Spectacular Spider-Man (UK Magazine) #104

Background

Ever wondered what happened to the Spider-Man of the 90's TV cartoon series? Well, he's alive and kicking in Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine, currently being released every three weeks in the United Kingdom. Each issue features a swag of puzzles, posters, letters, and general all-out Spidey fun - all aimed at the young of heart. Plus, there's an 11-page original story featuring more of Spider-Man's Adventures.

Story 'Rhino Hunt!'

Folks in central New York get a bit of a shock when the Rhino comes charging down the main street, crashing his way through cars like some giant bowling ball looking for a STRIKE! The local cops are way out of their league.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker is at the Bugle, having earned a few bucks for some photos of a big street parade. Hey, nice to know he can shoot something other than Spidey. Jonah rushes in looking for somebody to go take some pics of the Rhino's Rampage, and Peter's on the job. Also on the job are the workmen who have just finished refurbishing Jonah's town-house. Betty gives Jameson the good news that the tradesmen are all done, and he tells Betty to send them a cheque.

Back in the big city, the boys in blue have set up a barricade of patrol cars, not that it's going to stop the man in grey. Fortunately Spidey swoops in on perfect cue to save New York's finest from a major smashing. The web-slinger then takes the battle to the Rhino, who in response declares that all he wants to do is get out of town. Of course, that would be a lot easier if to arrange if he wasn't doing so much property damage. If he really wanted to get out of town, I could have suggested the train, rather than the rampage.

But who is this? Somebody is watching the battle, and exclaims with joy that Spidey has fallen into his trap! Well, his identity won't be too much of a surprise to anybody who looked at the cover and saw Kraven and the Rhino. But what is Kraven's plan? All will soon be revealed, no doubt, but first, what of the Rhino. Well, Spidey does his regular toreador trick, dodges the Rhino's charge, and lets the nearest building take the demolishing that the Rhino intended for him. The Rhino seems to be KO'd, so why is Spidey's Spidey-Sense still tingling like a badly-insulated toaster plug?

Aha, that's why. The Rhino isn't out of things yet. He bounces back and makes a charge that would max out anybody's gold card. Once more, Spidey has the better plan, as he leads the Rhino through a fence, only to go crashing into a deep foundation pit on a building site. That's him sorted for now.

Enter villain number two. Kraven's the name, and kidnapping the Rhino was his game. Seems that Kraven kidnapped the horny hoodlum somewhere in the Arizona desert, although what a city boy like the Rhino was doing out there is beyond me. Regardless, Kraven shipped his captive into New York, set him loose, and waited for Spidey to come out of the woodwork. The plan, naturally, was for Spidey to exhaust himself by fighting the Rhino, leaving him an easy victim.

Of course, Spidey is nobody's easy victim, and he quickly dispatches Kraven too, and tosses him down in the pit with the Rhino. Ouch! That's gotta hurt! Bash! Wack! Thud! Kraven may be master of the beasts, but he's in way over his head this time! The mighty hunter takes some mighty lumps. Spidey then cuts a deal with the Rhino. In return for him leaving town, Spidey talks him out of trouble with the police. Kraven, however, carries the can for all the destruction, and is hauled off to prison.

Peter heads back to the Bugle, and shows Jonah the pictures his automatic camera took of the whole scene. But what's this? In the background. That destroyed building? Ooops, it's Jonah's town house, de-furbished and de-molished! Bad luck, Bugle-man!

As ever, there's 36 pages,including the covers, and 11 is the Spidey story. The rest is posters, puzzles, character profiles, B&W art to color, and quizzes to enter. Even better, there's only two pages of ads in the whole thing! How's that for a bargain. Plus, send in your letters and artwork and see them in print! If you're in the U.K. then you should subscribe to this little gem.

General Comments

Great stuff for all ages. Any kid who can read is going to enjoy this magazine. The story is great fun, and the art is clear, fresh, and deliciously colored.

Overall Rating

Great stuff, four webs.