Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #795 review

In which Dan Slott and Christos Gage decide on resolving an obscure Spider-Man story involving Loki’s favor, and also end “Spockingbird.”

Amazing Spider-Man #795

“Threat Level: Red, Part Two – The Favor”

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Writers: Dan Slott and Christos Gage

Penciler: Mike Hawthorne

Inker: Terry Pallot

Color Artist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Covers: Alex Ross; Dale Keown and Jason Keith

Fourteen years ago, J. Michael Stracynski and Fiona Avery penned a story for Amazing Spider-Man #503 and #504. In this two-parter, the wall-crawler came to the aid of Loki’s daughter when she was under the possession of an evil sorceress. In gratitude, the Norse God of Mischief and Chaos told Spider-Man that he’d one day return the favor. It seemed like something Stracynski set up for later during his tenure on ASM, but it never came to pass.

Flash-forward to the present day, and two other writers, Dan Slott and Christos Gage, pen a story for Amazing Spider-Man #795, in which Loki, now the Sorcerer Supreme, finally decides to collect on his debt. Seeing Peter Parker down on his luck, what with losing Parker Industries, Loki offers to wind back to clock to whenever Peter wants. Spider-Man refuses, having had bad experiences making deals such as this before (and yes, the comic makes a reference towards “One More Day”). Then Spidey accidentally releases some magical metallic wasps, and cue another team-up.

Credit: Mike Hawthorne, Terry Pallot, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #795

…I can appreciate the fact that Slott and Gage are revisiting an unresolved plot thread from an almost forgotten story….Yet when Spider-Man finally accepts Loki’s offer, and you see the results, I just thought to myself, “That’s it? Gee, that was a big old stack of nothing.”

As a Spider-Man fan, I can appreciate the fact that Slott and Gage are revisiting an unresolved plot thread from an almost forgotten story. It would’ve been nice if Loki returned Spider-Man’s favor much, much sooner, of course, but at least somebody at Marvel remembered it. Yet when Spider-Man finally accepts Loki’s offer, and you see the results, I just thought to myself, “That’s it? Gee, that was a big old stack of nothing.”

The upside is that the way Spider-Man responds towards Loki’s favor, why he accepts it, and what he uses it for, seems true to his character. Likewise, the way in which Loki manipulated the circumstances so that Spider-Man would accept this favor is also in-character. I’d even go as far to say the dialogue between them was all right, apart from a clunky “Monkey’s Paw” reference. In those respects, Slott and Gage do deserve some credit.

I would have also preferred, however, something far less underwhelming than what Slott and Gage came up with. Remember, this is following up on a fourteen-year-old story, so it’s not like Slott and Gage were that pressed for time. There’s also the small fact that everything which happens, including Aunt May nearly being injured, is all because Spidey lost his temper. It only cements the impression that, just like Amazing Spider-Man #794, “Threat Level: Red” is just killing time until “Going Down Swinging.”

Credit: Mike Hawthorne, Terry Pallot, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #795

…like the beginning of their relationship, the end of Peter and Bobbi’s romance feels just as sudden and random.

There’s a far more significant development which occurs, but one that takes place virtually off-panel. I am, of course, referring to Peter and Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird’s brake-up. I’ve never hid my disdain towards what I considered nothing more than a forced, arbitrary romance between two superheroes with nothing in common other than they were superheroes. Well, guess what? This comic, via a lunch scene with Aunt May, actually admits that Peter and Bobbi’s so-called relationship was precisely this. So much for #Spockingbird and embarrassing puff pieces celebrating them as an ideal power couple.

Yet like the beginning of their relationship, the end of Peter and Bobbi’s romance feels just as sudden and random. It certainly highlights at how hurried Slott is in wrapping his storylines before his departure with ASM #801. This also makes me wonder if the only reason Slott ever had Peter date Bobbi was just so he could “prove” why Spider-Man should never date another superhero. At least the “we have nothing in common but our ‘work'” reason behind their break-up is better than Bobbi being angry over the Venom symbiote destroying her bathroom.

Credit: Mike Hawthorne, Terry Pallot, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #795

Once again, we have another issue of Amazing Spider-Man devoted to resolving old storylines while also coming off like non-essential reading.

Finally, the issue has a prolonged epilogue with Norman Osborn, showing us how (surprise!) his wanting to bond with the Carnage symbiote isn’t the best of ideas. Considering how early this is, development is I’m hoping this isn’t all we will getting from this Osborn/Carnage pairing. Then again, I haven’t been optimistic about this, especially since its seems unbecoming of an “Anniversary issue.”

Fill-in artist Mike Hawthorne creates somewhat satisfactory, but unexceptional drawings, too. In his depictions of basic anatomy and body posture are decent enough. It’s also a style which evokes a classic Spider-Man feel, particularly with scenes of the web-head wearing winter gear over his costume. The facial expressions, however, are very uneven and unrealistic. Most of the time, especially with their enlarged, glassy eyes, they look as real as Barbie dolls. With Terry Pallot’s inks, they look like Barbie dolls with dirt smudges.

Once again, we have another issue of Amazing Spider-Man devoted to resolving old storylines while also coming off like non-essential reading. That this is a pattern Slott continually enters into when one of his “bigger” stories is on the horizon makes it even more aggravating. You would think after ten years on Spider-Man, he could’ve made a set-up issue feel more substantial, especially since this time, he was resolving another writer’s abandoned plot.

Stillanerd’s Score: 2 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #794 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Mike Hawthorne, Terry Pallot, and Marte Gracia (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #795

“…wasn’t that guy on the news?” And there’s how Marvel will have Peter treated like an anonymous everyman again despite Parker Industries making him an international celebrity– a short attention-span from a disinterested public.
I’m sure I’ve said this before, Pete, but…do you not save your money?! With all the times you’ve been broke in the past, methinks you would’ve set up a rainy day fund by now.
Wait, Daily Bugle science reporters? If you know it’s one guy spamming your network, why are you even considering this person as a legitimate source for your tip-line?
Notice how the editorial notes make references towards other comics except the ones in which is story is following up on? Might help your readers, editorial staff, if you stated why Loki owes Spider-Man a favor.
“I found something new…on the West Coast.” Is this a hint that we’ll be getting a new West Coast Avengers series?
Don’t you just love it how Aunt May automatically assumes Peter and Bobbi’s break-up was somehow his fault?
Isn’t it a bit hypocritical of Spidey to condemn Loki hanging portraits of himself when Spidey built his whole career on taking pictures of himself?
“Stop crying over spilled bugs…” Spidey, I know your jokes are often bad, but that play on “crying over spilled milk” was far too lazy even for you.
Hmm…awhile ago, Spidey was trying to conserve his web-fluid because he couldn’t afford to make new batches. Looks like money for webbing isn’t much of a concern when magic wasps are attacking the city.
And then when punching the wasp, he forgets all about using his webbing to stop it from crashing into a restaurant.
Hmm, how much are you guys willing to bet that Carnage will start going after Norman’s family first? Oh, the irony!

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