"TO KILL A SPIDER-MAN!"
Writer: Stan Lee/Breakdowns: John Romita Sr./Penciller: Don Heck/Inker: Mike Esposito/Letterer: Sam Rosen/Editor: Stan Lee/Cover Art: John Romita Sr.
Synopsis: Spider-Man has regained his memories, but he'll have to outsmart a returning Spencer Smythe and a Mk II Spider Slayer before he can relax...
Review: The second of two standalone issues before the next big storyline, and in my opinion, it's the superior of the pair. We still get a bit of Ka-Zar and Zabu at the start, but mercifully there's no more contrived battle between him and Spider-Man, who has now regained his memories after the shock of almost drowning - comic book logic - and the final scene as Ka-Zar and Peter pass each other on the street in their respective civilian garb is quite nice; I particularly love the final panel where Ka-Zar walks away, unaware that he has just passed by his recent opponent.
The main event here - as the cover teases - is the return of Spencer Smythe, who has created a new robot capable of defeating Spider-Man. This time around, it's finally received its iconic 'Spider Slayer' name, though the design retains the humanoid shape of Ditko's original. I'm not sure how I feel about this design compared to Ditko's; much like Romita's take on Doc Ock being a much more powerful, imposing figure, his redesign of the Spider Slayer is similarly intimidating, a bulky metallic powerhouse that can smash a brick wall to pieces, and possesses a deadly destructo-beam on its head. I do love the sense of power and might you get with this model of Slayer, and I appreciate the way that spider-shaped motifs have been incorporated into the design, but I miss the uniqueness of Ditko's original; those thrashing steel coils in particular are sadly absent from this version, leaving Romita's design feeling a bit too much like a generic killer robot.
Though I still feel that Don Heck's finished pencils mute and muddy the Romita style, I can't fault the action scenes - it's really just one lengthy sequence - because they're absolutely sensational. Spider-Man is pursued through the streets by the Spider Slayer, all without any web fluid; he has to evade the thing simply be jumping and wall-crawling. It's a fantastic spectacle, especially because the Slayer itself can walk on walls now, leading to some really cool and dramatic artwork as the robot repeatedly chases Spidey into a corner. I love the way the momentum builds up throughout the chase as well; to start with, we get a repeat of ASM #25, with Jameson controlling the Slayer and making his usual jibes as he tries to pin Spider-Man, but once Smythe himself gets ahold of the controls, it's a whole different ball game. Between his last appearance in Issue #28, Smythe has gone completely insane and is determined to kill Spider-Man outright for humiliating him last time. I know some people don't like the more outwardly villainous take on Smythe that we get from here on, but personally, I prefer him as a raving nutter; he's more fun that way, and I especially like how averse Jameson is to the idea of outright killing Spider-Man; he may hate the wall-crawler's guts, but Jameson's no murderer. I also adore the way Smythe is introduced in this issue, stood in his laboratory and surrounded on all sides by spiders in glass cages; it's such a dynamic re-introduction to the character, whilst also providing a visual clue to Spider-Man's later defeat of the Spider Slayer.
Another thing I really like about this issue is just how much it shows off the supporting cast. None of them really get to do anything, but it's just a pleasure to see them so the issue's not all about the action. I love seeing Captain Stacy and John Jameson discussing their opinions on Spider-Man, and Stacy's idea to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the web-slinger is a tantalising hint of what's to come. I also enjoy seeing John Jameson's interaction with Robbie at the Bugle, and the little mention of Robbie's own past in the military. Nothing of consequence happens in this scene, but it's the little moments like this that go a long way in building up the characters, and the world they inhabit. Everything just feels more real and more immersive; I can never get enough of Spider-Man's supporting cast during this era.
ASM #58 isn't an all-time classic, but it's great fun, moves along at a good pace, and gives us the welcome return of not just Smythe and his deadly creation, but of Spider-Man as well. It's not until you read Stan's dialogue here that you realise just how much you've missed having ol' web-head around, and thankfully, he's here to stay.
Rating: 4/5
Next time, Peter and friends pay a visit to the Gloom Room, the nightclub where MJ has landed a new job, but the sinister Brainwasher lurks behind the scenes...
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