"THE LADY AND--THE PROWLER!"
Writer: Stan Lee/Penciller: John Romita Sr./Inker: John Romita Sr./Letterer: Artie Simek/Editor: Stan Lee/Cover Art: John Romita Sr.
Synopsis: In the wake of Captain Stacy's death, Hobie Brown once again takes on his Prowler identity to bring Spider-Man to justice...
Review: Peter's personal hell just gets worse and worse. The last ten issues of ASM (although mainly Issues #90 to #98) push our hero to breaking point, leaving him at his absolute lowest before eventually bringing him back up again. Right now, though, we're pretty much in the pits of despair, with Captain Stacy dead and Peter feeling that he can't be with Gwen because of her newfound hatred for Spider-Man. It's a great Spider-Man setup - sometimes I wonder if we're all secretly sadists who like Peter best when he's miserable - and this is another solid issue in what has been a very good run so far; since ASM #88, I've not scored a single issue less than a four out of a five.
The return of the Prowler is very welcome, and I found it quite interesting that Hobie is reintroduced in a similar manner to how he was first brought to our attention back in ASM #78 - through Peter thinking that there could be nobody in New York with the same hang-ups as him. Hobie is now engaged to his girlfriend Mindy - hooray - and is looking to move into a house they can call home, but the recent news about Captain Stacy's death has him worried that Spider-Man made him an unwitting guilty party - remember that Hobie dressed up in Spidey's costume at the web-head's request back in ASM #87? I will admit that this is a bit of a stretch; whilst I can buy that Hobie would think it a bit odd that Stacy was there when he donned the Spider-Man costume, I don't see how he can think that there was any potential setup there. I also find it quite unlikely that Hobie would believe Spider-Man killed Stacy, seeing as he's considered the web-slinger a trusted friend in the past. I feel that he would give Spidey the benefit of the doubt rather than just putting on his Prowler suit again and going out to bring the guy in.
But go out for a battle with Spider-Man he does, and it's another dazzling fight scene that we're used to seeing in ASM by now. John Romita's back and he gives us his usual high standard of artwork, deftly balancing the intense action between Spider-Man and the Prowler with the more intimate and mournful scenes between Peter and Gwen. The fight with the Prowler is pretty sensational, especially when the two of them topple down an elevator shaft and continue to fight even with a sheer drop beneath them. There are also a couple of cops who chase the two combatants through the streets, which doesn't really lead to anything substantial story-wise, but it does give us a phenomenal panel from their perspective as they stare in wonder at Spider-Man fleeing the Prowler by scaling a large building; the scale that Romita gives this moment - one where we can see Spider-Man in action as the people of New York see him - is nothing short of masterful.
However, it's Peter's relationship with Gwen that provides perhaps the most memorable moment of the issue, as she decides to leave the USA to go and live with relatives in England. Peter rushes to the airport at the end of the issue, only to see her plane taking off as he stands there helplessly, screaming her name at the departing aircraft. It is a slightly amusing moment if truth be told, and the whole mad rush to the airport comes out of nowhere really - how did Gwen find someone to move into her apartment so quickly? - but it does lead to a brilliantly sombre moment as Peter leaves the airport alone, at the lowest he's ever been brought. Once again, Romita just sells the hell out of this moment and really makes you feel Peter's pain.
ASM #93 has a few hiccups here and there - mainly leaps in logic - but it's an entertaining issue that gives us a great action scene, and some great drama. I love seeing the Prowler turn up, and Romita's artwork is incredibly strong throughout. Most of all, it's an issue that in many ways harkens back to the Ditko era with just how much Peter is put through the ringer. By the end of this issue his superhero identity is a wanted fugitive, he's lost the respect of someone he once called a friend, and now he's lost the girl he loves. It's top notch superhero melodrama, proving that even towards the end of his tenure, Stan was still capable of delivering us great stories.
Rating: 4/5
Next time, Peter thinks back to how it all began, whilst the Beetle perpetrates a one-man crimewave in Forest Hills...
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