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Amazing Spider-Man #45 – THAT COVER!!
CREATIVE: Zeb Wells, Carmen Carnero, Marcio Menyz and Joe Caramagna (MARVEL)
There’s just something about a ready-for-battle Spider-Man cover that when it’s done right, nothing is more enticing for comics fans.
We’ve seen the likes of Gabriele Dell’Otto and others create some absolutely gorgeous Spidey covers in the past, but this Spider-man #45 cover from John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna and Marcio Menyz is truly something else.
The shadowing, the torn mask and suit and something JR has always mastered, the rain falling on our down but not out hero.
As for our story, it opens with a kind of reset for Spidey fans. Zeb Wells gives us a fresh start after Gang War with a storyline that leaves us wanting more.
We saw the Peter Parker – Mary Jane split and how that unfolded earlier in the series, now we get to see Spidey start a new arc.
Well, kinda …
The issue opens with Peter saving MJ’s aunt Anna from a poison that has made her a deranged murderer.
In something of a parable to his story with MJ, Aunt Anna decides to stay in Ravencroft, home for the criminally insane, instead of breaking out with Spider-Man.
It’s a sense of duty and doing the right thing that Peter knows all too well.
A New Mentor
We then turn to Peter and his relationship with Norman Osborn, formerly the Green Goblin and Spider-Man’s #1 archenemy.
But Norman steps into a Tony Stark role nicely here.
I know people have had a problem with Norman mentoring Peter given their past, but I think anything new in comics, especially Spider-Man, is something worth exploring.
MORE SPIDERMAN?!
We head back to Ravencroft as MJ, now Jackpot, sneaks up on Spider-Man and the duo both change into their civilian selves to enter the asylum and visit Aunt Anna.
And Anna is THRIVING, absolutely charming all the inmates in the asylum.
As he’s about to leave Peter recognizes one of the inmates, William Baker, who is also the Sandman, but also Flint Marko. (It’s a long story.)
The Sinister Five??
After Spider-Man is mentioned during the conversation, Marko tries to break free from Baker’s subconscious in a fit of rage.
Marko wants to kill Spidey (I know, what’s new), but we get an exciting cliffhanger as Baker tells Parker “THEY” want him out of jail too.
Who is they?
THE SINISTER SIX (well, five without Sandman.) But seems like the plan is to break Sandman out and get the band back together!
