Web of Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #2 (Story 1)

Background

With the Spider-Man event Gauntlet about to launch in the main book, Web Of... is reimaging origins for Spidey's classic villains

Story 'Gauntlet Origins: Electro'

A Stark Industries van is crossing the Goethals Bridge in New Jersey. It loses power as the battery dies, however, and the occupants get out worried that four other trucks have been car-jacked recently. A car has stopped behind and out gets Max Dillon, dressed in a raincoat. He fries the first person, relieving him of his weapon, before blasting the second. He s annoyed because his powers aren’t working as they should be. He couldn’t drain the van’s battery without a booby trap involving a wire. But he feels he’s near to achieving his goals.

Back at his house, Max is working on being able to utilise the electrons in the natural air to power himself. He has stolen the parts from the Stark van to help him. As his experiment seems to be working, Quiksilver shows up but is quickly fried. Magneto has arrived with the Scarlet Witch, however. He detected movements in the electro-magnetic field. Dillon tells him how he received his powers due to a lightning strike. Magneto says the lightning merely awoke something that was already in him. Magneto thinks Dillon should work with him – but Dillon is furious, saying he works for no one. Magneto leaves and says no one, not even Xavier, would be interested in him.

Shortly afterwards, Johnny Pro has shown up at Dillon’s apartment looking for money he is owed. Johnny says Dillon is “small-time” and that, one way or another, he’s going to get what he’s owed. Electro blasts a bolt of electricity right through him. “I’m not small-time, I’m ready,” he says.

General Comments

After what I thought was a pretty disappointing first issue, I enjoyed this one a lot more. Barry Kitson’s art is, as ever, gorgeous. I love the panel where he blasts the driver – and the sinister nature of Magneto is deft but intense nonetheless. Finally, the panel of Dillon blasting straight through Johhny Pro is magnificent.

The story builds from the initial ASM #9 panels and creates more of an origin for Electro. We see that he has brains. He wants to develop his powers and do something with them. If this is the approach Web Of... is going to take, then perhaps the title will work out. While I thought the first issue told a story with little content or end achievement, this one genuinely does add something to a character soon to be reappearing in the main ASM.

Overall Rating

Much better than issue one with a bit of depth and some fabulous artwork.