Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #3

Background

When we left them last issue, Spider-Man and Detective Garrett had finished trading information on the Venom case - information that led Spidey to believe that Eddie Brock is no longer involved with Venom, and the symbiote is therefore searching for a new host...

Story Details

We pick up where we left off, with Spider-Man and Garrett discussing Venom. Garrett doesn't agree with Spidey's methods, but he agrees to give Spidey a few days to handle the case on his own by leaking Eddie Brock's name to the media. Shortly after their discussion, Brock sees on TV that the police are looking for him, and he leans out his window and begs the Venom symbiote to come back.

The next day in Forest Hills, Peter is helping Aunt May paint a room, and May tells him of the bright idea she had for helping Flash Thompson. Back at Brock's apartment, the Venom symbiote has returned, and it joins with Brock once again. And now at Peter's apartment, many of Peter's friends are there to help move in Peter's new downstairs neighbour: Flash Thompson. Aunt May decided that Flash should have a friend nearby to help if needed, and Peter agreed that having Flash downstairs was a good idea. Liz Osborn is relieved to know that Peter will be close by, and we also meet Flash's nurse, a muscle- bound eastern European woman named Helga. As the day grows old, Peter says goodbye as his friends go home, and then goes inside inside to spend some time with Flash.

Not long after, Peter has changed into his Spidey togs, and is swinging across the city. But before long, unbeknownst to the web-slinger, he is being stalked by Venom. Venom makes his presence known and attacks, but Spider-Man outsmarts Venom and knocks him through the skylight of an adjacent building. Spidey swings down to find Venom, but instead finds only a stunned Eddie Brock. Brock is raving, telling Spidey that the symbiote is no in control when they're bonded, instead of vice versa like it used to be. Brock tells Spidey that he's stepped into a trap, which is when the symbiote pounces. As the Venom symbiote envelops the wall-crawler, Brock goes on to say that he is no longer of any use to the symbiote, and that it just wants to rejoin with its original host - Spider-Man...

General Comments

This latest incarnation of Spectacular Spider-Man continues to impress. Although the ending to this issue was fairly predictable, Paul Jenkins turned in another strong script this time. The scene with Peter and Flash was touching, and despite the predictability, this has still been a creepy story, and I'm looking forward to the next installment. The art is also once again very strong this issue, perhaps the best it's been yet. Humberto Ramos and Wayne Faucher handle Peter and the supporting cast very well, and they do a great-looking Spider-Man. I love the new-look Venom and how he physically dwarfs Spidey. This is just an all-around good read.

Overall Rating

The best issue of (this run of) Spectacular Spider-Man yet. Yeah, I realize there have only been three issues, but still. Four and a half webs.