I feel like I've been one of Dan Slott's biggest Spidey-supporters ever since he took over Amazing Spider-Man, but even I was having a tough time with Spider Island: the multi-issue, multi-series crossover that's been plaguing the Marvel Universe for the past couple months. To be fair, of all the Spider Island tie-ins, I enjoyed the main Spidey book the most, but that's not saying much, considering I found myself napping on the other minis. I wasn't interested in The Queen. I wasn't interested in The Jackal (considering the headaches he caused me and so many others during the 90's Clone Saga) and I made the decision that I just don't like Humberto Ramos' work on Spidey, it's a little too angular and a little too busy for my taste. So disinterested was I, that for weeks the issues staked up and I didn't bother to getting around to reading them until oh...about an hour before writing this. The story ended last issue and that was fine, Spidey saved the day, Spider-Island was cured, Kaine was human again (mostly) and The Queen got her teeth knocked through her brain. I was happy to see it end so that we could get onto whatever was next. And here it is! The Epilogue of Spider Island finally on shelves, and there's a lot in here to enjoy. From here on our, I'm giving the SPOILER ALERT. If you don't want to know what happened in this issue, skip to the next review, just know that I really enjoyed this issue and think you should pick it up! SPOILER ALERT. SO...Manhattan is nekkid. Like, really nekkid. Of course, for no reason what-so-ever, even though people were mutated at a molecular level, after being cured, certain people still have everything they had before, like Carlie's Spidey tattoo. Why not? If I can bother to go along with the ride that the entire city became Spiders, how can I argue with their return to normal? Kaine isn't quite the evil d-bag he once was, and is completely cured of his degenerative clone breakdowns, his scarring is gone and in fact, he looks exactly like Peter again, but with longer hair. Part of me hates that they returned to the Clone Saga stuff, but part of me is intrigued. The only problem I had with the original story was that it went on far too long and that it was written during someone's sit-down on a potty. Maybe this new Kaine stuff will be ok. Though really? They're still going with the Scarlet Spider handle? Blargh. That doesn't bode well, but I'll still check it out, since I'm contractually obligated to buy anything with Spider in the title. The once homicidal/suicidal maniac Eddie Brock is the hero of NYC. And who said redemption was impossible? Where is this going to go? It would appear that Anti-Venom is no more, since he used up all his ...ahem...Anti-Venom to cure NYC, and there's already a Venom running around. What's next for Brock? Carlie dumps Peter after figuring out that he's Spider-Man, and oh yeah, the weird-ass spell that Doctor Strange put on Peter, wherein no one could figure out that he was Spider-Man? GONE. Pete's secret identity is once again going to be constantly in jeopardy. Thank Odin they got rid of that spell. I like that Petey got his secret ID back, but I also like the idea that he needs to work to keep it a secret, and that's what I liked so much about Carlie as Pete's GF! There was a scene awhile back where Parker had his web-fluid makin's out on his coffee table, and didn't bother to put it away when Carlie came over and she wondered why Pete would be making a home-made adhesive. I really loved that Pete was dating someone almost as intelligent as he is. And of course, now that the spell is up, she immediately put 2 and 2 together, like any mildly S-M-R-T person would. I I respected that she was an intelligent woman who could hang in Pete's league, but that means that she'll figure it out and leave, and that sucks. I was really starting to like her. I'm really hoping that she isn't gone for good. My favorite is the last page though. A really simple, but moving image that actually made me utter an "aww". Slott can handle the big action, the big pseudo-science and the moving moments with aplomb. You've done it again, sir. I don't think that my distaste for the majority of Spider Island had anything to do with Slott's involvement. I attribute the majority of it to Marvel having to make a huge deal and a huge amount of money out of it with extraneous minis. I'm so worn out on Events that I immediately bust out the geek-trademarked exasperated sigh/eye-roll, (or sigh-roll, if you will.) but dammit if I didn't close the book with a smile.