Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #54 (495) Review

Amazing Spider-Man #54
“The Balancing of Karmic Accounts”
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
PLOT: Spider-Man continues his quest to defeat the gamma radiation made monster known as Digger.  He adds up all the scientific research that he has been doing on Digger to figure out a weakness.  Digger is not able to recharge as the Hulk would, and is therefore becoming weaker after each battle.  To defeat him Spider-Man needs to take the fight directly to Digger and not let up until he falls apart.  Spidey goes to warn Forelli on what he plans to do.  He asks Forelli to tell him the truth about everything concerning Digger in order to have a better chance of defeating him and saving him and his daughter.  Forelli eventually does fess up.  At the same time, Digger finally comes after Forelli and his daughter and the final fight between he and Spider-Man begins.  Spider-Man goes for the jugular and lets his Spider side take over.  Spidey is down right vicious on his attack against Digger, and Digger eventually falls apart and dies (again).  Spider-Man collects the money Forelli is paying him, but then turns him over to Lt. Lamont and the NYPD.  It turns out Spider-Man was wired when Forelli told him of his involvement with the Nevada murders that led to the creation of Digger.  Forelli is arrested and Spider-Man uses the money paid to him to build a library in the name of his first love, Gwen Stacy.
LIKES: A wonderful title and a great conclusion.  There were many questions about the morality of Spider-Man taking money from a gangster or Spider-Man killing that were answered.  Yes, Spidey took money from a mobster, but the money itself was clean and he did provide a legal service.  He also balanced the morality issue of the money by donating all of it.  Spider-Man also killed Digger, but Digger was technically already dead, and killing him was the only way to stop him.  Also, even though not discussed much in this review, the conversations between Peter and MJ added more depth to both characters, especially the discussion about Gwen towards the end of the book. 
DISLIKES: Why do all of JMS’s characters always die?  So much for creating memorable character and adding to the rogue list.  There was also a lot of totem talk about Peter the scientist doing his part, and then Peter the Spider doing his.  I’m indifferent about the totem angle, but it is evident that JMS is leading us to a possible conclusion to the long running Ezekiel plot. 
RATING: Five webheads out of Five.  I think the story arc was one issue too long, but I really enjoyed the conclusion.  I added nothing about the art, but that’s because it was flawless.  If JRjr is listening, he better never leave the Spider-man universe.
Reviewed by AC-WEB (Ariel Chaidez)