Amazing Spider-Man #601

I have trouble figuring out how to rate this book because I appreciate the talent that went into making it, but I don't much care for the story.  In the end, I think my indifference to what's happening in this book is going to outweigh my recognition that it's pretty well told (and Alberti's art is gorgeous, with the art/design of the backup story being pretty sharp as well).

Basically, this is the ultimate "if you like this kind of thing, this is the kind of thing you like" story.  It's partly my fault for letting myself be tricked by the ending of issue 600 and the cover of this issue into thinking Mary Jane would actually be a major part of the story. (She's not; she gets about 2 pages and she and Pete never meet up). But issue 600 made me interested in the other members of the Brand New Day ensemble, too; I was actually happy when I realized Pete had hooked up with Michelle, because I thought their chemistry was a lot of fun in #600.  (I haven't been reading BND regularly, if that isn't obvious, but enjoyed 600 so much I thought I might try jumping on.)  But then it turns into a gag about Peter getting really drunk and not realizing who he had slept with.  And, you know, if that's the kind of thing you find funny, this may be the kind of thing you like.  

I hope this doesn't come off as prudish; I'm not objecting *morally* to a 'drunk hookup Spidey' story, I just don't find it humorous or interesting.  If I'm going to read a hero book with relationships, I would like it to be ABOUT the relationships, not about the hero missing a lot of connections and musing about how his love life sucks.  Maybe I'm being unfair and maybe the missed connections are the point of this issue, but it's not a point that really resonates with me.  It feels like stringing the reader along, and I don't enjoy that in the same way I don't enjoy manufactured 'will they or won't they' storylines on sitcoms. Repeating the disclaimer -- if that's the kind of thing you like, you'll probably dig this. 

Then there's the backup story, which left a bad taste in my mouth.  As I mentioned, I loved the look and design of it with Silver Age pastiche (or maybe actual Silver Age?) panels being worked into a flashback story about Peter Parker and Jessica Jones.  Since this is written by Bendis, you'd think it would make an old "Alias" fan happy.  Except this story focuses entirely on Spidey being teen Jessica's inspiration for being a hero and glosses over the fact that being a hero led to *fucking horrific things happening to her*, which was a pretty major part of 'Alias.'  It's not that I'd never believe Jess is interested in being a hero again, but I'd just like some kind of reflection of what a fraught issue it is for her.  If I only knew the character from here and from recent 'New Avengers,' I'd assume she was a former mask who had given it up solely for the purpose of being a stay-at-home Mom.  Really, now; I'd almost prefer 'Jewel, Space Pirate.'