While waiting in line for my not very important groceries at a local store I was besieged by a series of optimistic pop songs. They were the kind of songs that would never be played by an actual radio station, but by the kind of satellite radio station that only lonely women, high school drama students, and retail chains listen to.  It might be called Beautiful On The Inside or You’re Fabulous! or possibly Songs To Eat Haagen Dasz And Cry To.

I heard Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”, You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt,  and Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls”.  (I take forever to shop, ok.  I can never decide between Pepsi Max and Cherry Coke Zero.)  And with that inspirational crap in my head, I went to the store to put up tomorrow’s comics.

As I put up the three spider books, I remembered deciding last week that I didn’t want to follow ASM for this story arc.  I appreciate that Azcatea is a very talented artist, but I can’t look at his art and think “this story is taking place in modern continuity.”  Personal taste aside, I thought the art was shakey on the last issue.  Also, I thought The Grim Hunt was the climax for Throw Every Possible Villain At Spider-Man At Once.  So the idea of Tombstone, Doc Ock, Electro, Sandman, Menace, The Riddler, and John Locke all going after Spider-Man at once…again didn’t thrill me.

But the wistful music was still in my head and I thought “Sometimes people you’re not attracted to can be interesting.  So forget about that art, and just check out the story.”

Typing that sentence now makes me a little queasy (or maybe it’s all that Chubby Hubby I just ate).  But the sentiment was there when I was picking up the comics, and I decided to give this issue a chance.  And I’m glad I did.

I still don’t love the art.  But it’s not shakey.  It’s purely a taste thing.  If you like retro Spidey art, this issue is gorgeous.  Personally, I want Bachalo back.  But, as this story was just one long chase scene, your eyes could really scan over the art, and just follow the action which was very well laid out.

While I’m not invested in The Green Goblin/Menace baby, any story that involves Peter swinging in the city with a random baby in his arms while being chased by supervillains has my interest.