Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #533 Review

Amazing Spider-Man #533
Title: The Night the War Came Home Part Two of Six
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: Ron Garney
Inker: Bill Reinhold

Plot: Spider-Man, sans mask, announces to a dumbfounded hoard of reporters that his name is Peter Parker, and he’s been Spider-Man since he was fifteen years old.
J. Jonah Jameson explains to Robbie Robertson that Peter was like son to him and seemed to be the last honest guy in town, but it was all a lie. He reveals that while Spider-Man always ticked him off, it was Peter Parker who finally succeeded in hurting him.
Tony Stark tries to comfort Peter by saying he has been there, but Peter throws it back in his face and warns Tony that nothing better happen to his family because of this. Our hero storms out and boards a limousine.
From the limo, Peter engages in a mildly amusing three-way call between himself, Aunt May and Mary Jane, and Reed and Sue Richards that endures several pages. When Peter arrives in New York, he’s served a letter informing him that the Daily Bugle will be suing for damages of no less than five million dollars.
Everyone’s eyes are fixed on coverage of Spidey’s public revelation: Flash Thompson is in denial; Eddie Brock, alive and not-so-well in a hospital bed, stares blankly; Doctor Octopus watches from some derelict hideout; and the Vulture schemes from his prison cell, anticipating that the webhead will have problems in the near future.
In Washington, Tony Stark gives a speech warning that the deadline for registration has passed and everyone in violation, including Captain America, will be hunted down and locked up by any means necessary. Tony tells the press corps he has assembled a hero-hunting strike team consisting of Reed Richards, Hank Pym and … Spider-Man!
Watching from home, Peter is shocked at Tony’s drafting of him behind his back. He and MJ try to sneak out the back door, but they are mobbed by paparazzi. An attempt is made on Peter’s life by a man claiming to be Captain America’s number one fan, but a little webbing makes the crazy’s gun blow up in hand.
Later, Spider-Man chews Iron Man out for volunteering him without permission. Iron Man apologizes but says there wasn’t time to consult with him first, and introduces Spidey to his new team.

Likes:

– The unmasking! I know my opinion is controversial, but I see Marvel’s bold move to be a positive one with real potential. It’s time to try something different with the character, and all you change-fearing nay-sayers out there should at least appreciate how deftly this was executed. The wheels of inevitability were set in motion months ago, and when all the pieces fell into place Peter had no other choice to make. Would you have him betray his mentor and closest ally? Should he have abandoned his family? I think not. Two months after this issue was published, we now know that the registration act is a rotten piece of Orwellian garbage, but from Peter’s perspective at the time this was the best option.

– The overall tone of the story is a lot lighter than it was last month. There are plenty of charmingly goofy moments to compliment the more serious parts. Spider-Man comics should strike a balance between fun and gravity.

– A lot of character development is crammed into this issue. Peter Parker himself is much more assertive than he has been since he became Stark’s protégé. I can understand why he’d act a little star-struck and out of place in this brave new political world he’s stumbled into, but he’s a strong-willed man and I’m glad he’s finally acting as such. J. Jonah Jameson’s vulnerability was surprising and refreshing. A lesser writer would have had him stomping through the Bugle offices red in the face, but as always Straczynski creates a character where there was once just a caricature. Tony Stark is still written perfectly. We’ve known he’s manipulative scum for a while now, but he sinks to an even lower low every issue.

– Eddie Brock is alive! Don’t get me wrong, I think he is the most overrated of all Spidey’s enemies, but that doesn’t mean I’m not glad he survived the suicide attempt. Get well soon, Eddie. I’m sure you’ll be up and eating brains again in no time!

Dislikes:

– The physical act of peeling off the mask wasn’t depicted in this issue, and you’ll have to buy Civil War #2 to see that. It doesn’t interfere with the story, but such an iconic and historic image belongs in Spidey’s own book.

– Besides the brief encounter with Captain America’s number one fan, there wasn’t any real action in this issue. Intelligent political allegories and spot on characterization are great, but we’re two issues into this story and so far not one person has been punched.

– They can’t seem to make their minds up on what this story arc’s title is.

Favorite Quote: Spidey’s Narration: “Once the news hit the television networks thirty million people went online and did simultaneous Google searches on Peter Parker, and crashed the entire internet. Including the porn sites.”
Young Man: “What the hell…?!”

Rating: 3 ½ webs out of 5. An above-average score for more great story and character development by JMS and company, but it’s time to bring on the action!

Reviewed by: CrazyChris