Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #52 (493) Review

Amazing Spider-Man #52
“Dig This”
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
PLOT: The beginning of the book begins with a bang as Digger and Spider-Man go toe-to-toe.  Digger pretty much overpowers Spider-Man and smacks him around for a while before disappearing into the night.  After the fight, Spider-Man and Lamont start piecing together what this monster may be when Spider-Man gets a message informing him that Mr. Forelli wants to talk to him.  Forelli has been the target of this bad guy named Digger.  Spider-Man goes and sees Forelli, and Forelli proposes to pay Spidey $10,000 a day to protect him and his daughter, which is something that he would probably do for free.  Forelli supplies Spider-Man with a pager so that he can contact him when he is needed.  Peter is contacted one night, but Digger has already done damage to a boat that belongs to Forelli.
The mob boss decides to send Spider-Man to Vegas to do some more homework about this Digger character, and also fills Spidey in on some of the details of the 1957 hit that took place.  Spider-Man is able to sneak his way into the army site where the gangster bodies were dumped and the gamma bomb was tested.  He puts on a chemical suit and goes over to look at the site.  In the hole, you see hand and feet prints that show that “something” came out.  One of the scientists explains the findings so far.  Twelve males with bullet fragments were dumped alongside with some chemicals at the site.  The chemical preserved the body parts of these individuals, and the gamma bomb had some adverse effects on the body’s causing an amalgam of the different body parts to come together into one super powered, walking corpse.  The book concludes with a shot of Digger on the prowl.
LIKES: This book has everything: action, story development, character development, and new intriguing ideas.  Unlike last issue in which the jokes felt forced, this issue, the drama and comedy are well played.  The scene in which Peter is in the private jet flying to Vegas had me chuckling for a while.  The most interesting part of the book is when Spider-Man actually accepts money from Forelli to protect him.  I can see a new “Hero for Hire” book being released starring Spider-Man, j/k.  Peter will most likely return the money next issue, but it would be interesting if he decides t keep the dirty money. We also see Peter and MJ’s relationship continued to be explored, and the question of the morality of accepting the money if brought up.
DISLIKES: The only inconsistency I find in this book is that Forelli pays Peter all that money to protect him, but then sends him away to Vegas for the weekend to look for clues in the midst were that huge monster is looking for him.  Doesn’t make sense to me, but oh well.
RATING: 5 webheads out of five.    I don’t usually give out perfect scores, but his one deserves it.  The book was smartly written and brilliantly penciled, but I would not expect less from JRjr.  Next issue is the conclusion of this story arc, and hopefully the great work continues.  
Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)