The Amazing Spider-Man [2015] #9 - Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 9, May 2016

Arguably best described as being reminiscent of an early Seventies copy of “Marvel Team-Up”, courtesy of a fast-paced, no frills opening which quickly sees its titular character and Nick Fury racing towards a “Zodiac hacked” orbital space platform on board the painfully-named “Arachno-Rocket!”, Issue Nine of “The Amazing Spider-Man” must surely have caused plenty of its 88,164 strong audience many a wry smile when first published in March 2016. For despite being a thoroughly entertaining twenty-page periodical that sees Peter Parker’s alter ego at his action-packed best as he helps the “agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” trouble-shoot a number of Scorpio-controlled killer satellites, it’s hard not to feel that Dan Slott’s enjoyable script wouldn’t have better suited a protagonist like the Fantastic Four or Iron Man instead. Indeed the Diamond Gem Award-winner even makes light of the fact that his hero isn’t the Golden Avenger later in the book by having a worried Web-head, whose suit is rapidly breaking up as he re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, grimly state “H-h-hell, Iron Man d-d-does stuff like this all the t-t-time!”

The Wall-crawler’s access to all manner of state-of–the-art technology, whether it be a rocket ship, a spider-armoured space-suit, an emergency beacon or back spinnerets capable of deploying an all-encompassing ball of protective web-foam, also must have undoubtedly grated upon the subconscious of the long-suffering Spider-Man reader, especially as the Web-Spinner seems to demonstrate a contrivingly convenient amount of forethought in each device’s creation; “Impossible! This is Spider-Man we’re talking about. Not Thor!” It’s true that during the Berkeley-born writer’s tenure the former Daily Bugle photographer’s intellect has been continually re-emphasised to the point where Parker is the CEO of a “cutting edge” company which “has offices across the globe.” But even so “One Way Trip” still feels like something out of a Jim Steranko espionage-laden “Strange Tales” storyline than a narrative entirely in tune depicting the (mis)adventures of the friendly neighbourhood hero.

Slight misgivings as to Spidey’s use aside however, Slott’s opening instalment of the “Scorpio Rising” storyline is additionally engaging on account of it containing a succinct update as to Otto Octavius’ mechanical machinations within the “London Headquarters of Parker Industries.” Trapped inside the metallic mind of the robot servitor Living Brain, the super-villain spies Aiden Blain sharing an affectionate kiss with the criminal’s one-time fiancée Anna, and momentarily becomes enraged at the sight. Disappointingly Doctor Octopus' murderous electronically-voiced rant is cut all-too short by Spider-Man’s current plight. Yet such developmental teases as to a future confrontation between the costumed crime-fighter and his arch-nemesis provides some assurances as to the American author’s commitment to an over-arching narrative, and undoubtedly delivers an ample hook with which “Marvel Worldwide” could maintain this title’s impressively-sized readership.

Writer: Dan Slott, Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Inker: Cam Smith