The problem with the Marvel renumbered 600s is that, so far, they’ve been a series of short, related stories that didn’t have any real milestone moments.  Captain America was a hodgepodge of unbalanced art and barely decent storytelling, and it didn’t even bring Cap back.  Hulk #600 was a big Jeph Loeb fart ripped in a crowded room.  No Red Hulk reveal.  Sure, some people will think it’s highly entertaining.  I mean, it was a loud fart, and farts are funny.  But I doubt people will be talking about in a few years.

Spidey 600 avoids this trap by opening with one long, well-crafted, one writer/one artist story (and it’s Slott/Romita JR, whith is totally awesome, right?).  And it’s a well-woven story with fun dialogue and important plot points.  AND it delivers on its promise of Mary Jane.

There’s a Stan Lee story in the issue as well, and it’s…it’s an ok Stan story.  The “Amazing Spider-Man covers you’ll never see” are pretty funny.  The rest of the stories?  SOme are fun.  Most are cool looking.  But, the thing is, they don’t matter.  The main story, unlike the crumbs in the other 600 books, is a satisfying meal in and of itself, and worth the 4.99 cover price.  I’m tempted to make this my POtW, as it’s, technically, the best one off-issue I’ve read this week, but I’ll likely go with Invincible because it’s the end of a massive buildup (and it’s oants shittingly good).  But this is a very very close second.