Comics : Spider-Man Tangled Web #7

Background...

In Detail...

	Spider-Man Tangled Web #7  Arc: Part 1 of "Gentlemen's Agreement"
	Editor:  Axel Alonso Writer:  Bruce Jones Pencils:  Lee Weeks Inker:  Josef Rubinstein	Staff Only Images Review Edit
	Dec 2001 : SM Title : Spider-Man Tangled Web  Reprinted In: Spider-Man TPB (Tangled Web) #2

Charlie is a New York cab driver. He is also about to die. Cancer in the brain. At first, he learns that it is inoperable, will cause severe headaches, and will blind him within four weeks. After seeking a second opinion, Charlie learns that their IS an operation, but it will cost him half a million dollars.

Leaving the office to get in his cab, Charlie suffers a migraine attack and flashes back to an incident in his past. It's unclear exactly what is happening, but there is a police car, a chase, a shootout, and a frame of Charlie trapped underneath his overturned cab.

Snapping out of his daydream, Charlie starts to drive home and comes across three people mugging a lady. Realizing there's nothing he can do by himself, Charlie speeds to a pay phone and dials the Daily Bugle. "This is Parker." "Third and Brannon. Mugging!" Soon after, Spider-Man arrives and dispatches the muggers.

Charlie, you see, has a secret. A secret that could easily earn him $500,000. But he is "honor-bound to keep it... kind of a gentlemen's agreement." What should he do? His estranged ex-wife is no help. Neither is his priest, who tells him that the decision is his to make. At one point, Charlie starts to call three local hoods, but hangs up before he says anything. He cannot decide yet. But he doesn't have much time left.

In General...

That being said, I did like this issue because it got me wondering what I'd do if my life depended on it. Charlie is a real, fleshed-out character with a life and a history, and all those forces are drawing on him as he tries to make a decision. But what is his connection to these three thugs? And what exactly happened in that flashback? Who is Charlie, really? I closed the book wanting to know more about what makes the man tick.

Lee Weeks and Josef Rubenstein do a great job with the art. The panels are slightly rough and gritty with a hard-edged realism to them. Exactly like their subject matter. These two artists were an excellent choice for the story.

Overall Rating...

By Wildman (E-Mail)