Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #232

Background

A skeleton has recently been discovered inside the smokestack which Ben was dumped into long ago. The ever-smiling J. Jonah Jameson can't figure out how to nail this on Spider-Man, so he flies in the one photo-journalist who has come through with the dirt on Spidey so many times in the past: Peter "I used to wear the webs but I found out I'm a clone and now I've lost my powers and I live in Portland with my wife and the baby in her stomach" Parker!

Story 'A Show Of Force'

By request of his daughter Carolyn (better known to many as the new (when will people stop calling her "the new"?) Doctor Octopus), Seward Trainer - who is still comatose - is about to be discharged from the hospital into the hands (and boy, she has lotsa those) of his daughter.

A reunion between Ben and Pete & MJ is interupted as Trainer uses Ben's T.V. set to inform Ben of this. Ben faces Ock alone (Pete lost his powers in the "Final Adventure" limited series), and wins. Ock is arrested, Seward is reunited with his body, and Ben still gets his date with Jessica, his new girlfriend. It's all so beautiful! So happy! Excuse me, I may weep.

This "tale of fights and farcial fun" was made up of Todd DeZago's words, Sal Buscema's pictures, and Jimmy Palmiotti's finishes.

General Comments

The art was good (Jimmy Palmiotti's inks complement Sal Buscama's pencilling well, and the writing was good for what it was, but what was it? It was basically a story to tie up loose ends. Seward Trainer's no longer a vegetable (Rats. I never really liked him.), Doc Ock was defeated without a cunning plan (Octavius would never go down that easily), and Ben seems very much like Peter's younger brother, not the original Pete Parker.

Overall Rating

Was it good? Sure. Was it great? Maybe. Was it fantastic? No.