Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #60

Background

In this comic, Peter (Spider-Man), Parker; our webbed hero; is not only, still a teen, but he lives in today’s hi-tech, modern world. This series has re-imagined the world of Spider-Man for today’s modern sensibility without all of the grim and grittiness that currently infuses today’s comic line. Still, it retains all of the exciting nuances and straight-up fun from the Silver Age of Marvel. True, these stories are truly targeted for a much younger audience than your typical Marvel Comic reader; but it should be noted that there are plenty of “old timers” (like this reviewer) who find this title a true refreshing breeze.

Story Details

As this story opens, Spidey is (apparently) protecting the silencer from the police who are trying to capture her. Spidey webs up several cops as she makes good his escape. The Cops then dog-pile him as he shouts out for them to stop and listen o him, as he has a badge.

Flash back to earlier that morning while Spidey is on the phone with Chat (who still doesn’t remember dating Peter — Hey, you don’t think that Mephesto thing from ASM has leached its way over to here, do you?) Anyways, Chat is telling Spidey about her day working for the Blonde Phantom as the Silencer is lounging on Chat’s couch. Chat won’t let Spidey come by her place, which just confuses Spidey all the more.

Hanging up, Spidey swings off, and spots a bunch of Troino’s thugs who have apparently just ordered lunch. Not sure of what he should do, Spidey tracks down Captain Stacy and (as Pete), asks for his advice. The police Captain responds by deputizing Spidey, and giving him a Police badge (which naturally freaks Pete out all the more).

Later on, as Spidey, He runs across Tronio’s Grandson (whom Spidey met last issue for the first time), the kid once again tries to warn Spidey about the professional hit man that his grandfather brought on to take care of Spidey. Unfortunately, the kid’s bodyguards spot Spidey and jump him. Needless to say Spidey (with the help of the Troino lad), take care of them all, and then he continues to tell Spidey about Bullseye, a deadly assassin who has been hired to kill Spidey.

Spidey heads over to Chat’s place, spots the Silencer and breaks into the apartment to capture the criminal, only to learn that Silencer is really Chat’s friend. The only problem is that Spidey called the cops, before he broke in and now they are on they are on their way. All of which brings us back to the beginning of this tale.

After stopping the cops, Spidey drops his badge off to Captain Stacy, and apologizes that his tryout as a cop consultant didn’t work out as well as everyone hoped it would have

General Comments

I have to say that after 60 issues and five years, this title has really (finally) run its course. I am no longer as excited as I used to be over it and t is because of this new direction. Yes I understand what writer Paul Tobin is trying to d, but I don’t think that he is making it work.

It is still cute, and all, but the action seems forced, the pacing is off, and, well, too many things are just unexplained. I honestly feel that trying for an internal issue-to-issue continuity was a bad idea. I greatly prefer the all-in one tale that mirrors without copying the Silver-Age feel of Spider-Man

Overall Rating

To be sure, while this writer is still enjoying this series, the current direction leaves something to be desired as the direction has sharply veered off from the “classic” feel the series used to have.

Footnote

This title (as is the entire Marvel Adventure line) is slated to end next month, but not to worry, folks, as the books will be re-born (phoenix-like) the following month, complete with new branding and (hopefully) with a return to the child-like sense of “gosh-wow” present from the earlier run if the series.