I forgot this was a team-up book. I know everyone else knows it, and that the cover is a picture of Spider-man teamin-it-up with friends, but I was sure this was a regular old companion to Amazing.

I became a fan of Zeb Wells for two reasons: 1.) When I heard his name was “Zeb” and 2.) That issue of ASM where Spidey goes to Florida to fight Sandman and gets caught up in a MTV parody. Zeb’s Spider-Man is funny in a Larry David way. He’s supposed to be, but it isn’t always done right, and when it is it feels so fresh and direct that you can’t help but put it in a little frame for your “Comic Book Memories” part of the brain. It’s not just Spider-Man either; Red Hulk, Jonah Jameson, and somehow even Cap made me laugh.

The humor goes well with the idea of the traditional “Team-up” series: Give readers a more digestible version of what’s already out there. This issue nails it. There’s no backstories or set-ups or explanations; the trap’s been sprung before you turn page one.

You can’t read 72 superhero comics every month and be excited about every single one, and that’s what this book is for. It’s a break from all the six-issue-stories, the mega-events, and the changes-without-changing nature of comics. It really is a breath of fresh air, or a mouth of good food, or whatever.

I’d recommend this for anyone looking to get their kids in on comics.