Comics : Spider-Man Team-Up #3

Background...

In Detail...

"The Wizards Fantastic"

	Spider-Man Team-Up #3  Summary: Spider-Man & Fantastic Four, Wizard of Perrinois
	Editor:  Tom Brevoort Writer:  Dan Jurgens Pencils:  Bob McLeod Inker:  Bob McLeod	Staff Only Images Review Edit
	Jun 1996 : SM Title : Spider-Man Team-Up
Characters: Ben Reilly

Ben plays forty-fourth story man, slinks his way through the vents, and leaves an asbestos-lined web bomb above Johnny's bed. But, Spidey didn't get out in time, and was caught by Ben Grimm. After being confronted by the entire team, along with the back-from-the-grave Reed Richards, security alarms go off. They find that a hole in time and space has mysteriously formed in Johnny's room. While they speculate, a strange tentacle grabs the Thing and pulls him in. When Reed extends his arms through the gate, he brings back a short, white-haired dwarf!

The dwarf is Shiwa, a powerful wizard from a land called Perrinois. Shiwa saw Storm's video game, and was entranced with the ships flying on the screen. Meanwhile, the Thing lands in a medieval setting, gets swords busted over his back, and scares the crap out of everyone. He uses a disguising device (something to do with cosmic rays - isn't science wonderful), to escape pursuers. Spidey, Reed, and Sue descend into the portal because Johnny can't use his powers , and the little wizard is too entranced in the video game to be of any help.

While Spider-Man and company enter the vortex, Thing assumes that the highest tower would be a good place to look for rescue. He fights the guards, and finally comes to another small, white-haired wizard. He is Rasheed Ven Garmchee, and happens to be Shiwa's wizard brother (go figure!). Rasheed turns into a huge, squat devil with horns and fangs, and Thing sends the mage flying out the side of the tower. The wizard then summons dragon-riding demons to thwart the intruder, just as the Richard's and Spidey come down from the sky. After subduing the Wizard, Spidey latches a web-line onto the video game, and pulls it into the Perrinois dimension. Shiwa immediately follows, and agrees to close the portal. Spider-Man squeezes through the closing gate, with a little help from his pal, Johnny.

After everyone is safe, They talk about Spider-Man's punishment. Johnny's birthday dinner is wonderful, cooked by Sue Richards, and served by your friendly-neighborhood waiter, Spider-Man!

In General...

I also don't like the way that the artist (Bob McLeod) rendered Benjamin Grimm. Especially his head, the way it looks like a chunky, orange beach ball. The writing (by Dan Jurgens) didn't have anything wrong with it (except for lack of concept), and was pretty straight-forward. In fact, it was really too-straightforward. A hole opens, somebody gets lost, you go after him, the hole closes. No twelve-parter here!

Overall Rating...

By Jason Lindsay (E-Mail)

Footnote...

That's got to be pretty generous. Personally, this smelled. The plot was inane - I got the feeling that someone had dug up some of that bad acid from the 70's that the writers must have been on when they did the Spider-Man/Hercules Team-Up.

What annoyed me most was the complete disregard for Ben's character. Perhaps the idea with ben was to bring a slightly more fun, relaxed, Spider-Man - but I hadn't imagined that they would turn him into a brainless practical joker. Perhaps using asbestos webbing on Torch might have been a laugh in Amazing Annual #3 or something - but those days are long gone.

Peter and Ben have both learnt a lot about responsibility since then, and all that any of the recent Spider-Man Team-Ups have done is very clearly demonstrate to me that the writers have completely lost their grip on who, or what Spider-Man is, and what he stands for.

My advice, cease wasting your money on Spider-Man Team-Up. Buy chewing gum instead.