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Amazing Spider-Man #534
The War At Home Part 2 (of 6)
Credits
  Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: Ron Garney
Inker: Bill Reinhold
Colourist: Matt Milla
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Michael O’Connor
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Synopsis
After the battle in Civil War #3, Iron Man’s side reflects on what happened and how they are going to handle moving the prisoners they took. Spider-Man remains quiet through all of this and tells Iron Man that he just has to follow his orders. As the prisoners travel in convoy, Spidey rides shotgun, Iron Man putting him there to sense any danger. Spidey wonders why something that is right feels so wrong and also questions the amount of information that his new suit is actually giving out about him to Iron Man. Suddenly he senses danger from the sewers so the convoy changes direction, leading them down Yancy Street. The residents set upon the convoy and missiles are fired at them. Spidey is thrown from is position when he webs onto two missiles, which he safely disposes of. Upon landing he is confronted by Captain America who asks him one last time to reconsider his position. Spidey refuses and the two fight for a mere ten seconds before Spidey webs Cap’s shield up and Cap forces Spidey to resort to different tactics. Spidey uses his suit’s arms to catch Cap unawares and decides that he has to fight him man to spider. An explosion suddenly diverts Cap and he races off to help the others. Spidey is about to pursue but instead protects Cap’s shield from thieves. He webs the shield up for Cap as a message; this isn’t about right and wrong, it’s about legal and illegal. Spidey is authorized and legal, but he hopes to God he is also right…
Highlight
Captain America vs. Spider-Man! + the thought bubbles throughout read 'Pure Peter Parker’.
Comments
The thirteen pages that contain Peter’s thoughts are what set this issue up as amazing. From Peter questioning Tony’s gift of a suit (which has been something toyed with by Peter himself in #529 and by readers everywhere) to Straczynski having Peter show complete respect for Cap and his cause the fact that Peter is caught between a rock and hard place saturates this issue. I love that all of this makes this issue about Peter and not his supporting cast. This is his decision that he has to live with first and foremost and, whilst Straczynski does not imply that Peter is being selfish, far from it, he does drop big hints that Peter does not know whether the decision he made is right for May, MJ and Tony as well as being right for him. This is no clearer when he thinks, ‘My whole life, all I’ve ever really wanted is the respect of the people I admire. Aunt May. MJ. And people like him. Finally, at last, after so long,… I’ve got it. And now I’m about to lose it forever.’ This selflessness, a need to impress, means that the decision to unmask is taken away from Peter to a degree and now he questions why he did it and why “right” feels wrong. This also explains the slight awkwardness of the conversation between Peter, May and MJ a couple of issues ago….
Just as last issue placed Peter under undue stress, and it is nice to see that last issues major bombshell has not been completely forgotten in the main title, this issue continues the trend, forcing the absolute best out of Peter Parker as a character. The only problem is is that we know where this is going. Spidey was always going to be a pivotal part of the Civil War story because he sees both sides of the argument, he is the every man and now will probably now play both sides! ‘Hmm...’ and ‘Oh yeah!’
Other things that impress me this issue: As I have mentioned before, the fight scene is given respect in terms of time, visual effort, logical thinking (new suits abilities) and emotion running through Spidey. The line about fighting man against spider is another wonderful hint by Straczynski that The Other wasn’t a complete waste of time. The towering figure of Cap when he first approaches Peter is an awesome drawing which captures his iconic status. The quick page where Spidey deflects the missiles is visually reminiscent of the brilliant car chase in #529, being fast, full of stark movement and clever visual structure. Oh, and the whole page splashes seem to fill with bold-lined ease.
And another thing I have noticed. During Spidey vs. Cap, Garney concentrates his focus on the characters and their movement. It seems like a simple thing to point out, but the lack of background detail in the panels in which they fight fast and hard really emphasises exactly what it is they are doing. I am not a huge fan of the colour technique employed behind the characters in these panels, and I especially don’t think it works on the cover, but it does give a sense of bright power and flashing movement that I hadn’t considered before this issue.
Overall this issue continues the wonderfully confused and stressful tone established last issue, putting Peter through his paces physically and emotionally. Spidey is in turmoil – which is where he shines! Bring on Iron Man!
Rating
Cover – 2 / 5
Overall – 4˝ / 5
Reviewed by Adam Rivett
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Ultimate Spider-Man