Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30 review

Spider-Man prepares to defend the last remnant of Parker Industries from Doctor Octopus, despite no one asking if “his” company is even worth saving.

Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30

“Secret Empire Part Two: Master Planning”

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Writers: Dan Slott and Christos Gage

Pencilier: Stuart Immonen

Inker: Wade von Grawbadger

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Lettering: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Covers: Alex Ross, Jim Lee and Chris Sotomayor, with Joe Frontirre

If you’ve watched enough television, you can always tell when a series is facing cancellation. Long-running, going nowhere subplots become hastily resolved. Characters not seen in months or years suddenly return. If there’s a romance, the would-be couple expresses their true feelings for one another. If two characters are rivals, at least one will apologize to the other for acting like such a jerk. And, of course, there’s always a major crisis threatening to upend everything the protagonists hold dear.

This certainly is the impression one has while reading Dan Slott and Christos Gage’s Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30. Naturally, Amazing Spider-Man isn’t being cancelled. However, with Marvel Legacy set to return the series back to its original numbering, this current volume will end. Thus, while also not a TV series, this Secret Empire tie-in checks off all the items on the “series finale clichés” checklist.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30

On the bright side, [Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30] does show Spider-Man finally behaving like a legitimate leader.

Take, for instance, the comic’s premise. Set after the events of the Free Comic Book Day edition of Secret Empire, Spider-Man realizes Doctor Octopus will raid various Parker Industries branches for their intellectual property. Not wanting Hydra to get their hands on the company’s technology, Peter Parker sets off to his Shanghai branch to organize an Alamo-style last stand. There’s your major crisis threatening to undo everything the hero has built checked off.

How about resolving the “will they, won’t they” question between Spider-Man and Mockingbird? Sure enough, Peter and Bobbi share a kiss, with the two promising to start dating once the current crisis has passed. Considering Secret Empire revealed Mockingbird was in league with Hydra all along, it’s likely Peter and Bobbi’s relationship won’t progress any further than this.

What about appearances from recurring characters whom we haven’t seen in a good long while? That happens too. They also express gratitude for all the wonderful things Peter’s done for them and the company, just for good measure. Too bad Slott and Gage never showed Peter doing any of what these character venerate him for in past issues. Just like they didn’t also give any of these P.I. Shanghai characters meaningful developments past “The Dark Kingdom.” Why bother when they can just tell us how we should feel instead?

On the bright side, the comic does show Spider-Man finally behaving like a legitimate leader. We learn he organized the strategic retreat of the Marvel heroes during Hydra and Captain America’s invasion of Washington D.C. In addition, he takes proactive measures in protecting Parker Industries and its staff. Like “The Osborn Identity,” Slott gives us a Peter Parker willing to embrace being the person in charge.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30

…it’s hard becoming invested in a story in which you already suspect the outcome. It’s also difficult becoming invested in the fate of a company you don’t want Peter to keep.

It’s also apparent Peter’s acceptance of his responsibilities as Parker Industries’ CEO comes too little, too late. Several Shanghai employees, citing their loyalty to China over an “American company,” walk out after Peter gives a “rally the troops” speech. One employee asks if Spider-Man is helping, and will the other heroes come to his rescue like they always do. Airport security, meanwhile, detains Aunt May, and confiscate her Webware as a possible explosive. In the end, Peter gets another harsh reminder that Doc Ock is the true founder and creator of Parker Industries.

You could argue this is basic second act material, that Spider-Man will eek out a win against insurmountable odds. Unfortunately, these tie-ins occur before Secret Empire #1. That comic shows “The Superior Octopus” as a member of Hydra’s Avengers almost a month after Secret Empire #0. In other words, Doc Ock wins.

Granted, since Otto is now a partial clone of Peter, it’s possible the Doc Ock we see in Secret Empire is really Spider-Man in disguise. A much more likely possibility is Spider-Man will destroy his own tech to prevent it falling into Otto’s hands. The comic even foreshadows this via a conversation between Peter and employee, Philip Chang. Regardless, the fate of Parker Industries seems sealed. Like the Star Wars prequels, it’s hard becoming invested in a story in which you already suspect the outcome.

It’s also difficult becoming invested in the fate of a company you don’t want Peter to keep. I’ve made no secret that I’m not a fan of Spider-Man as a second-rate Tony Stark, in part because it’s antithetical to who Spider-Man is. This issue highlights another reason I never cared for this status quo: because Slott never made us care. Unlike the Daily Bugle or Empire State University, we never learned about P.I.’s employees beyond a superficial level. Like the various Spider-Mobiles, Webware and z-webbing, they’re nothing more than plot-driven cogs in the company machine.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30

Aside from a few gags and a clever (and sneaky) twist involving the Parker Industries logo, [Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30 is] rather run-of-the-mill, underwhelming, and mostly unsurprising

I am, however, still enjoying Stuart Immonen’s contributions to The Amazing Spider-Man. Aside from a few visual hiccups (what is up with Aunt May’s face?!) Immonen, for the most part, illustrates this comic with great attentiveness and detail. It’s also a comic which doesn’t have the sporadic, hurried cross-hatching from the previous installments. Instead, Wade von Grawbadger’s inks are much cleaner and more polished, allowing for Marte Gracia’s colors to shine through.

Moreover, just as Slott makes Otto stand out vocally, Immonen makes Otto stand out visually. This not only comes from the Superior Octopus design, but from Immonen’s choice of angles for whenever Otto is on panel. Ask yourself: would Otto effortless toss of Strong Guy several blocks be as funny if Immonen didn’t draw it with a “worm’s eye” point-of-view? Or would Otto’s tentacle-aided march across Shanghai appear so menacing and domineering if it wasn’t juxtaposed against the P.I. building in the background? I think not.

Compared with the last issue and the initial excitement in seeing Doc Ock’s “hostile takeover,” Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30 feels lukewarm. Aside from a few gags and a clever (and sneaky) twist involving the Parker Industries logo, it’s rather run-of-the-mill, underwhelming and mostly unsurprising. Worse, it makes you feel apathy towards Peter’s plight the harder it tires making you concerned towards his company’s future. If only Slott and Gage realized the readers, like Peter’s Shangai employees, wrote off Parker Industries long ago.

Stillanerd’s Score: 2.5 out of 5

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

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #30

Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer? Come on, Spidey! You’ve faced tougher opponents than that! Have you forgotten you once defeated Firelord, Herald of Galactus?

“Please, Mr. Modell. It’s for the best.” Yes, Beast, welcome and lick the boots of your new Hydra masters why don’t you? No wonder the X-Men fans hate your guts now.

Did any of the workers who walked out consider that Doc Ock, by attacking the “American company,” also means Hydra and America are invading China? Come to think of it, why isn’t China declaring war on Hydra? And how come Doc Ock gets a pass for invading another country, but Peter doesn’t?

Oh, look, it’s a character we don’t care about introducing another character we don’t care about. I also see the comic still can’t decide if Ms. Tang’s first name is “Lien” or “Lian?”

Gee, nice to see Dr. Wu’s “important” and “urgent” message for Peter was nothing more than him begrudgingly stroking Peter’s ego.

What about Betty Brant, Aunt May? Even Otto remembered Betty Brant.

So Peter’s spider armor responds to vocal commands and controls computer functions? Please tell me it doesn’t have an A.I. named Karen.

“Spider-Rider?” Seriously?

“Spider-Armor augmenting my spider-strength.” And you never used this function before, Pete, because … ?

“And I signed it.” Okay, I have to admit Otto hiding his initials in plain sight like that was clever … if also a little cheesy.

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