At Flash Thompson's going-away party before he's sent abroad by the military, Kraven the Hunter attacks!
POINTLESS TRIVIA
BEN: Villain appearance count:
- Green Goblin: 7
- Doctor Octopus: 5
- Sandman: 4
- Kraven the Hunter: 4
- The Vulture: 3
- Mysterio: 3
- The Enforcers: 3
- The Rhino: 3
- The Lizard: 3
- The Chameleon: 2
- Electro: 2
- The Ringmaster: 2
- Scorpion: 2
- Molten Man: 2
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| Parody from Deadpool. The original panel shows up down below. |
DUY: That's Deadpool #11, back in 1997. This is also the main issue flashbacked and homaged in Spider-Man Blue. There's something special about this series of issues, this supporting cast, right when Flash leaves, that they did a whole retrospective about it twice (Deadpool and Blue).
BEN: Surprisingly, Blue shows the party, but not the dancing. We are probably both remembering this, which is a completely new scene.
BEN: One of the most memorable panels from the Romita era is Gwen Stacy dancing at Flash’s going away party. It’s as ridiculous as it is enduring.
DUY: It's something Romita 100% has over Ditko, making the whole dancing thing endearing. Romita's romance background is so big, but it's most widely felt so far in this issue, and it's just.... a really nice change of pace from all the 46 issues that have come before.
BEN: I wonder why they decided to put Flash away for a little while? Was it simply wanting to address the war in some capacity, or to give more room to Harry, or both?
DUY: I think addressing the war was a good move, and Flash if I remember right is back sooner rather than later, so maybe it's to give his character some growth. He and Peter had already been evolving to friends, so maybe this was a more natural way to justify that eventual endgame.
BEN: I think they were clearly trying to transition Peter into being less of an outcast, so that’s easier without Flash around insulting him all the time.
WHAT'S AGED THE WORST?
BEN: Deadpool does a far better job of mocking the dialogue and characterizations then I could ever do.
DUY: Additionally, Kraven's nipple blasts ... do not age well.
NITPICKS
DUY: Peter Parker hangs out with Ned Leeds and Betty Brant, and chilling out with your ex-girlfriend and her fiance isn't normal, right? I mean, I'm sure it happens, but it's weird. And why would Ned and Betty even go to Flash's going-away party? Do they even know him? They're working people and he's a student. And why would Betty be all playfully "OooOooOoh, which one between Gwen and MJ are you more into, Peter?" It's not like they're Jerry and Elaine. And seriously, no one could find Liz Allen?
BEN: It’s weird how fast they dropped her. We have another blonde now, one with less emotional problems..
FAVORITE PANEL
DUY: Gwen playfully being catty with Peter about MJ is really entertaining. All the words are vile, but all the facial expressions say to come right at her.
DUY: But no, it's the sequence of Peter and Harry picking up MJ and Gwen for me, the one so effectively parodied by Deadpool if you scroll up. and how Peter is so enamored with Gwen. It's so charming.
WHO WON THE COMIC?
DUY: There actually is a dancing contest here. And I think judging by the reactions of everyone watching, Gwen Stacy won. Gwen Stacy wins this issue.
BEN: Gwen wins every issue. The sooner you realize that, the happier you’ll be.
DUY: That's it for Spider-Rama this week.
BEN: Thank you, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko—
DUY: —for telling us we aren't the only ones.
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