Web of Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #109 (Story 1)

Story 'A Shock To The System'

Shocker is running, presumably from the scene of a crime and not to improve his 100m personal best. The ground is shaking from his power and, somewhere nearby, Spider-Man wonders what's happening. Shocker runs into some sort of metal facility where a costumed guy named Night Thrasher (at least it's not Nightwatch) is. Shocker knocks him to the ground and runs off.

Spidey shows up and Night Thrasher tells him Shocker was there. NT is harbouring some scientific harness that he thinks Shocker is after. Spidey and Thrasher track Shocker through the facility until they come to the harness. They subdue him and Shocker breaks down and tells them he's been fiddling with his powers to make himself stronger. He says they have become unsafe and he thinks he's going to die.

Shocker says the harness will help so Thrasher puts it on him. They help him be cured then Spidey hands him over to the vault.

In the second story, Calypso has gone to see Curt Connors but awakens the Lizard inside him. He then kills her. (Calypso is Kraven's ex-partner. The two were last together in Tood McFarlane's Spider-Man 1-5 – Torment).

General Comments

This is the first Web Of story I've liked in a while and, not coincidentally, it's not written by Terry Kavanagh. It's still not great but at least guest writer Joey Cavalieri shows some ideas. It still wasn't executed particularly well but at least the original thought was there.

In terms of plus points, the whole idea of Shocker showing concern for his mortality after messing with his own body is really good. I like the rounding of characters – particularly villains – to show that they're not just bad guys who are bad for the sake of it. It's nice to see a more human side to them.

On the other hand, however, the quality of writing really shows up. Cavalieri's pacing isn't up to it and it just lacks … something … it's hard to say exactly what. Perhaps it's just that there's no reason to include Night Thrasher in the tale. Can't Spidey sell his own books nowadays?

Part two leads into issues 110/111. It's not too well written and the idea of turning Curt back into the Lizard … it's just been done SO many times before. Can't the poor guy get any peace?

Overall Rating

The rating is more for the idea than the delivery.