The Amazing Spider-Man #539

Genre action Author J. Michael Straczynski Publisher Marvel Comics External Links Official Marvel Comics Website

The more things change, the more things stay the same. These words were swimming around my head all the while reading this issue of Amazing Spider-man. It seems that when Marvel decided that Spider-man's world needed to be shaken up a bit, they took a look at the past for a lot of inspiration. Once more, thanks to the registration act, he's a misunderstood here on the run from the law. Also once more, his dear Aunt May is on her deathbed. What's one to do when their life is thrown into chaos? Don an outfit one hasn't worn in years, a black costume perhaps, (do I smell movie tie-in?).

As if abandoning the superhuman registration act and becoming a fugitive with your elderly Aunt and wife wasn't enough of a fiasco in itself, it seems that Spider-man has another problem to deal with. Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin, wants Spider-man's world turned upside down. "But why the Kingpin? That seemingly came out of nowhere!" one may exclaim. We have yet been privy to the motivations of this jail bound crime lord's motives, but it goes without saying he's pretty angry with Peter Parker. This is understandable, as Peter Parker = smooth cat with the ladies, and Wilson Fisk = really fat with the scabies.

Getting his point across to Parker is carried out by having a hit put on both Parker and his loved ones, Mary Jane and May. Using what must be technology far beyond that of Tony Stark, the assassin finds the hideout of Parker almost immediately. However, the hit is only partially successful, as Aunt May gets a load of lead right in the chest. #539 with a gripping splash page of Peter clutching his wounded May and screaming, whilst Mary Jane looks on in horror. This is followed by one of the coolest Spider-feats I've ever witnessed, as in a fit of anger Peter hurls an SUV to the top of the building across the street from him.

However, this very cool moment is almost entirely wiped from memory when one reads further. What follows is a marginal story that essentially serves as a device to get Peter back in the black costume, just in time for Spider-man 3. This on it's own isn't a problem for me, as I am very anxiously waiting the third installment in the series, and understand the purpose of having the character look the same in both mediums. "Killilng" Aunt May again, especially after another poorly done death event in the Marvel Universe isn't the way to do it. This carries almost no emotional weight, as not only has Aunt May been in peril time and time again, she always gets out of it.

The issue is capped with a startling promise and a nice Dark Knight Returns homage. Ron Garney's pencils are nothing to write home about, but get the job done and don't detract from the already ho hum writing from usually excellent J. Michael Straczynski. The promise of an interesting story to follow, even though it's already been done before, will keep me reading this flagship Spider-man title.