Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #39

Story Details

Eddie is still wrestling with his conscience as he ends up killing a hospital worker.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Felicia keeps watch, while Peter, MJ and Anna Watson join Madame Web in a séance. Peter seemingly makes contact with May, who tells him she doesn't want to be brought back and that she's been down the road she's on before. She goes through a door and locks it as Peter is distraught.

Meanwhile, Eddie has gotten into May's room. Peter arrives however and Eddie has sliced his own arms up. He tells Peter he still feels their 'friend' inside him but that he couldn't bring himself to harm an innocent like May. He then throws himself backwards out of the hospital window, before Peter uses his webs to catch him.

Eddie wakes up in a hospital bed with the symbiote still in his head telling him that he's not going anywhere. Eddie admits that now he knows who's in charge.

General Comments

The first thing to say about this is how wonderfully sick the cover is. That's meant in a good way. I have really enjoyed Clayton Crain's covers and art throughout the Sensational run and, yet again, he hits the mark in a terrific way.

After that, well the rest of the art is patchy to say the least. Rick Hoberg's breakdowns aren't as sharp as Lee Weeks' from the last issue, while Crain's montages just don't quite work as well as they could have done.

This two-parter has brought Eddie Brock back into the Spidey-verse after his apparent suicide before – but it's just so laboured. Nearly 50 pages set mainly in a hospital room. Over half of those are Eddie talking to himself. It just goes ... nowhere. Probably RAS' poorest work since he took on the title in what has otherwise been a pretty strong run.

Overall Rating

As RAS' run nears its end, I hope he goes out with more of a bang than this.