So, we're now into part 2 of "Big Time," and I'm anxious to see more. Especially Slott's writing and Ramos' art, which I just love. In fact, I feel that several panels here could be decent best of the week panels. But to the story:

We start with a flashback that tells us what Roderick Kingsley, Hobgoblin Numero Uno, has been up to. Apparently he's been slumming it as a merc in South America, taking his payments cash-only due to Norman Osborn's meddling in his finances (I guess he doesn't get the imitation is the highest form of flattery thing). Anyway, once he gets word from one of his clients about Norman's downfall, he's hooking back up with Kingpin, and taking the Horizon Labs job that was mentioned at the end of "Big Time" #1.

Looking for some upgrades, Hobby hits his favorite one-stop-shop: One of Norman's hidden bunkers. As he's checking out the new toys (a flaming sword, a Vulture-style wing-pack and some grappling boots, which leads to a decent quip about Norman's Spider-fixation), he discovers that he's not alone. Nope, Phil Urich, one-time (Good) Green Goblin, has also found the stash, in an effort to get an in with Norah, whom he has a puppy-dog crush on.

After some insults, we make it to the twist: Phil's not as puny as Hobby thinks, dropping him with a sonic laugh, long enough to take his head with the flaming sword. Aaaaannd, we have a new Hobgoblin! So long, Kingsley, we hardly knew ya (Well, post-BND, anyway). But will Phil stay good or go bad? I mean, he did just kill someone, but it was a bad guy. Oh, and I loved the whole Highlander-ish "there can be only one" moment between Phil and Hobby. Plus, the whole "'s alright? 's alright'" makes me think this could be a one of the best panels of the week.

Flash to another part of town, and Norah Winters, in full biker babe regalia, is trying to get into the heads of a Goblin-styled biker gang (more of the "Church of the Goblin," as I'm gonna call it), when they find her wire. In swings Spidey and the Black Cat to the rescue. As Spidey does most of the work, Cat and Norah chat about his love life, much to Spidey's chagrin, and when Norah gets a passing compliment by Cat on her attire, begins to rethink her fashion style. The banter between Spidey, Cat and Norah is great, especially the discussion about the superhero/sidekick paradigm, and Spidey being cool compared to Bucky, because "he's a cool guy."

Before Cat can get anywhere else with Spidey, he's speeding away. Why? He's got a big day tomorrow: His first day at Horizon Labs. And we see his new digs on Park Avenue, thanks to his signing bonus.

And now, it's time for our obligatory page featuring one Carlie Cooper. For being Pete's girlfriend, she really doesn't get as much "screen time" as she did when she was simply pining for Pete.

After a brief trip to the new Bugle (but it will always be Frontline in our hearts), we get to Peter getting a rude awakening for his big day, courtesy of Aunt May, which leads into, what I think could be one of the panels of the week, with Peter demanding May stay out of his closet, which led to one of the funnier exchanges of the book. Yeah, it might smack of lowest-common-denominator-type humor, but dammit, I laughed. This whole "first day of school" segment did seem like it might be going a bit long, but May's wistful moment at the end was a great way to finish that.

Interlude: JJJ's office, and his big-headed self-ego-stroking "chat" with Steve Rogers. Steve requests that Jonah give Spidey the key to the city, to which he puts his foot down in favor of blatant nepotism and rampant Spidey-hate (Seriously, dude, isn't it time you get over it? Take a lesson from Ultimate JJJ.) John won't have any of that, and agrees that Spidey should get it before he does. Good to see that the hate doesn't hang from the Jonah-tree.

Interlude 2: The Raft, and some more exposition on Mac Gargan's condition sans Venom symbiote, complete with cameo by the Thunderbolt's very own Mach-V.

Back to the A-story: Another tour of Horizon and an intro to two more new members of the supporting cast there, Bella, the hippie green-scientist (but not Gamma, let's be clear), and Uatu, genius kid and bully-magnet with FF fans as parents. We also are told of a mysterious "scientist x" who doesn't want to be known (no, that definitely won't get its own storyline, nosirreebob).

We also get Pete's introduction to his brand-spankin' new futuristic lab (and apparent new stash spot for costumes and web-shooters, since the place is coded to only open for him). And, it's to work. Aaaannnnd.....nuthin'. But when Pete comes to the realization that most of his innovations are Spidey-related, cue the attack on Horizon by the Hobgoblin.

Guess that answers it: Phil's gonna be a bad guy. Didn't see that coming at all (/end sarcasm).

Strangely enough, they recognize his tech but apparently nobody there recognizes that it's the Hobgoblin (or even make a crack at him being a Green Goblin knockoff....kids). After he takes out some "top-notch" security, Spidey's on the scene to everyone's surprise. When asked how he got there, his quip is excellent. I'll say it: Dan Slott can write some great banter. However, Hobby uses his sonic laugh to incapacitate, and we're treated to another Highlander-ish scene, to be continued....

Two issues in, and I can't wait to see where this goes. Bring it on.