Amazing Spider-Man # 12 (453) Review

Amazing Spider-Man # 12
We don’t have any lame villains in this issue like we did last month. In fact we have six of my all time favorites. Unfortunately, almost all of them have a back story that is distracting to the reader. Starting off with the positives. I kind of like the new mystery with Mysterio. Is he dead, or is this a fake? It actually adds to the character in my opinion. But this could just be a mistake between the Marvel Knight office and the Spider-Office.
Second, I can’t stand Kraven in the Sinister Six. I know he’s not the real deal, but I have always hated this long lost son. It’s a cheap writers way out to use the villain and is a travesty to the “Kraven’s Last Stand” storyline. Howard Mackie didn’t invent this Kraven problem, but is adding to it by using this lame character.
The other travesty to past works was the use of Electro in that awful blue suit from his “Chapter One” days. This falls on John Byrne for ignoring 35 + years of continuity and suddenly deciding for Electro to put on that costume. Steve Ditko’s Electro costume is the best and only outfit Electro needs. Sheesh!
The only good thing about this Six reunion is the addition of Venom. It’s nice to see Venom as a baddie with a mad-on for Spidey.
So what did this issue deal with? Well we have a plot by the Sinister Six to kill Senator Ward who has formed a partnership with Doc Ock. Then a back story involves Mary Jane’s stalker getting bit closer. It sure is a shame to see Mackie either A) Write Mary Jane as a bitch or B) Make her a helpless superhero wife by making her cry all the time. Mackie chose to use letter “B” in here. “So Howard Mackie, is that your final answer??” Sorry I had a Regis moment. He needs to read the Spider-Man newspaper strip by Stan Lee to see how MJ needs to be written.
So overall I’m giving this book two out of four web heads. Clear up the barnacles that are on the old villians,fix the MJ situation and you might have an enjoyable comic.
So ends the first year of the re-boot. Here’s hoping year two has less peaks and valleys.