Spider-Man Heroes & Villains Collection (UK) #2

Background

This is a 60-part weekly series being pumped into the market by Eaglemoss publications. They don't know much about Spidey, but they know that 60 * $8.99 = quite a lot. And I'm the kind of idiot who will spend that sort of money without doing the math.

Still, I don't have much choice. There's an original 7-page story in every issue, and collectible trading cards too. Two of my buttons just got pushed. I'm your fool, Eaglemoss.

Story 'The End of the Green Goblin?'

The stories are rubbish, but at least they're short. Last issue, the Green Goblin lead Spider-Man into a trip in his headquarters, and the Sinister Six collectively jumped on our hero. But things went quickly awry when the building set on fire, and the Goblin's erstwhile allies took discretion as the better part of valor. With Green-boy unconscious, Spidey had to decide whether or not to stay for the rescue or flee to safety.

Well, naturally he does the decent thing, musing "I can't abandon Harry's Dad like I failed to save my Uncle Ben." An interesting comparison, and one that isn't often made.

With the escape used by the various other villains now impassable, Spidey grabs Goblin and tries to find another way out, which takes him past some sort of bizarre laboratory filled with thanks containing countless giant spiders. What on earth is the Green Goblin's plan? Well, Spider-Man gets the chance to ask him as Osborn regains consciousness and attacks his former rescuer. The Goblin is furious that Spider-Man has "prematurely discovers his plans" and "spoiled all his work".

The Goblin wriggles free, then attempts (with no success) to lure Spider-Man into yet another trap. Instead, it is the Goblin himself who needs rescuing yet again, becoming unconscious again in the process.

Things really get contrived now, as Spider-Man takes time among the burning building to (a) discard the Goblin costume, (b) dress Osborn in a lab suit, (c) destroy all the Goblin's weapons and all evidence of his existence, (d) repair and activate the computer-controlled sprinkler system, then (e) escape before anybody notices. Not bad going!

In the wrap-up at college, Harry rushes up to Peter to tell him that his father was hurt in a lab explosion. Furthermore (no surprises here) it's not clear yet, but he may have amnesia. What's more, Harry is now in charge of Oscorp. Yeah, for real. Somehow it seems Oscorp isn't an international conglomerate, it's some sort of sixteenth century monarchy.

Harry invites Peter to move into Oscorp Tower and be his room-mate. Peter accepts.

General Comments

This story manages to be at once so complicated and overworked that only an existing Spider-Man fan could really make sense of it, while simultaneously being such a distorted and simplistic version of events that any true Spider-Man fan would be instantly repulsed.

Add some artwork that looks like it was done with Microsoft Paint v1.0 and you have a comic book store which for all intents and purposes is unreadable.

Overall Rating

One web. And that, begrudgingly.

Is there any way this comic could be made worse? Oh yeah, make it just a fraction too wide to fit comfortably into a standard comic bag. Thanks, Eaglemoss!

Footnote

On the plus side, this issue does come with an absolutely fantastic little tin for putting your card collection in. This issue (and all following) come with just one pack of cards. We'll review the card set separately.