About Heroes

This Review was submitted by Spider-Ben:

Writer: Peter David
Artist: Scott Eaton
Cover: Scott Eaton

Peter David rocks! I am really glad he has returned to write the monthly adventures of Spidey, and this issue did not disappoint. David brings back a long forgotten supporting character to the spider-verse, Deborah Witman. Deb hasn’t been seen since around issue 68-69ish of Spectacular Spider-Man way back when.

Due to Peter unmasking himself, Deb writes a book telling how Peter as Spider-Man played with her emotions and led her to a lot of sorrow and emotional torment. Deb’s book gets published and she is set to do a store signing in New York. Meanwhile, Peter is trying to figure out a way to remain a teacher and still keep the kids safe in case villains continue to attack the school like Mysterio just did. The Beast of the X-Men gives Peter an image inducer to help hide and conceal his true identity. Beast tells Peter the X-Men are still remaining neutral in the Civil War, but hopes the device will help Peter. Peter uses the device to dress up as Wolverine and the Punisher to stop some thugs from threatening the school.

Meanwhile, the Vulture is in jail after being captured by Captain America and his forces in Civil War #2. A mysterious voice tells Vulture that Peter is no longer on the side of registration, and he must be dealt with. The voice makes him an offer to track down Spider-Man and he gets his costume and freedom back.

It seems that hiring villains to roam free and chase down heroes is all the fad lately due to Civil War. Vulture accepts and realizes that Deb Whitman will be signing her book and figures Peter will show up. He plans an attack for our hero when the signing begins the next day. At the school, a blond man meets with the principal to ask about a job. The principal likes his attitude and credentials, but says there is not anything in the science department at the time. He states however, Coach Flash Thompson is in need of a Phys. Ed assistant. The man accepts, and the principal welcomes Mr. Ben Reilly to the faculty. (It is really Peter using the holographic projector Beast gave him, but it’s a damn nice nod to the past!) Meanwhile, Peter finds out about what Deb is up to with the book signing, and decides to pay his friend a visit, unaware that is exactly what the Vulture wants.

Thoughts/Comments:
Another fine job by Peter David. Loved the little nod to Ben Reilly, and the joke about how he should not be cloned. Also, David has Peter find out about an empty webbing cocoon in the Church seen last at the end of “The Other.” I’m sooooooo glad David is following up on that story. Peter using the image device is interesting, and I can’t wait to see how he reacts to being Flash Thompson’s PE assistant. The art was very cool by Scot Eaton, and I’m really happy Peter David knows about past Spider-Continuity. Deb Whitman has been gone a long, long time and I’m curious to see how Peter reacts to her book, and what the Vulture is really up to. Hands down, this gets a solid A!