Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29 review

Doctor Octopus brings about apparent—and long-awaited—demise of Spider-Man as billionaire tech mogul in this Secret Empire tie-in issue.

Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29

“Secret Empire Part One: Rightful Ruler”

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Writers: Dan Slott and Christos Gage

Penciler: Stuart Immonen

Inker: Wade von Grawbadger

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Lettering: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover: Alex Ross

Of all the controversial developments under Dan Slott’s tenure on The Amazing Spider-Man, his turning Peter Parker into a multi-billionaire CEO of global corporation definitely topped the list. Some felt, given Peter’s scientific acumen, him becoming successful was long overdue. Others believed Peter’s status as Marvel’s “everyman” hero. What everyone did agree on was it wasn’t going to last.

Thus, with Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29, the inevitable decline and fall of the Parker Industries empire seems to be coming to fruition. It also happens to coincide with Secret Empire. Although it’s likely Marvel’s latest line-wide event didn’t originally fit into Slott’s plans, you almost wouldn’t think so on the basis of his and co-writer Christos Gage’s tie-in. If anything, Secret Empire plays more of a role in Peter’s downfall than anything he did during “The Osborn Identity.”

In fact, when the comic opens, it shows Peter making a convincing case for his decision to liberate Symkaria from Norman Osborn on a British news program. But, as the Parker Luck would have it, his interview occurs during the Chitauri invasion and the super villain attack on New York, as seen in Secret Empire #0. When Peter heads to his London PI offices, Hydra agents led by Doctor Octopus—in a new body cloned from his and Peter’s DNA—have taken over the building.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29

For [Dan Slott] to finally acknowledge that Spider-Man never earned [Parker Industries] is long overdue.

What then follows reads like a reputation of Spider-Man since the start of the current volume. As Otto correctly points out, it was he, not Peter, who created Parker Industries. He also confirms he, as the Living Brain, made Parker Industries into a global enterprise by manipulating the stock market. Even PI’s signature product, the iPhone-like Webware, resulted from Peter unknowingly reverse-engineering the communicators he and the “Web Warriors” used during “Spider-Verse.”

In short, Peter’s “success” wasn’t the result of his own merits. It’s entirely founded on lies, fraud, and his taking credit for other people’s work. Granted, Doc Ock is a hypocrite when you remember what transpired during Superior Spider-Man. Plus, it’s as if Peter should hand over PI to him and a fascist terrorist organization. But the comic’s point still stands: not only is Peter an incompetent CEO in spite of his good intentions, he never should have been one in the first place.

It also proves the spin Slott made about Peter becoming a billionaire tech mogul was entirely just that. For him to finally acknowledge that Spider-Man never earned “his” business (much less “his” doctorate) is long overdue. And, I must admit, I felt a little giddy over Spider-Man getting his comeuppance at the hands Doc Ock. Not to mention him getting a harsh reminder that Otto is (gasp!) a super villain after the nonsense he sputtered during Clone Conspiracy about Otto being “not all bad.”

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29

Since Spider-Man never earned his success, we want to see him fail…[But] shouldn’t this be the other way around?

But there lies the other problem with Parker Industries. Since Spider-Man never earned his success, we want to see him fail. Or, at least be aware of, for someone who preaches about personal responsibility, how irresponsible he’s been in taking credit as PI’s founder. Shouldn’t this be the other way around? Besides, the issue also establishes that by Otto also framing Parker Industries for the “darkforce cloud” which traps New York (and thus also make it look as if the company is in league with Hydra), Peter has already lost.

Yet it is also the presence of Doc Ock, as has been the case when he appears in Slott’s stories, which gives the comic it’s strength. The moment he appears and engages in a verbal and physical sparring match with Spider-Man, you become engaged with the story. He also has the best lines. When he tells Peter, “Your capacity for self-delusion is staggering,” you can feel the sarcasm dripping from the words.

It also artistically comes to life when Doc Ock shows up on panel too. I didn’t initially care for the look of Doc Ock’s Superior Octopus suit when it first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #25. Yet, the way in which Stuart Immonen depicts it in this issue, the costume started growing on me. Seeing Otto in the suit ,while Spidey is also on panel, visually reinforces the concept how both have become true reflections of one another. And, of course, we get a fantastic, albeit all too brief, fisticuffs between the two.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29

As a tie-in to Secret Empire, [Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29 is] unique in the sense how it seamlessly ties in what occurred in that series with what’s Slott been building towards during his run.

This isn’t to say that the art is in any way average prior to Doc Ock’s arrival. The expressions on Peter and Anna Maria Marconi’s faces as they silently communicate during his live interview are priceless. The two-page panel showing Spidey getting charged at by Hydra agents posing as his employees is wonderfully chaotic. But, again, there are times in which the comics feels as if it’s struggling to find a happy medium between Wade von Grawbadger’s traditional inking and Marte Gracia’s modern coloring techniques.

As the beginning of new story arc, Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29 is particularly strong (though let’s not forget Slott does have a tendency to start strong before fizzing out by the end). As a tie-in to Secret Empire, it’s unique in the sense how it seamlessly ties in what occurred in that series with what’s Slott been building towards during his run. Hopefully, the next issue doesn’t veer too much off course into said event.

Stillanerd’s Score: 3.5 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #28 review

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #29

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Here’s a question I’d ask the not-BBC reporter if I was Peter: “How come you weren’t reporting on Osborn turning Symkaria into his own personal weapons factory? The country’s right across the pond in Europe’s backyard.”
“With an enlarged liver and an artificial heart.” Okay, that is a legitimately funny line. And proof Anna Maria can rival Tony Stark when it comes to snark.
“You’re not just a bad C.E.O., you’re a pretty lousy friend too.” Because Peter didn’t know about the full details of your personal life, Ms. Marconi? Why is it any of his business knowing whom you’re dating or not dating anyway?
“You’re all fired.” Um … didn’t you just realize a moment ago, Spidey, that those Hydra agents aren’t your real employees?
“Harry, Betty, Mary Jane …” Hold on a minute? Does this mean we’ll actually see MJ in this comic again?
“The building’s coming down!” Coming down? It looks like it’s already down, random British citizen.
Nope. Still not liking Otto’s faux hawk.
So the letter’s page promises more of Spidey and Bobbi next issue. Considering what Secret Empire #5 revealed about Mockingbird, that might not be such a good thing.

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