Spider-Man Marvel Adventures #16

Background

This is a different Spider-Man than you remember. This version is targeted towards a younger audience, and has a slightly different continuity and background to the hero than the one that us old timers remember. Still, the important things here are that Peter Parker is still Spidey, he lives with his Aunt May, and he is 15 years old. Also, Spidey’s name tops the book’s header, so we know it’s still all about him — as a teen in the modern-day world.

Story Details

We open with Spidey and Chat being chased across the rooftops by demons. They manage to achieve a temporary respite by getting to a door and shutting it behind them but the demons are intangible and manage to pass through the door, so Spidey grabs chat and ducks out a window. Once outside again, they see Baron Mordo who is conjuring up the demons. So Spidey, while holding onto Chat, swings off to Greenwich Village to seek the help of Dr. Strange. The demons are still hot on his heals, and reach Dr. Strange’s place just as he arrives. Looking to escape Spidey swings towards the big window on the second floor, but instead of crashing through it, he swings right through it. Inside he and Chat meet Strange, and (after introductions are made), they tell Strange about Mordo and the demons he’s releasing on Manhattan. Strange then transports the three of them back to where Mordo and the demons are. Once there, Strange starts dealing with the demons with Spidey and Chat’s help. As they are becoming overrun they seek to escape, and grab up a street cart vendor to protect her. At this time Mordo reveals himself and Spidey launches an assault on him, only to be thwarted buy Mordo’s magic. Modo conjures up an extra-large Spider who traps Spidey and Chat in a large web, only Spidey manages to break free with the help of some pigeons, and swings Chat to safety. Meanwhile Strange floats high above the city battling Mordo on a mystical level, while Spidey clashes with the demons on the ground. Seeking inspiration from his life as Peter Parker, Peter picks up bottles of catsup and mustard form the vending cart and tosses them at the demons. As it turns out, the condiments serve to distract Mordo enough for Spidey to land a solid kick to Mordo’s jaw. Setting him up for Strange to deliver the coup de gras, and send Mordo back to his own dimension. Chat delivers insult to injury as she sprays more catsup in the vanishing portal after Mordo.

General Comments

This episode of Spidey’s life is one big chase scene with little if any expository material, making it something of a different type story for this series.

Overall Rating

Not a bad issue, but nothing truly compelling about it either.

Footnote

Unfortunately the quality of this series has gone progressively downhill.