Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #605 (Story 3)

Background

Chapter 3 of #605. Pete's had bad luck in love lately, after the controversial hookup with roommate Michelle and the return of former flame Mary Jane Watson.

Story 'Match.con'

Pete's thinking back to a childhood fantasy, of being at the batting cages with Uncle Ben and pretending he's in the World Series, bottom of the 9th, game 7, tied score and with loaded bases. He's at the plate and can win the World Series with one swing, but before he can finish his fantasy, Harry interrupts. They're at the park, batting some baseballs around. Harry talking causes Pete to miss. Harry says Pete needs to get over the 'MJ thing'. Harry says Pete needs to date, and that it doesn't have to be a long, drawn out relationship, of which Pete says "good".

Back at Pete's apartment, he and Harry go on an NYC dating site. Pete watches videos of various single girls, all of whom seemingly have just been dumped or screwed over by their former boyfriends. The search goes late into the night and into the next morning.

Later that day, Spidey stops a superpowered jewelery store thief. He opts to return the stolen loot to where it came from and swings over to the store on swanky Park Avenue. There, he returns the goods to a pretty blonde named Danielle, who makes Pete as Spidey nervous and tells him she always liked him on TV, that he's funny. It finally comes out that he would like to see her again, but not reveal his secret identity. They agree to meet again on the top of the building at 9 that night.

Meeting Harry later for lunch at the Coffee Bean, Pete informs Harry he's met a girl. Who should walk in but Danielle. Pete slips up and says hi and uses her name, and she wants to know how he knows who she is. He backtracks and says he's really good at guessing names, which creeps her out. Harry tells him he's being more "Parker" right then than usual.

That night, he goes to meet Danielle on the rooftop. After chatting, they realize there's very little for them to actually do, as Spider-man can't just walk into a restaurant. Spidey offers to take her on a web swing, but she says she's afraid of heights. She also says her boyfriend Chris won't believe it when she tells him she turned down a web-swing. She says her boyfriend is okay with them hanging out, as it's not a date or anything. She asks for an autograph for him.

Later, Harry's asking questions back at Pete's apartment. He says he doesn't want to talk about it. Michelle screams at Pete to stop using her wi-fi. Harry dozes off in a chair, dreaming of making the winning catch in a Yankees game.

General Comments

A bit better than chapter two, as we get to see Spidey in costume and in action for the first time in the whole issue. Pete trying to find love in all the wrong places is funny and is something many can probably relate to. As usual, his costumed identity gets in the way, and then Danielle drops the "I-have-a-boyfriend" bombshell on him.

As good as the romance-related stories in this issue are, I can't imagine who the intended audience for them would be. Pete as a kid having fantasies of being a baseball hero also rang a little false--wasn't this geeky, awkward, science-worshipping Peter Parker?

Overall Rating

The creators get some housecleaning stories out of the way and set up some plot points for the next few issues. Cutesy and humorous--that's about it. Let's move on.