Ok, this one I passed on for two weeks. My thought process was: another Spidey book? When it’s out three times a month already? Wait, Bachalo and Marcos Martin in one book? Eh, it’s just a bunch of lead-ins to BND stories down the line. Ergo, it is extraneous, ergo I’m not wasting my money. The second time I held it in my hands I peered a bit more longingly at Martin’s artwork in the back, but finally again decided that I could wait until the actual storyarc in the main title. But I found myself with it in my hands again this week, and unlike in the Bible story Peter could not be denied the third time. (That’s mixed up a bit, but go along.)

What finally put it over the top was reading through a bit of the Hammerhead story. Not only was it beautiful, and rendered in a really cool monochromatic-ish style, but this is essentially a gangster story couched in the Spidey world. Very cool stuff.

Death of a Wise Guy, Joe Kelly/Chris Bachalo 18 pages Story 4/Art 5

The middle story was definitely part of what kept me from buying it in the first place. It looked silly and the art run-of-the mill, especially sandwiched in between Bachalo and and Martin. But taken on it’s own the art is well and good. It does it’s job, especially in the funny parts. And the story is great. It’s a teeny but scrumptious little taste of the complexity of the relationship between Peter and Harry. I hope Harry doesn’t go down in a pit of Hobgoblin flames. I like the part he’s playing in Peter’s life right now.

Birthday Boy, Zeb Wells/Patrick Olliffe 7 pages Story 5/Art 4

What can I say about the last story? It’s Marcos Martin and he’s drawing Spidey and Matt Murdock in a courtroom? This makes me want to see him on a Daredevil book. This makes me want to see Martin doing anything and everything, including Black Cat, Iron Fist, heck how about the X-Men?!?! The story is a bit of a stretch, believability-wise, but if you can accept the explanations put forth and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The Spartacus Gambit, Marc Guggenheim/Marcos Martin 12 pages Story 4/Art 5

It feels a bit weird, but I’m giving this little promo Spidey piece a 5 out of 5 for story and art. The thing is, it’s fun, it’s well worth the price of admission, and it’s exciting to see some of the stories that are lined up. Oh! And it’s got a cover by Greg Land and it doesn’t suck! Now bring on the symbiote!