Spider-Man/Wolverine #1

Background

1987, there's a new Spider-Man one-shot on sale. It's called Spider-Man Versus Wolverine and turns out to be one of the 10 best Spider-Man stories ever--at least, in my opinion. 2003, a Spider-Man & Wolverine limited series is solicited. Hmmmm, is this the much-anticipated sequel to the aformentioned one-shot, or....?

Story 'Stuff Of Legends'

We see Spider-Man, in costume without his mask on, looking toward a bright light. He's sitting at a table, and is being interrogated. He tells what started a couple of days ago.

Getting out of bed, watching a little Cartoon Network, making dinner arrangements with Aunt May and getting ready to go to work. Work here is being a teacher. The new, cute, Assistant Principal interrupts class to bring Peter an envelope. Inside are pictures of him getting dressed up as Spider-Man, and a note saying, "Meet me at the roof, Mr. Parker. Now".

Peter rushes to the roof, wondering who knows his secret identity. This turns out to be Nick Fury. He brought an airplane with him and invites Peter on board. He has a job for him. Peter cannot refuse, for Nick mentions that blackmail's a very ugly word. So, after a costume change, Spider-Man gets dropped over some privately-held island off the coast of Japan.

There, a guy's tied to a tree. One of the guys in the mob surrounding him is beating him. Spidey enters the scene and webs up some of the guys. Guns are fired. Spider-Man frees the man tied to the tree, who yells to untie his hands. Spidey finally does so, turns around, and is about to be shot. Then, a familiar snikt is heard.

The interrogator asks what happened next. Peter, sitting at the table, says it happened so fast, "you'll have to ask him". And he points at Wolverine.

General Comments

What can I say? The story hasn't even started yet. There are some very interesting ingredients here, but depending on how they are mixed we'll get a nice story or not. For instance, Spider-Man's secret identity. Not only the person sitting across the table knows it, Nick Fury knows too. Who that person is, is still unknown but we all know Nick Fury. And Nick Fury equals S.H.I.E.L.D. So, who else knows? A well-kept secret, within two pages, it's out in the open.

And Wolverine, sitting on the ground, hands tied behind his back, behind a tree. Is this the Wolverine from the X-Men? The real deal? How is it possible he's captured? Those goons didn't look like they were packing heavy artillery. What happened? My guess is, that's what part two of this mini-series is going to tell us. And then part three is a filler issue and part four the big finale.

Why is Peter suddenly wearing glasses? Can't say I've seen those lately. Is this a continuity glitch, or do I need a pair myself? Talking about continuity, Peter is looking at a picture of Mary Jane, feeling happy and sad at the same time. Does this mean the story took place several months ago, when MJ was till in LA? If so, when did he have time to be away for a couple of days?

Overall Rating

Yeah, only 3.5 webs. I thought the story was too slow. Great atmosphere, but too slow, worth 3 webs. The artwork was perfect, a full 5 webs. And I thought, heck, why not put these two together and make it 3 point 5. And don't you start by saying I could have made it 5 point 3 just as easy. First, I don't think it was that good, and second, my editor won't let me.