Amazing Spider-Man #419 Review

We open with three crimelords: Fortunato, The Rose, and Hammerhead. A spooky person is talking about those three in the backround, and the fact that since the Kingpin of Crime fell, the crime scene of New York City has been leaderless. This mysterious figure is thinking that maybe the Black Tarantula should move into that lucrative market. (BTW, what language is the Black Tarantula speaking in? The issue doesn't say.)

We shift to a scene of Spider-Man sticking to a steel building, watching Ben Urich and a stoolie talking. Oh, BTW, we get the title, "Beware of the Black Tarantula." The stoolie is telling Ben Urich about a secret deal between the Rose and a new player. Something to do with a million dollar in smuggled emeralds. Ben Urich asks who the seller is, and the stoolie replies it's the Black Tarantula, who is supposed to be a major international player. Ben never heard of him, and the stoolie tells Ben that he's the reporter, he do the research, then walks away. Unfortunately for Ben, 3 thugs decide to pick that time to gang up on Ben and mug him. Fortunately for Ben, Spidey stops them. A thug swings a baseball bat at Spidey, and Spidey offers to help the thug with his batting technique, then "accidentally" hits the thug with his own baseball bat. Spidey decides it's time to play catch instead, but the thugs fail miserably at that. Sorry, seems those thugs aren't in Spidey's league. Spidey then does something new... he uses his foot to grab on a couple of tires, then uses the tires to capture a thug, so he "doesn't have to dirty his gloves."

After disposing of those thugs, Ben and Peter Parker head off to the Daily Bugle. On the way, Ben asks Peter if he knows something about a person who goes by the name "Black Tarantula."

At the Daily Bugle... A black man is reading a newspaper with the headlines "Senator Creed Assassinated!" Oh, wait, that black man is Robbie Robertson! Sorry, I can't tell who's who with Steve Skroce's AWFUL art. Peter looks like Nate Grey. I hope Peter is dressed up as Spidey in the upcoming Spider-Man/X-Man crossover, because I'd never be able to tell those two apart otherwise. Anyway, back to the story. Robbie and Peter talks a little bit about the assassination of Senator Creed, and the fact that it's blamed on mutants.

The Rose and Delilah are working out, while discussing their deal that's going on that night. God, I hate how Delilah speaks. The Rose mentions the fact that this Black Tarantula has a cult that worships him, like that "Scrier character."

Okay, what the heck is Madelyne Pryor doing in a Spider-Man book? The crossover doesn't begin until next month. Oh, wait, sorry, silly me. That's Mary Jane. Sorry, can't tell those two apart the way Skroce draws them. (Can you tell I despise Skroce's art?) Mary Jane is painting over the walls of the "stillborn" baby's room. She feels that she needs to get over the loss of the baby and get on with her life. Well, I like that plot thread. Mary Jane and Aunt Anna starts talking about the future, and Aunt Anna tells Mary Jane that they might finish before her classes starts. Classes? What classes? Oh, Aunt Anna is taking adult education at the high school. She's taking Art Appreciation, Introduction to Personal Money Management, and Ballroom Dancing.

Mary Jane: "Pretty diverse workload"

Aunt Anna: "Well, I haven't really decided what I want to be when I grow up."

Aunt Anna then asks Mary Jane what she wants to do with her future...

Peter is walking down the street, grumbling about his job future.

Peter: "Maybe... Perhaps, if I'm really lucky... I'll get the honor of snapping a street hustler in Washington Square Park tomorrow. Be still my beating heart."

Peter thinks that he really needs a way to get his life back on track. When he gets home, he asks Mary Jane how her day was. Okay, let's see. Paint in hair vs. an afternoon on the grider with a few dozen pigeons... Yeppo, Peter's day is offically worse. Peter complains about the fact that they have only 1 bathroom. That leads to a discussion about the future, and Mary Jane decides that she's going to college. Peter supports her decision. It's a good way for him to finally get his master's degree.

That night... Ben Urich and Spider-Man set out to find all they can about the Black Tarantula. Ben finds out that the Black Tarantula is a major freak, he's into everything, and that something nasty happened to the Black Tarantula's wife and kid. Spider-Man finds out where the meeting between the Rose and the Black Tarantula is supposed to take place. Spidey calls Ben Urich and lets him know where the meeting is set to take place, then heads off to the place himself.

A small subplot... Angela Yin is looking at the picture of Dr. Folsome (you remember, that doctor who "delivered" Mary Jane's baby? Yeah, that's him). Coincidence? I think not! This baby issue is far from resolved.

Spider-Man leaps off into action. Well, I might hate Skroce's art of ordinary people, but he sure can flat-out draw Spider-Man. Too bad he can't draw anything else.

The warehouse where the Rose/Black Tarantula meeting is set to take place... Delilah is there, naturally. Spidey finds himself a hiding place. Ben Urich shows up. Then the fun begins.

Spidey notices that there are people surrounding the Rose's goons. Spidey thinks it could be a six-letter word that starts and ends with "H." If you know what that word is, please e-mail me and let me know, all right, because I'd sure love to know. I'll assume the word is supposed to be "ambush." And we meet...

The Black Tarantula? Nope. It's El Uno. The ambush begins, and bullets start to fly everywhere. We get the obligatory fight scene. The best part? When El Uno smashes Delilah, I cheered out loud. It was a set-up from both sides. The Rose's money was really a bomb, and the Black Tarantula had no intention of giving out those emeralds. Spidey tussles a bit with El Uno. Nifty tattoo of a spider on El Uno's head... bet that must've hurted, but El Uno says that pain is for lesser mortals. Oh well, he's picking on the wrong spider this time around. Spidey takes El Uno down by using a 3-Stooges trick. The bomb is armed, and the warehouse explodes, as it always must.

So is El Uno dead? Who knows? Personally, I doubt it.

We are given a closing scene of a small troll walking up to the mysterious dark figure from the beginning of the book. "El Uno has failed, mister," he says. The mysterious dude crushes the glass of wine he was sipping from. The end.

Oh, next issue, Aunt May returns.

My ratings: 3 webs

Well... I was wholly unimpressed with the introduction of the Black Tarantula. This was nothing like it was hyped up to be. Let's see why. Start with the Black Tarantula, all right? He was one of those 3 things. 1) The big guy, "El Uno." *yawn* Big, tough guys are a dime a dozen in the Marvel Universe. 2) An organization. *yawn* Organizations are a dime a dozen in the Marvel Universe. Or 3) A crimelord. *yawn* Crimelords are a dime a dozen in the Marvel Universe. You get the idea. The Black Tarantula was "a dime a dozen" villian. Nothing too impressive there. And my other big complaint? Steve Skroce's god-awful art. Get this man off ASM! Bring back Bagley! While his artwork improved tremedously over last month's ASM, it was still awful. He just can't draw people. At least, next week I get JR, Jr. He's always good.

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