Amazing Spider-Man #300! [Time Travel Tuesday (1988)][Spoilers!]
The historic milestone of the 300th issue of Spider-Man was artfully executed by the team behind the wise-cracking wall-crawler, featuring one of Spidey’s most iconic villains!
Published on May 10, 1988, and following Todd McFarlane’s earlier work on Amazing Spider-Man (ASM #298 and #299), we are catapulted directly into a new era of symbiotic super-villains with Amazing Spider-Man #300.
When I last left you way back on June 9, 2018 with my take on ASM #299, I was reminded of a time before Marvel hit the silver screen. The cinema only affords space for the biggest and best where experimentation with a risky plot is minimised in favour of what they think the fans will appreciate. In most instances, the director gives a knowing nod to the comic book fans of the original source material. On the big screen, we’re so used to seeing iconic heroes like Cap, Iron-Man and of course, Spidey that we forget that characters like Chance existed. If you didn’t get a chance to check out the story, here’s a link to my review of ASM #299 to give you the low-down.
The alien blob that remembered.
At this point in the story you might not expect Venom to engage in too much maniacal mayhem. But in our last issue, MJ was greeted by a wide-grinned, black-and-white faced creepster. I think that’s a telling tale of what plans Michelinie had for Marvel’s newest villain. However, Eddie Brock’s gripe was with Spider-Man, not MJ and it was exactly the moment that the alien symbiote bonded with Brock that he knew Peter Parker and Spider-Man were one and the same (due to Peter’s relationship with the alien in Secret Wars #8). It remembered!
Mary Jane understandably confuses Spidey’s black costume with the symbiote with when Peter returns home from his high-flying, web-swinging patrol of the city.
After MJ’s visit from the oversized black-ooze monster, Peter casts his mind back to the events of a different title (Secret Wars #8) where he had his first contact with the alien, informing us, dear reader more about the creature and what it is capable of. For those new to Venom, he’s not a fan of loud noises and with sonic blasters being all the rage in the 80’s, making his debut in the year 1988 wasn’t a wise move. Teens of the 80’s could be seen walking the streets of NYC with this booming contraption perched prominently on shoulders like bazookas. Nowadays, the relative quiet of wireless airbuds and their oblivious, screen-enchanted wearers would be much more conducive (and defenseless) targets for havoc (at least for Carnage).
And sixty issues later (in Amazing Spider-Man #360), Michelinie brings us the debut of Carnage.
I know you love detours! Carnage decided his first kill was because this man, named Gunny Stein, had a ‘stupid name’. [Amazing Spider-Man #360]
Back to it, folks!
Here’s that sonic blaster. A Reed Richard’s specialty.
Pete isn’t taking any chances and as he unknowingly eludes his stalker. Feeling as though he is being watched despite his spider-sense failing him (another of Venom’s advantages), his paranoia sends him away from the streets and up into the skyline where he meets up with Mary Jane. Being the breadwinner of the couple, she’s managed to score a condo in the prestigious Bedford Towers.
Pete’s feeling emasculated. Time for MJ to perk him up!
This has got to be one of my favourite few panels of the issue. Eighties smut. “Slowly, Peter’s spirits begin to rise.” Michelinie, you euphemistic devil.
In a book that’s introducing us to the story of such an exciting new villain, readers could be forgiven for just screaming, “Show us the new guy! Show us the FIGHT!”
I’m grateful for the vast majority of storytellers I have had the privilege of reading that develop believable sub-plots and parallel stories. The worries and career of Mary Jane alongside family dinners with Aunt May prove to add balance and believability to a comic based on a guy who swings around a city on artificial web lines.
I love this nosey guy. Nathan Lubensky, presumably a friend or neighbour of Aunt May is apparently an expert of family relations. I would have webbed his mouth shut.
Mister Brock makes his way back to Our Lady of Saints Church in Lower Manhattan.
The unfortunate cop on beat patrol is no match for super-beefed Brock who’s tendrils make short work of him.
What’s with the choice of baby-face cop, Mr McFarlane? Straight out of police academy only to be suffocated by an alien. Only in New York City.
The Parker’s move house and Spidey and Venom do the tango!
In a scene that can only be described as a suggestive crossover of sorts, we see a guest appearance of Alfred E. Neuman (think MAD magazine) as one of Mary Jane’s friends who’s there to help out. Two boys carrying more boxes than they should, ogle the bosomy and nearly exposed breasts of three neighbours (Candi, Randi and Bambi, of course!) collide just before Peter spots Venom on the prowl as he's searching for our favourite neighbourhood Web-head.
Pete makes up a poor excuse (“there’s something I have to do”), zips off to follow Brock then proceeds to find himself lured into a trap. We learn that Mr. Brock now calls himself Venom because he believes that his once prosperous career in journalism was turned to mush through the actions of Spider-man and now he’s forced to spew out “venomous celebrity exposes”. With 2019 being no exception to the eighties, with celebrity lives slathered in money and ego, someone’s bound to have something undesirable caught on a smartphone. Brock’s no different to the media of today. Except they’re praised for it, while according to him, his career was ruined. Huff
There are four gorgeous pages explaining Brock’s vendetta (but i'm not showing you!)
Let me break it down for you. Brock was fed lies by a guy named Emil Gregg who claimed he was the murderer dubbed the Sin-Eater. Spidey caught the real guy (solving an actual crime), getting Brock’s nose out of joint that he’d believed the crap that came out of Gregg’s mouth. Brock was stupid enough to publish everything and when the truth came out, Brock was fired.
Let me reiterate, Brock was fired because of his own incompetence. I think he had a screw loose before he came into contact with the symbiote.
The fight ensues after the 4-page explanation and Spidey gets a whoopin’! He actually hits Venom with the sonic blaster but Brock has been bonded so tightly that if he separates him from the symbiote, he would likely die (Separation Anxiety, anyone?). He’s suffering from a hard case of the old Batman syndrome. Spidey leaves Brock on the floor and just as he thinks he’s away, Brock comes to, fires a web at Spidey’s foot and yanks him back inside knocking him out cold. Surprise!
I’ve overused the images, I know. Is it too much? It is isn't it?
Please allow me just one more as I explain my thoughts on how Spidey regains the upper hand. This is the final image in the book after Mary Jane explains to Peter that she wants him to burn the black costume. What??!!
It’s dress up time!
Eddie/Venom change into a priest’s robe and collar, take the unconscious Peter up to the bell tower and web him to the inside of the bell in preparation for squishing. It’s a glorious scene and it just goes to show the strength of Michelinie’s creative mind. Almost ripping his own arm clean off, Spidey manages to free just one arm and grab onto the retracting clapper tearing him out of the web before it comes back down with a resounding “BLONG”.
To the top of the bell tower!
As if we couldn’t get any higher, Spidey retreats to the roof of the tower. He recognises that the symbiote makes his own organic web (like the odd choice by Sam Raimi in Sony’s first stab at cinematic Spidey in 2002). A quick detour: Apparently, Sam Raimi didn’t think that high school student, Peter Parker could make complicated web shooters. If it was good enough for the comics, then it’s good enough for the movies. ‘Nuff said.
Considering that Venom had used a huge supply of his own web to trap Spidey, he assumed he would need time to recharge. Spidey kicks Venom off the roof and every time he tries to halt his fall with a web line, Spidey cuts it forcing him to use more and more of his remaining supply until the symbiote is so depleted, it effectively runs out and Brock falls to the pavement. Boom!
Next stop: Four Freedoms Plaza!
Pete hauls a virtually nude Brock over to the Fantastic Four where Ben Grimm, AKA Thing plops Brock into a transparent Sonic Cylinder for .. erhm.. experimentation? Now, I don’t condone testing on animals, but I might relax my stance on violent alien symbiotes and their nutty hosts.
I mentioned MJ didn’t like the black suit, didn’t I? Well, you can imagine why!
That’s all folks! Until the next instalment.. (Should I keep it brief or drag it on like this one? I’m happy for your suggestions. Leave them below, or if you’re a reader from Facebook, flick me a comment under the link.
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I had this comic and one of my so called friends stole it off me. Yuck.
Posted using Partiko iOS
Oh, man! That's awful luck. We all do silly things in life. I'm sure he/she regrets losing a friend over a comic book.
If you haven't seen it, I'd love your thoughts on another recent iconic book that I reviewed - Amazing Spider-Man #800.
Take care, mate.
Nick.
Sup Dork!?! Enjoy the Upvote!
Thanks for dropping by :). I'll be sure to tag you in the next dorky write-ups.
Take care, good sir/madam!
Nick.
do it!!!!