The Amazing Spider-Man #790 - Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 790, December 2017

It would be interesting to know just how much of the script to Issue Seven Hundred And Ninety of “The Amazing Spider-Man” Christos Gage actually penned, considering that this second instalment to Dan Slott’s “Fall Of Parker” story-arc arguably portrays a rather cowardly, rashly-natured titular character who seems to have far more in common with the hot-headed Johnny Storm than the “owner and operator of a worldwide technology firm” who heroically destroyed the company so as “to keep it out of Doctor Octopus’s hands.”

Admittedly, this twenty-page periodical starts off well enough with Peter sincerely completing his “apology tour” of both staff and consumers. But just as soon as Harry Osborn makes mention of him having to attend the sale of the Fantastic Four’s old headquarters, this comic’s creative couple would have its 52,833 readers believe the former Daily Bugle reporter would actually “bail” on his friend simply so his battered ego can be inflated with fans queuing up for selfies, elderly citizens offering to cook him some “real Italian food”, praise from New York City’s motorists and the adoration of teenagers as he plays ‘hippity-hoppity’ with them; “Strawberry shortcake, cream on top! Tell me the name of your sweetheart! Is it A, B, C--” 

This fainthearted “poo-head Parker” genuinely grates upon the nerves and seems badly at odds with the decidedly determined web-slinger this comic has previously depicted desperately trying to make amends for his past mistakes. However, to make matters worse, "Breaking Point" then also depicts a surprisingly fiery Web-head uncaringly risking the sale of the Baxter Building by refusing to apologise to the Human Torch for selling the place "to some... some condo-flipping finance bro", even though he had promised “to hold onto it… until that day the Fantastic Four are finally back!” Indeed, this book’s version of the web-slinger actually seems eager for “Matchstick” to “bring it”, just so the pair of supposed friends can once again monotonously wreak havoc with their tediously familiar exchange of webbing, flame-balls and insults…

As a result, besides Stuart Immonen’s marvellous pencilling which consistently imbues even the most sedentary of scenes with dynamic life and energy, this publication appears to have had little to offer its audience in October 2017 apart from some intriguing insights into the criminal motivation behind Clash. Enraged by Parker Industries taking the credit for his discoveries and subsequently planning “to sell off the things I invented”, Clayton Cole’s villainous robber cuts a semi-sympathetic figure when compared to other members of Spider-Man’s more nefarious Rogues Gallery, and it’s rather pleasing to see the crooked 'anti-hero' successfully make off with his ‘stolen’ technological gadgets after watching him momentarily aid his nemesis in the deactivation of “a self-recharging power source” capable of taking “out the whole block!”

Plot: Dan Slott, Script: Christos Gage, Penciler: Stuart Immnonen, and Inker: Wade von Grawbadger