Spectacular Spider-Man #241 Review

Well, the events of the Book of Revelations is now over. This issue is mainly dealing with the aftereffects and setting up new plot threads.

On the front page, we see Peter Parker, wearing the original duds, knelled atop a skyscrapper. He's pondering the events of those past few issues, and is glad that he has gotten a second chance at his life.

This issue also features the return of KRAVEN the Hunter. No, wait, sorry my mistake. That's actually the Chameleon. Oh, BTW, I never knew that Kraven the Hunter (or Dr. Kafka, for that matter) had purple hair. Anyhow... Chameleon is doing his usual "Poor me, I don't have an idenity" shtick.

Now we go to Aunt Anna and Mary Jane. Gee, Aunt Anna has a new look. I wish the artists would portray her more consistently (and Mary Jane also). Just because we have 4 different artists, that doesn't mean we should get 4 different versions of Aunt Anna (and Mary Jane). Aunt Anna and Mary Jane enter a discussion about the baby, and Mary Jane says that she's saddened by her baby being a stillborn, but she's doing okay. One thing confuses me, though.

Mary Jane: "And then -- When she was born -- I got to hold her in my arms. I got to look in her eyes... see her... feel her. Love her."

Now, I don't remember this being shown in ASM 418. What I remember is the doctor saying "I'm sorry" and Mary Jane crying, then that witch-waitress running off with Li'l May. I wonder how Marvel's going to explain this.

The Daily Bugle. Spider-Man swings toward it, eager to get on J. Jonah Jameson's nerves. But when Spidey gets there, he realizes how hard Jameson has been working, so he taps the window, and tells Jameson that he's been working too hard, and he should go home and be with his wife. This confuses Jameson to no end, but he takes Spidey's advice.

Another future plot line shows up. The Jack O' Lantern. He makes a cameo, and flies off into the skyline.

I think this probably will tie into the "Hobgoblin Lives" mini-series.

Peter shows up at his Queens home, and hugs Mary Jane. Mary Jane tells Peter that it's time to talk. Peter agrees. Mary Jane tells Peter that they need to move away from the Queens home, because of all the memories it holds. Peter, playing the dutiful husband, agrees.

Ravencroft. John Jameson gets off a phone, with a very stunned expression. Seems that J. Jonah Jameson (John's father) has just called and told him that he was the best son on the planet. While Kafka and John are discussion Jonah's apparent change of heart, the Chameleon vanishes!

Peter's been having a restless sleep, so he decides to don the Spider-Suit. Just then, Mary Jane awakens. Peter immediately apoligizes, and says that he'll stay home if Mary Jane wants.

Mary Jane: "Stay home? Now why would I want us to do that?"

Peter: "Us?"

Spidey and Mary Jane swings across the New York skyline, then they stop somewhere and hugs, with the sun setting in the back ground.

Cut to the Chameleon, who is sitting in a dark room. The Chameleon is having reflections on his cruel childhood (he was mistreated by Kraven the Hunter). Just then, the lights in the room turn on, and we find out who freed the Chameleon! It's Dr. Kefka, who wanted to free Chameleon so that he wouldn't have to face trail (and thus destroy Dr. Kafka's hard work).

Best line in the issue: "And the return of Spidey's most savage, unforgettable foe: The Kangaroo!"

My ratings: 2.5 webs

This issue was average at best. Nothing really happened. Like I said, this was mainly an issue to make future plot threads (Jack O' Lantern and Chameleon). Well, at least Arthur Stacy didn't show up.

I'm a little bit bitter, though. In one single issue, they just completely forgot about Ben Reilly. Apparently, Ben meant nothing to Marvel. I was also disappointed that the loss of Li'l May and Ben Reilly didn't seem to affect Peter Parker (and Mary Jane) that much. Peter just lost his daughter and his "brother" for Pete's sake! Come on! Show a little bit more feeling!

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