Spectacular Spider-Man #139-142, Web of Spider-Man #40-43

Spectacular: Conway/Buscema: A convoluted and fantastic Tombstone story.  Not going to sum it up.  Notes:  The Arranger is kind of cool.  The Persuader is new and I’m not sure a *super* villain, or even a villain.  Punisher makes good Spidey comics.  Robbie is probably going to jail.  These are definitely worth rereading and would make a great little graphic novel.

Web: David/Saviuk:  A bit of a weird cult story (The Cult of Love, parts 1-4).  Betty Brant falls in with the Cult of Love.  It’s possible Kate’s sister is there too!  Pete saves the day with Flash, some cop I forget, Dr. Druid’s advice, and avoids being brainwashed.  MJ poses for naughty pictures but burns them before submitting them.  Aunt May sees MJ’s naughty pictures and threatens to MJ that May will deck her if she hurts Peter.

These were both fun four part stories that show that there was good stuff in all three Spidey titles at this point.  It’s no wonder they were selling so many issues – these were great fun with great art and interesting stories.  Spectacular goes a bit deeper into Spider-history, but Conway becomes the regular Web and Spectacular writer for like three years, so he’s building something here. David just writes fun stories.

Spectacular Spider-Man #138, Web of Spider-Man #39

Spectacular 138: Conway/Buscema: The conclusion of a heavy handed (but decently interesting) story on illegal immigrants with The Tarantula as the villain.  John Walker is Captain America here and very ineffective, originally HELPING Tarantula, eventually realizing what’s wrong and helping save the day doing nothing, which is enough.  It adds a little more to the Robbie Robertson/Tombstone connection, which does pay off in a few issues.

Web #39: Nicieza/Saviuk: A mildly decent story that gets Spidey back in his red and blues, gets Nathan back to Aunt May, and gets us a brief view of The Looter/Meteroman.

Spectacular was a decent two parter, Web was a decent one shot, these were fun and nice little stories to read if not too deep.

Web of Spider-Man #37, #38, Spectacular Spider-Man #137

Web #37 – (Owsley / Geiger) – A rather unbelievable tale about a serial killer slasher killing high end fashion models.  Pete seems remarkably uninterested in spite of the fact that his wife’s friends are being killed and she may be next.  Everyone is moderately incompetent here including the schlub trying to win a model’s affection, the dude he hired to help him, the model investigator and Spidey himself.  In spite of it all, I was at least entertained reading it.

Spectacular #137 (Conway / Buscema) – The Tarantula returns!  Immigration gets a helper as the Tarantula starts assassinating illegal immigrants who supported the other side in whatever country he’s from and then illegally came to the US.  It’s a decent story and has a lot of moving parts.  I’m not sure if I should know why Robbie Robertson knows Tombstone.  It’s got a decent finish that has Captain America coming to help THE BAD GUYS.  Amazing 298-300 is next, so there’s some real meaty stories coming up.

Web #38 (Nicieza / Saviuk) – Someone spiked the punch bowl at the party that MJ makes Pete put on.  Pete’s downing the punch.  Hobgoblin strikes!  Drunk Spidey barely escapes with his life.  Another silly one shot that was not terrible to read.

Venom is next!  I’ve never been a Venom fan, but I’m excited to read his origin and maybe this will give me a better appreciation for him.  Love the next Amazing covers.  Really looking forward to this little run.

Spectacular Spider-Man #134-#136

Peter David / Sal Buscema

Great stories revisiting the Death of Jean DeWolffe.  The Sin Eater is released from the mental hospital as “cured.”  He’s not.  Spider-Man meets up with him and is stricken with guilt over his terrible injuries.  Spidey loses to Electro, afraid to unleash his full power.  He discovers he has to trust himself – The Sin Eater discovers he can never trust himself and commits suicide by cop.  These were pretty dark stories by David.  Good ones;  I think putting the first four in the Sin Eater story arc and then these three would make a nice, classic graphic novel.