Spider-Man 2099 (Vol. 1) #16

Story 'The Rise of the Hammer'

It appears that Thor has returned to the year 2099 - but this ain't your daddy's Thor. This guy appears to have power, but lacks the necessary humility to be the familiar champion on the Heroic Age.

Thor makes a play for Dana, demanding her to stay to be a "sport of the gods". Miguel resists, and is flung a tremendous distance away. Dana assumes her fiancée has been killed, but Miguel uses his webbing to curtail his demise. Changing into his Spidey garb, Miguel prepares to fight.

Meanwhile at the Wellvale Home, Conchata knocks out a doctor, steals his car, and drives off.

While Dana is expelled from Valhalla in tears, Spider-Man arrives and battles Thor and Heimdall. Spidey catches Heimdall's sword, and clashes against Thor's hammer. Spidey calls Thor a "highbrow hoax" and slices Thor's face with the sword. Thor lashes back and hurls his hammer into Spidey, launching him all the way to Downtown.

At Miguel's apartment, Gabriel asks Lyla for his brother's whereabouts. Not getting a straight answer (but many offerings for a cruller) Gabe snaps at the hologram. Lyla "hulks out" and yells Gabe to the floor. Gabe takes a cruller.

Under rubble in Downtown, Spidey crawls out from the wreckage to be greeted by the barrel of Punisher 2099's gun!

To BE CONTINUED in Ravage 2099 #15, Doom 2099 #14, X-Men 2099 #5, and Punisher 2099 #13.

General Comments

Finally we get to see what all the Thor hoopla was about - and he's a big jerk! It was nice to see Spidey in a larger scale epic battle for a change. Great battle sequence with Thor. Spidey can hold his own, even against the big guns. Not bad for a new player on the block!

Peter David has a funny way of matching Spidey up with bad guys who's ego's eclipse Miguel's own sizeable notion of himself.

An enjoyable read...which unfortunately requires additional purchases into other 2099 tales to complete the story of "The Fall of the Hammer."

Overall Rating

Above average fare. David manages to keep the subplots running smoothly with Lyla acting up and Conchata's escape.