Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #26 (Story 2)

Background

Not much background is needed on this secondary story to this issue. None actually because this is used as a jumping on (or in) point for new readers, or to offer a little background information to new readers who haven't been with Spider-Man that long. Just like his Origin story needing to be retold every few years so too does a description of Spider-Man's powers.

Story 'These Great Powers!'

Its one thirty-seven in the morning and Peter is about to be attacked by a women from behind whose face is hidden in the shadows. Just as she attacks Peter does a back flip over her and flicks on the lights to reveal MJ with a pillow. They both apologize for what happened and MJ starts asking questions about his Spider Sense. Over a cup of tea Peter explains to her all about his powers.

First he explains how his Spider-Sense is like a early warning system, making it very hard to take him by surprise. We see some villain (I have no idea who this is) with a laser beam coming from his eyes trying to hit Spider-Man, who easily jumps over it. He then goes on to tell her that it also warns him of dangerous people who might pose a threat to him. He can also walk around obstacles without really paying much attention. But where his Spidey Sense really shines is when he's fighting. In this panel we see Spider-Man taking on the three members of the Femme Fatales.

Peter then goes into his enhanced reflexes and coordination making him a perfect acrobat. MJ teases him and says he's always been graceful, except when it comes to the dance floor. Because he reflexes are so much faster then everyone else's, he uses that to take on much stronger opponents.

Next, Peter explains his ability to stick to walls. He says that every part of his body can do it (I don't ever remember this being the case) and that its a conscious act to use this ability, that he can turn it on and off. He also mentioned that once he's stuck onto a surface nothing can remove him from said surface (here's another little talent I didn't know about).

Last but not least Peter talks about his web shooters and his web fluid. He mentions that it takes two hours for it to evaporate (I always though it was only one hour) and how he can make simple shapes with it. I remember Spider-Man way back in the beginning using his web to make shapes and what not but lately he uses it more for the basics than anything else.

They laugh and joke after Peter is finished and Mary Jane says that even with all of this cool powers nothing can protect him from "The Terrible Tickle Monster". How cute. I don't think I'd ever want to get into a tickle fight with someone who could easily web me up for two hours so that I couldn't fight back.

General Comments

Getting surprised in the middle of the night by your wife trying to hit you over the head with a pillow seems like a strange thing to do but that's exactly what MJ is doing to poor Peter. It's after one in the morning, Peter gets up to use the bathroom, and MJ decides now would be a good time to perform a sneak pillow attack. It's no wonder Peter reacted to her like he was being seriously attacked. I know I'd be pretty ticked off if that happened to me.

After they have a quick laugh about it, MJ reveals that she doesn't really know what Peter's powers are. This I find pretty hard to believe. After all the years they've been married you'd think this conversation would have already come up by now. But whatever, it's a good jumping on point for new readers. Sitting down to a cup of tea, Peter runs through all of his powers for his wife.

Overall Rating

I think Mark Bagley is one of the best Spider-Man artists around and I'm glad that he's still a regular penciler for our favorite wallcrawler. The writing was just fine as well. It wasn't Shakespeare but it wasn't insulting either. I had a hard time believing that after being married to Peter for as long as they have been that she still didn't know the extent of Peter's powers, but whatever. They had to find a way of explaining to new readings exactly what Spider-Man can do and this is what they came up with.

Footnote

I thought Peter's web fluid only lasted an hour before it dissolved. This story says that it actually lasts twice that. Is this an error in the story or have I missed something? Oh and when can Spider-Man stick any part of his body to walls. I thought it was just his hands and feet. Also what is this about when he's stuck to a surface, nothing can un-stick him?