Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) Annual 1998

Background

Ever heard of Devil Dinosaur(TM), or Moon Boy(TM)? A footnote on page 2 refers us to Ghost Rider #81. For better or worse, GR isn't on my comics list right now - so I'll have to step in half way and see where the story goes from here.

Story 'Duel With Devil Dinosaur'

Devil Dinosaur is 30ft tall (give or take), red, and distinctly Dinosaurian. Moon Boy looks like the Gibbon, and talks like William Burroughs crossed with Nick-at-Nite. They're under scientific reasearch after their recent appearance. Peter heads over to take Pic for the Bugle, and is their to see Mr. Maynard Tiboldt and Ms. Zelda Dubois arrive with a handful of legal documents, and walk away with the Dinosour and Moon Boy.

Of course, Tibold and Dubois are the aliaii of Ringmaster and Princess Python, of the Circus of Crime - and Peter suspects a little hypnotism helped their situation along.

Without getting into detail - the Circus comes to town, featuring the Circus of Crime, and special guest stars Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy. Spider-Man still can't figure what their angle is this time. Their standard trick in the past has been to fill the circus, hypnotise the crowd, and swipe their valuables.

It's villany this time too, of course - with a small variation. Spider-Man twigs to their plot, battles the Circus of Crime, then Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy (under hypnosis), but all ends well. A formula mix of Peter/Spider-Man, Daily Bugle staff, bad guys with evil plans, and good guys who battle Spider-Man before coming to their senses and joining him.

General Comments

Good healthy fun. Solid art, mix of new and old characters. Nothing earth shattering, though.

Overall Rating

Three webs. Could have been much worse.