A point one issue right after a time travel arc?! Surely time-travel wonkiness will ensue? Right? Right!?
The Amazing Spider-Man #679.1
Writers: Dan Slott & Chris Yost
Pencils: Matthew Clark
Inks: Tom Palmer
Colors: Rob Schwager
Lettering: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously, in The Amazing Spider-Man: Horizon Labs resident scientist Grady Scraps built a doorway into tomorrow. Everything was normal when Grady stepped through, but when Peter stepped in New York City was completely destroyed. The two, with the help of Spider-Man, set out to stop the destruction of their city and eventually succeeded. Now forget all of that and just remember that Spider Island is over.
NO SPARKLING BUT THERE IS BLOOD
This point one opens up with a quick flash back to Spider Island to set everyone up for the rest of the issue. In the two pages they remind us that just about everyone in NYC was infected with a virus that gave them Spider powers and that everyone was saved by a cure developed by Mister Fantastic and the secret person in Lab 6. But who is behind the doors of Lab 6? Peter and co-worker Uatu Jackson are on the case.
After making no progress on proving that the mystery worker was Beast, Doctor Octopus, Zombie Albert Einstein, or any other idea that came to Uatu, Peter suits up and goes where only a spider could. Climbing through the vents he finally sees who is holed up in Lab 6, Michael Morbius. Fighting and destruction ensues between the human spider and the bloodthirsty vampire, with Uatu joining in once he gets his vampire-fighting suit. Once Morbius has been taken out, Horizon Labs director Max Modell take him back to Lab 6 letting everyone know that Morbius is not to be disturbed while he continues his work there.
As the issue was coming to a close, Slott and Yost had one more surprise up their sleeve. I won’t come right out and say who Morbius goes to see in the sewer, but isn’t there a Spider-Man movie coming out this summer featuring a scaled villain? Corporate Synergy!!
PETER? IS THAT YOU?
Humberto Ramos had another issue off so to stepped in for the issue is Matthew Clark. For the most part Clark carried on the tradition of solid art in Amazing Spider-Man, the big reveal splash page at the end was very well done. But there was one problem I had with his work, Peter Parker. Clark’s Peter looked 10 years older than he is generally depicted and in a few panels his proportions would be completely off. This wouldn’t be that big of a problem if it was a supporting character, but since it’s the title character it tends to be noticed more.
BOTTOM LINE: POINT ONE MADNESS
Going into the issue I was expecting more time travel stories, but apparently my understanding of the purpose of point one issues is off. From hearing about the Fear Itself point ones it seemed they were used to tie up loose strands of a story; instead, they are suppose to be used for jumping on points for new readers. And that brings up more issues since the next story arc involves Doctor Octopus and the Sinister Six, which neither of this issues villains are apart of. I’m torn about what to think about this issue, but I did find my self being mildly entertained during it so I will give it 2.5 out of 5 stars and leave it at that.
