Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #20

Background

After some bad news from his blood results, the New Avengers set off to get Bruce Banner. Things aren't looking good for Spidey after a trip to Africa to the temple of the spider gods. Back in NY, Daredevil stops Spidey doings something stupid – namely battering the Ox to death when Spidey had a vision and thought it was Morlun. During a trip to see Dr Strange, Strange tells Pete he should prepare to die…

Story 'Retreat'

Out in Latveria, Spidey breaks into Dr Doom's castle with, seemingly, two Iron Man – one in black and one in the traditional yellow/red. It is really May and MJ in their suits though. They reach a room that allows them to experience the past without them being able to disrupt it. They see the scene where Peter first met Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter's parents are also there. They are interrupted by some robots back in the castle that attack Spidey. Peter is blacking out because of his illness before May and MJ (in their robot suits) zap everything.

Peter drops the Iron Man suits back to Tony. He has been trying to do a bunch of things with his family before the illness takes him. Going back to see his parents/ young May & Ben were just one of them. Next on his list is going to Vegas … but he decides it would be too much trouble and instead takes a trip on one of Tony's space pods with MJ. Meanwhile Morlun is still watching.

General Comments

This is a weird issue primarily because I liked it despite the fact that nothing really happened. The opening was quite offbeat considering how FNSM#2 had been left and you were left wondering how it followed. The revelation that it was just Pete trying to do a few things before he died is a nice idea, handled very well. It's good to see Peter do something for himself as well, considering that almost his entire life is consumed by looking after others.

It helps that there is some cracking lines and ideas in the scripting as well. You've just gotta love MJ and May cutting loose in Iron Man's suits and zapping the robots … esp May's 'ooo my word' proclamation. Tony's line about 'is this trip with your wife/never mind' is pretty funny too.

As for the art … well the same complaints from the last issue to this one apply. The characters still look a bit odd and square and, in my opinion, too manga- ish.

All in all, a slightly-offbeat tale but a worthy one … as long as the story gets back on track in the next issue.

Overall Rating

A nice, well-scripted aside.