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Amazing Spider-Man #556
The Last Nameless Day
Credits
Writer: Zeb Wells
Pencils: Chris Bachalo
Inks: Tim Townsend
Colors: Bachalo & Studio F’s Antonio Fabela
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
Asst. Editor: Tom Brennan
Icy Hot: Stephen Wacker
Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Spidey’s Braintrust: Gale, Guggenheim, Slott, Wells
Synopsis
JJJ’s nurse talks to him about why his wife sold the Daily Bugle. JJJ plays along with her, but he soon tries to escape out of the hospital and into the snow! Luckily, the staff stop him!
In the Fifth Precinct building, Vin Gonzalez is processing the Mayans and Dr Rabin when Carlie arrives to finish her report on Freak. As O’Neil plays on his DS, Rabin explains that the Mayans attacked him as they believe that he and his team of mathematicians are trying to communicate with their gods and that Rabin himself wishes to be a “God-King”, servicing one of the Mayan deities.
Out in the snow, Spidey stumbles across a strange man called Vern. Vern seems to be anxious that SHIELD does not find him, knows a lot about living on the streets and has a strong scientific knowledge, strong enough to understand Spidey’s explanation of why his webbing doesn’t work. He is able to warm Spidey for a while with an open fire.
In the police station, Vin suggests that Carlie be his roommate but she steers him in Peter’s direction. Vin is a little disappointed, as Carlie seems really into Peter…
Outside, Vern stuffs Spidey’s suit with The DB! to keep warm. They set off together but soon run into a huge demonic creature with grey wings, red eyes and not unlike the attire the Mayan extremists wore when they attacked Rabin! The creature asks if Spider-Man is his sacrifice. When Spidey says no, he attacks him and launches him across the snowy street! Spidey recovers and wrenches a parking meter from the ground… but the creature goes one better and picks up an entire snow plough which he slams down on Spidey! Spidey survives by wedging the parking meter between the plough and the ground but it worse for wear when the creature picks him up and says that Spidey carries the sun-blood. He asks if Spidey is a priest, to which Spidey says yes, just to get him to stop the attack!
The creature flies off but follows Spidey from a distance as he continues his journey to Rabin’s team…
Twelve blocks later he finds them but learns that it was Rabin who put them there and left them to die!
Over at the police station, Rabin’s plot to be the “God-King” comes to light after he kills the Mayans, draws symbols all over himself and confronts Carlie…!
Highlight
Once again, Bachalo’s pencils rule!
Comments
This is another very strong issue from this creative team.
I started with the bad last time and there was none; this time around, there are things that aren’t bad but things that could be a little bit better. My first problem is Vern – I just don’t know if he is an important character. He seems linked to Spidey and SHIELD somehow but Well’s dialogue makes it unclear whether he is an intermission, a potential recurring character we have heard nothing about yet or a flash in the pan. Some of the clues say there is a lot to him but others not. Secondly, the choice of colour hinders some of the art this issue. I like the grey scope of the creature and am more than happy with the contrasting white throughout the whole issue, heck even the panels of plain blue, red and yellow in the police station frame the talking heads neatly. Look back at the final scene in the police station: to me the impact is lost because of the use of one colour. I can see the benefit of doing this and the mood is very clear, but there needed to be a bolder statement made with the colouring to contrast the busy, dark inks. These are my only minor gripes but they are important as this issue does not quite have the slickness and vibe of last issue.
The rest of Bachalo’s art is completely stunning. There is not a single page goes by when I sit back and think about what he achieves and what an impact even the basic talking heads panels have on the eyes. And that brings me to my favourite page so far this year – the Mayan creature poised with a bloody snow plough! Seriously, that image captures a moment of silent power that leaves the lowly figure of Spider-Man and the reader in awe. And another thing I really like – fat Spidey! There is a little bit of fluctuation with the padding added but it’s a serious and funny way of changing the visuals for a short time.
And the cover; simple, effective, great use of colour and impacts on the eye from miles away. It is easily as good as the last one.
Wells throws a should-have-seen-that-coming curve ball into the plot which leads it in a simple yet effective direction. I love the fact that Wells has based this whole story on a real belief and that I can go onto wikipedia and find out information on Mayan culture. It is the sign of a good writer when they show evidence of research and sign of an even better writer when research is applied so well to an interesting, entertaining, well-told story that fits with Spider-Man. That Peter is suddenly out of his depth with the Mayan creature is a good representation of the character, with Wells giving him an easy way out rather than a continual pummelling which would have slowed this issue down somewhat.
Some interesting things Wells drops in – Spidey having sun-blood (whatever that is), Vern being linked to SHIELD, O’Neil caring less and less about his job and Spidey being recognised as a priest (presumably linked to sun-blood and solved next issue).
In all, Wells makes some clever, realistic and natural choices with the characters (Vin and Carlie included – in a lovely scene where Carlie knows exactly what Vin is doing), shows humour and intrigue with JJJ and Vern respectively and continues the best arc in BND so far… by miles!
Rating
Cover – 
Overall – 
Reviewed by Adam Rivett
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Ultimate Spider-Man