US Shipping Date: June 16, 2004

Previous Issue: Amazing Spider-Man #507 Next Issue: Amazing Spider-Man #509

Synopsis
Peter is beaten, he resigns himself to death. We flashback to the end of last issue and see the fight, where Ezekiel quickly gains the upper hand by injecting Peter with a drug designed to slow him. We soon catch up to the opening page, and Peter refuses to give in, fighting through the drug. He takes the fight to Ezekiel, remembering that he was chosen for his rage. The drugs finally take control and Peter blacks out. He awakens strapped to a pillar in a sacrificial position, over a spider symbol etched into the floor. Ezekiel stands over him and tells him he has no choice. He then cuts Peter and himself, their blood filling opposite ends of the symbol. He announces that they will come, Peter will die and Ezekiel will be free. Peter strains in his bonds but to no avail as the two bloods mix and the two are joined. In a brilliant double-page spread, Peter learns of Ezekiel’s past and Ezekiel, Peter’s. The “power” arises and begins to attack Peter but Ezekiel, having seen Peter’s real sacrifices during his life, changes his mind and flies at the attacker, offering himself. Ezekiel is quickly overcome and Peter again blacks out. When he comes round he is with Miguel, who stands over the wrapped body of Ezekiel. The two converse about what happened and Peter learns that Ezekiel was won over by Peter’s soul and had to take his chance at redemption. Peter asks, “What’s the truth? The magic, or the science?’ Miguel only replies that there is no contradiction between the two.

Highlight
The double page of Peter and Ezekiel’s connection and the Peter vs. Ezekiel/Spider vs. Spider page.

Comments
Well that’s it, all over. The ongoing Ezekiel saga has finally come to a conclusion and a conclusion that does not live up to the effort, intrigue, mystery and sheer volume that has been put in.

First off, the idea that a character has a mysterious background, then is revealed to be bad but has a sudden change of heart is clichéd to say the least. Ezekiel should have gone out fighting Peter, or desperately battling against the power that realised he was the fake. Instead we get a massive revelation and turn-about-face that makes it seem unrealistic, rushed and creates an unfitting end for an arc that has produced some of the most beautiful writing and pencils ever seen. I think that is what bugs me the most; that the effort put in boils down to not only just a meagre 3-part story, but then this single, poor issue.

Rushed is the word that fits perfectly. It is fitting that JRJR finished what he started, as he has offered stunning pencils throughout, but to rush and cram a story that should create a decent sized TPB (Trade Paperback) into three issues seems suicidal. It really does feel that Ezekiel, along with the unique and (in my opinion) entertaining totem-origin arc, has just taken a running jump. There is so much more Straczynski could have done; build upon Ezekiel’s tiredness, let us really see where his motivation comes from; expand on the need for his company; touch on the events of Unintended Consequences; whose grave does Ezekiel stand over and what exactly couldn’t he do anything about? All of these are valid questions, all of which could have been fully resolved and explained, thus creating a more complete story. The Book of Ezekiel asks as many questions as it answers and I bet a million dollars that Ezekiel, “the totem”, The Gatekeeper and the science/magic of Spidey’s origin are not mentioned for a long long time, if ever again. I have read #509, trust me it’s not happening.

Sadly, the art takes a bit of a dive as well. Where the fight scenes with Morlun, Shathra and Digger all play out perfectly and produced some of the most stunning pencils I have seen, Peter vs. Ezekiel lacks passion and delivery. I have absolutely nothing against JRJR (read my other reviews) and there are gems in this issue also, but here the layouts seem rushed, the fight scene could convey the spider vs. spider aspect of Peter vs. Ezekiel better (possibly using their physical movements) and the scenes in which Peter struggles to be free is nothing when compared to the ISO-36 re-drawn scene in #500 or when Spidey is trapped under the collapsed rubble of the hotel in the Doc Ock arc. Another sign that this is a rushed issue is that two people do the inks, never a good thing in a title that should demand on-time artistic and authorial consistency.

A rushed issue that concludes a stunning story that has spanned the last few Spidey years was never going to be good enough, and this one simply isn’t.

A note of finality. Those that say Straczynski’s Amazing Spider-Man Volume One is over, are correct. Volume One (Ezekiel) will not be mentioned again which is not only sad but poor in terms of Peter’s character development and motivation. Volume Two begins with Sins Past, an arc that has already generated more controversy, rumour and speculation than anything Straczynski has written already. Expect a big shake-up and a move away from the magical forces and back down to earth with a more physical and real tone. Whether or not this is a good thing is yet to be seen. With Millar’s very real Knights series and Jenkins’ Spectacular, which has always been the more smash-and-grab title, Amazing may end up crowding these titles out of a style they themselves have maintained and stood within. Interesting time we read in!

With the end of Volume One, disappears John Romita Jr. One of, if not the, longest running Spider-Man artists, JRJR has cemented himself in the Spider history books. His pencils, whilst not the most realistic, offer incredible scope and originality for inkers, writers, colourists and readers alike to pause, emulate and hold their breath over. He will return, but no soon. Check out Wolverine and Punisher later in the year to see his Marvel projects, or The Grey Area, a 3-part mini-series for Image, out this week.

In the meantime Deodato’s first issue is a knock out! Bring it on!

Rating
Cover – 4½ / 5
Overall – 2½ / 5

Reviewed by Adam Rivett

Back Return to Reviews Home Return to the Homepage

Previous Issue: Amazing Spider-Man #507 Next Issue: Amazing Spider-Man #509