" of the Rites of the Five.  Can't much complain about that.  Sure, back in 1998, the latter didn't feel so much like a "Spider-Man story beat", but... in 2020, it's like those "street-level" rules don't apply anymore.  It's far easier to accept this sort of tale nowadays.

The art... well... this certainly isn't up to the standards that Joe Bennett set yesterday.  This is quite a bit rougher... likely not helped by the four different inkers in play here.  Heck, looking at the credits, Byrne himself is listed as a "Guest Writer".  Was there some sort of shake-up that made this issue a "last minute" sort of thing?  Was there any reason why regular Amazing Spider-Man writer, Tom DeFalco couldn't do this one?  I just feel like, if you're trying to establish a "new direction", the lead-in story probably shouldn't be treated as a rushed afterthought, no?

Oh well.  I guess we can chalk this one up as being just "ehh"... and hope for a better Chapter Three.

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