Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42 review

Two workmanlike, but inconsequential Spider-Man tales comprise this extra-sized comic, one of which has Peter Parker and Betty Brant uncover a conspiracy.

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42

“Bury the Leeds”

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Writer: Dan Slott

Penciler: Cory Smith

Inks and Finishes: Terry Pallot

Color Artist: Brian Reber

“Spider-Sense and Sensibility”

Writer: David Hein

Artist: Marcus To

Color Artist: Ian Herring

“The Many Costumes of Spider-Man”

Words: Jeff Loveness

Drawings: Gustavo Duarte

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Covers: Alex Ross; Mike Hawthorne and Morry Hollowell

I’m not sure how many Spider-Man fans asked for a follow-up to Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy. I sure wasn’t. Even so, you knew it was going to happen regardless. It wasn’t just that Peter Parker’s clone, Ben Reilly, was “back from the dead” for a new, ongoing Scarlet Spider series; other clones remained unaccounted for. Despite various supporting characters and C and D-list villains seemingly disintegrating into dust at the end of the crossover, it also opened a door for their possible return. Hence Dan Slott’s first story for The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42.

Credit: Cory Smith, Terry Pallot, and Brian Reber (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42

Other that referencing Clone Conspiracy and current events, such as Wilson Fisk as the Mayor of New York, [Dan Slott’s story] could’ve easily taken place in, say, the pages of Web of Spider-Man circa early 1990’s. It’s also not particularly gripping, either.

In previous issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Peter learned the clone of Betty Brant’s deceased husband, Ned Leeds, made a phone call to her moments before he died. Not knowing the real story, Betty believed Ned was attempting to contact her from the afterlife, and thus became a believer in spiritualism. As it so happens, Not-Ned also gave Betty a cryptic two-word message: “Blood Creek.”

What is “Blood Creek”? Apparently, its an obscure battle during the American Revolution, but not obscure enough to erect a statue commemorating it on the grounds of City Hall. It also has some connection to a figure in organized crime. Ned was investigating this story while he was alive, but never got around to finishing it, so Betty decides to finish it for him. Unfortunately, The clones of the original Enforcers–Montana, Fancy Dan, and Ox–heard Not-Ned’s message, too, and their mysterious new employer doesn’t want the truth behind “Blood Creek” getting out.

Credit: Cory Smith, Terry Pallot, and Brian Reber (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42

As you might have already guessed, Slott is aiming for a more “traditional,” Daily Bugle-centric Spider-Man tale. Other than referencing Clone Conspiracy and current events, such as Wilson Fisk as the Mayor of New York, this a story that could’ve easily taken place in, say, the pages of Web of Spider-Man circa early 1990’s. It’s also not particularly gripping, either. One particular plot element involving a homeless person is so predictable, calling it “predictable” is an understatement. The secret behind “Blood Creek” turns out to be, however, admittedly has a touch of cleverness.

In any case, the plot is an excuse for Betty to find closure for Ned’s death, something the recap page even states outright. If this weren’t blatant enough, it also tells us how she “struggles to move on” unlike Peter who “embraces the future.” When we first see Betty, she’s trying to talk to Ned via a psychic while Peter sarcastically insults the medium. Later, we see Betty has investigated Battle Creek by going through old newspaper files while Peter uses an iPad and Twitter feeds. It’s an odd way to compare them, and not something the story sells all that well.

Even so, it’s plot is, more or less, structurally sound, and has decent art from Cory Smith, too. Like the script, there’s nothing altogether outstanding about it, but it’s visually coherent and competent. The sense of perspective and proportion are fine, facial features are well rendered, and even the action looks fluid. Yet there isn’t much about Smith’s art which really pops out. The worst thing you could really say about it is that it’s a style lacking in any distinction or identity.

Credit: Marcus To and Ian Herring (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42

…there’s nothing really bad or good about Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42. Like other annual issues before it, you’re not missing much by skipping it entirely, but they’re still decent enough reads.

This, however, isn’t the case when it comes to Marcus To’s art in this Annual’s second story. If anything, it perfectly reflects the story’s tone, combining realism with a lighthearted quirkiness. The story itself, by playwright David Hein, is somewhat amusing day-in-the-life of Peter Parker, as he struggles through his day with a spider-sense induced headache unaware that Robbie Robertson, Mary Jane, and Aunt May are planning something in secret. Although the way Hein has Peter’s spider-sense work isn’t how it’s worked in the past, the story is still a nice, if far too short, done-in-one.

In the end, there’s nothing really bad or good about Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42. Like other annual issues before it, you’re not missing much by skipping it entirely, but they’re still decent enough reads. It also, to be fair, did serve a purpose. It ties up a loose end from Dan Slott’s run without bogging down regular issues of Amazing Spider-Man to do it. And that’s okay with me, as far as I’m concerned.

Stillanerd’s Score: 3 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #795 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Cory Smith, Terry Pallot, and Brian Reber (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42

Once again, Marvel Editorial strikes again…or rather doesn’t! This time, the titular characters are misspelled. Unless it’s actually supposed to be called “Bury the Ledes” instead of “Bury the Leeds.”

*Sigh* Here we go again with the whole cloning equals resurrection nonsense. As established during Clone Conspiracy, since the New U clones are created from dead bodies, they only have memories up to the time the original died. Yet Montana’s clone, because he doesn’t have any memories after the original died, assumes the afterlife doesn’t exist. Except, as Ox himself realizes, they’re clones, meaning they, technically, haven’t brought back to life. Yet it’s Montana viewpoint which is somehow the correct one?

“Cloned back to life.” What a perfect way to illustrate why Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy was complete nonsense.

Betty does have a point. Given the setting of the Marvel Universe, why would anybody, least of all Peter, be skeptical at all when it comes to the supernatural? It didn’t make sense in “Amazing Grace,” and doesn’t make sense here, either.

Oh, Betty! You’re one to talk about Peter’s self-centeredness given how it was literally “all about you” when you and Peter dated. Not to mention you cheated on Ned twice during your marriage.

Really? An Alanis Morissette joke about “Ironic”? Last time I checked, it wasn’t 1997, comic.

” I dated a werewolf once.” Oh right, Glory Grant was in a relationship with one of the Lobo Brothers. Talk about obscure moments from Spider-Man history.

“Except that wasn’t me. That was Doc Ock using my body.” Oh, so now Peter realizes he has a doctorate he didn’t actually earn. But of course, he’ll do nothing about this.

That’s right, men: opening a door for a lady isn’t being polite or respectful, it means you’re a “patronizing jerk” like Peter Parker. Then again, since this Betty, maybe Peter should’ve known better.

If the history professor already suspected the “Battle of Blood Creek” never happened and that it was part of a cover-up, how come the mob never tried silencing him years ago?

So much for campus security when known super villains, armed with guns no less, can just walk onto a campus and kidnap people in broad daylight.

“Ten points from Slytherin.” Hey Spidey? Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series is a boarding prep school for kids ages 11 to 17. This is a college campus. Therefore, your joke doesn’t work.

Spidey, your spider-signal is a flashlight, not a camera. Therefore, telling Ox to “smile” when you shine it in his face doesn’t make sense.

Wait? So Glory quit working for Jonah when he was mayor because he thought what he was doing was unethical, yet she’s okay working for Wilson Fisk–the freaking Kingpin–when he’s the mayor?

“Precious tritium” Okay, so we’re getting a Spider-Man 2 reference more than a decade after the fact in a story with no ties to Doc Ock?

“…about a war that never took place.” You mean a battle which never took place, right Betty The Revolutionary War still happened, but the Battle of Blood Creek never did. That’s the very story your late husband and you been investigating this whole time, remember?

Why would Betty complain about Spidey’s “Game of Thrones references?” Yes, the reader knows Spider-Man made two of them, but Betty doesn’t.

“With the Ned of it all.” You mean “With Ned and all,” Pete? Because what you just said makes no sense at all.

All right, I was okay with letting slide how Peter’s spider-sense identifies specific threats in “Spider-Sense and Sensibility” even though it’s never done this before. But sensing when someone other than Peter is in danger? How exactly does that work?

Next: 100 greatest superhero stories

What are your own thought about this comic? Which of the two stories did you prefer? Also, if you want to read a second opinion on this issue, check out our sister site, Whatever A Spider Can, and their review of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42.

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