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Amazing Spider-Man #524
All Fall Down
Credits
  Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Pencils: Mike Deodato
Inker: Joe Pimentel
Colourist: Matt Milla
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Tony Harris
Associate Editor: Warren Simons
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Synopsis
Iron Man catches Peter just before he falls into the ocean and flies his unconscious body to New York. Two days later, Peter wakes up with the toxins from the rocket removed from his system. Tony asks him if there were any symptoms such as dizziness, blackouts and confusion that predated the rocket exploding. Peter lies, denying that such things have been happening. Tony tells him that the HYDRA base self-destructed and that the HYDRA Avengers and Lascombe could not be found. Peter returns to MJ and discovers that May and Jarvis are a couple when he sees them holding hands. Elsewhere, Stark meets with the journalist who photographed MJ at Stark Tower. Stark has photographic evidence against him and blackmails him into retracting the MJ story. That evening MJ and Peter discuss Aunt May and Jarvis. Peter tries to avoid the subject by running a bat. As he does so he thinks about how good his life is… until he black out and wakes up with the bath overflowing. He lies to MJ and tells her that he is fine but he goes to bed worrying that just as his life is working out something might come along to ruin it. He tries not to think about it…
Highlight
Peter’s thoughts; they read like the real thoughts of someone in denial about the future.
Comments
This issue reads too much like two halves for it to have a real sense of impact on the story line it closes and the one it opens up. This has a lot to do with the fact that the scene that the last few issues have been building up to, The New Avengers vs. HYDRA Avengers, does not really take place. We only learn what happened through flashback, and the whole thing is resolved within a few panels, leaving me a little disappointed.
Straczynski’s use of the supporting cast seems a little awkward, writing MJ as simply cheeky (and overly randy in my opinion) and forcing May and Jarvis together.
The other half of the issue sets up The Other. Now we know Spidey has been a little off as of late so I am not sure that a set up this prominent is absolutely necessary. To me, it does not bode well if a 12-part story needs an intro. Saying that, it is a well written intro, with Peter becoming more real as the issue continues. His sense of denial shines through the rest of the emotion, the last two pages being particularly poignant and uneasy.
Deodato’s pencils are superb; capturing Peter’s emotion as well as he did during Sins Past and using repeated panels to great effect. Harris’ cover compliments a visually flawless issue.
Rating
Cover – 5 / 5
Overall – 3˝ / 5
Arc Overall – 4 / 5
Reviewed by Adam Rivett
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Ultimate Spider-Man