FNSM 13 (you can see the REVIEW & SPOILERS through the hole in Quentin's skull!)

[Michael P]

Can't believe there's no thread on this yet. Where's the love, people?

Anywho, we begin with Flash getting the kids out of the building, then going back to help out Spidey... er, Pete, and of course the lovely Ms. Arrow.

Meanwhile, Mysterio II and Mysterio III have a face-off, making fun of each other's outfits, which gives Spidey an irony conniption. Spidey shoves Principal Roger in a closet to keep him safe, while the two fishbowl-heads duke it out. II calls III Klum, cluing in Spidey on this. II tosses some snakes at III, who teleports out of their grasp. III counters with an electric attack, which II sends back at him.

During all this, Spidey reads the Bugle's sports page. The Yankees got their butts whipped.

Meanwhile, Ms. Arrow has a nice chat with Quentin Beck, the original Mysterio. Beck explains that "life wasn't done with me," and that after he got "where all suicides wound up," the people in charge decided he'd make a good agent. He also alludes to whatever her secret is, and that her "side" also has an interest in the current fight.

Back in the school gym, II goes down, and Spidey steps in to mop up II. He uses his hyped-up spider-sense and the new suit's onboard tracking to get around the old cloud of smoke, webs up some poison bats, and punches through II's fishbowl to take him out. Which is, of course, when Klum reveals that he was playing possum. He tries to use his telekinetic powers to make Spidey stab himself with a knife, but Flash shows up in the nick of time, grabs the knife, and sticks it in Klum's shoulder. Klum activates the countdown on the remote bomb he set and teleports away, while Spidey and Flash rush to the basement to take out the bomb.

In the library, Beck explains that both his side and Arrow's want Peter to remain at the school, and tells her to make sure he stays.

Peter and Flash reach the bomb, but there's only seventeen seconds to go, and Klum catches Flash in a pre-set noose (who should've kept his hand at the level of his eyes). Does Spidey defuse the bomb or save his friend? Find out next issue!

Just kidding. Spidey does both, using his webbing to snag a convenient oil drum and put it under Flash, so he can support himself with his feet instead of his neck. Defusing the bomb, Spidey says that he's activated cybernetic scramblers in his costume that will prevent Klum from taking control of him again, and that his scanners and spider-sense will warn him if he tries to teleport in. He then confides in Flash that this is all a result of his most dangerous power, his Spider-BS.

Klum, apparently wandering and ranting aimlessly, finds his way into the library, where he takes Arrow hostage. This turns out to be a bad idea, as she stabs him in the chest with her wrist stingers.

Yeah. Didn't see that one coming, did you? Klum 'ports away before she can get in the final blow, so we may not have seen the last of him.

Spidey and Flash arrive just in time to miss everything, and they all go outside, as the cloud around the school lifts. The people who were trapped in the cloud get medical attention, Arrow sticks her tongue down Flash's throat, and everybody gets a happy ending...

..except Roger, who's still in that closet.

Review: This was a good wrap-up to the Mysterio storyline, with some good plot and character threads laid out or continued. I'm glad Peter will be sticking around at the school, mostly because I want to see how his and Flash's friendship develops from here. Todd Nauck, I like, and it was fun to see him and PAD reunite and work their old YJ magic again. He's welcome back anytime.

And really, it's good to have at least one Spidey book that's not a huge downer.

[SnakeEater]

ok here is my problem with this comic...
First of all when MJ was attacked by a mutant who was obessed with being Spider-Man, the fan-base and marvel itself eventually cried that mutants should stay away from Spider-man...this was also true about Judas Traveller.
YET im confused as to why no one is complaining about Klum. He was forced as Mysterio on us and no one is complaining. I honestly think he is a stupid character, and he took the role of Daniel B as Mysterio and that was a stupidier move. More over the fact that The Evil That Men Do is canon is even more ridiculious because Kingpin is in jail in "canon" marvel, so what the hell is going on...

ALSO Quentin being involved with "greater forces from hell" is stupid too, because when the clone saga happened, Marvel wanted to say it was Mephisto who contrived the whole thing and then they pulled back saying it made no sense. AND WHAT ABOUT DEAD STAYS DEAD?

[Joe Acro]

He tries to use his telekinetic powers to make Spidey stab himself with a knife, but Flash shows up in the nick of time, grabs the knife, and sticks it in Klum's shoulder.

Klum has telekinetic abilities? Since when?

[Spider-Sense]

I guess he mean telepathic skills:)

[bigboi87]

Klum has telekinetic abilities? Since when?
In the Evil that Men Do #4, he makes Spidey and Daredevil fight each other. Im gueesing you are referring to the knife incident. SnakeEater, Klum is not a mutant. This was explained in the Evil that Men Do#5

[bigboi87]

whoops double post.

[Michael P]

Klum has telekinetic abilities? Since when?
Since always.

[Michael P]

In the Evil that Men Do #4, he makes Spidey and Daredevil fight each other. Im gueesing you are referring to the knife incident. SnakeEater, Klum is not a mutant. This was explained in the Evil that Men Do#5
Yeah he is. His grandparents may have had the X-gene implanted in them by the Nazis, but he had one when he was born.

[lonewolf23k]

ALSO Quentin being involved with "greater forces from hell" is stupid too, because when the clone saga happened, Marvel wanted to say it was Mephisto who contrived the whole thing and then they pulled back saying it made no sense. AND WHAT ABOUT DEAD STAYS DEAD?

Has anyone ever considered that maybe, just maybe, this is Quentin actually pulling off another Illusion job?

[bigboi87]

Has anyone ever considered that maybe, just maybe, this is Quentin actually pulling off another Illusion job?
One reason that I am not a Mysterio fan. I dont mind red herrings, but Mysterio is one big trick. Im not sure if Quentin Beck is dead or alive now.

[Shade 20x6]

I'm shocked that there isn't more discussion of Arrow's stingers. I was like "WTF?!" :confused:

[Pyro]

Can't believe there's no thread on this yet. Where's the love, people?
I know! I've been waiting all day for someone to start one. I'm afraid to start threads myself because I don't think I'd do it right.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything much to say right now...

I'll be back later.

[Joe Acro]

Since always.
I'll just assume Spider-Sense was right because I know he had that power.

[Spider-Sense]

Yeah.Nightcrawler even says something about telepathy being "teleportation of thoughts"..

[alextron]

Quentin Beck is dead, they should leave him that way. There's plenty other Spider-man villians around.

[garin]

So.. is Miss Arrow the spider creature from The Other?

Probably not, if Beck is correct with all his talk about her masters, but maybe she wasn't feigning ignorance. It'll definitely be interesting to see where this goes.

[TassleTREX]

Post altered because I don't know how to do invisible text. I'll just say Miss Arrow's identity is pretty obvious if you study her name a bit more closely.

[Xanrn]

Yeah besides from that being a very obivious red herring.

She is the Female Other creature made from Spideys old skin.

He "stingers" were exactly the same as Spideys.

[Arilou]

That might be it, but they don't really look the same in the first shot (They look more "bony" and less "Spiky") Also if you check her silhoutte in the panel when she's only silhouetted she looks very much like Marrow... I'm not saying either way, but it would be much more interesting, which is why I hope it's true :p

[Joe Acro]

Post altered because I don't know how to do invisible text. I'll just say Miss Arrow's identity is pretty obvious if you study her name a bit more closely.
To do invisible text (where we have to highlight) just use Text goes here, except with "spoil" instead of "soil.'

[reggiegold]

Ah. M.Arrow. Cute. I Don't know much of Marrow, except for the one ish of ASM she was in pre-reboot.

I was thinking Ms. Arrow = Miss Direction.

Hopefully someday we'll have only one Mysterio again, he'll re-open the old folks home scam, and JJJ will end up there.

Hoo-hah! Maybe in Spider Girl.

[The Shadow]

Can someone help me here...

I know Beck is dead... he died in Smith's DD run.

But who are the 2nd and 3rd Mysterio's? When did they first and subsequently appear? Have there always been the 2 of them running around? Did either of them have previous costumed identities???

So many questions!!!!

[Joe Acro]

Can someone help me here...

I know Beck is dead... he died in Smith's DD run.

But who are the 2nd and 3rd Mysterio's? When did they first and subsequently appear? Have there always been the 2 of them running around? Did either of them have previous costumed identities???

So many questions!!!!
The second Mysterio is Daniel Berkhart, better known as half of Mad Jack. He had once been disguised as Mysterio after being Beck's cellmate. Later, when Beck died, he took the mantle again.

Mysterio III is Francis Klum, a teleporter/telepath seeking revenge on Spider-Man for events in Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. He got the costume from Kingpin.

[The Shadow]

The second Mysterio is Daniel Berkhart, better known as half of Mad Jack. He had once been disguised as Mysterio after being Beck's cellmate. Later, when Beck died, he took the mantle again.

Mysterio III is Francis Klum, a teleporter/telepath seeking revenge on Spider-Man for events in Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. He got the costume from Kingpin.
Thanks!

When did Berkhart resume the mantle (title and issue number if you recall it) and when was he FIRST acting as Mysterio?

I didn't read Spidey-Black Cat so that's why I didn't know about Klum.

[Joe Acro]

Thanks!

When did Berkhart resume the mantle (title and issue number if you recall it) and when was he FIRST acting as Mysterio?

From Marvel.com:

When the original Mysterio (Quentin Beck) was captured and jailed. He devised a quiet, long-term plan, a nursing home scam whereby he would trick the infirm into signing all their wealth over to him. To this end, he made use of his cellmate, Daniel Berkhart, taking him into his confidence, teaching him all his secrets and training him to replace him as Mysterio, even as he engineered his own "death". Berkhart was released, looking for revenge on behalf of his "buddy" Beck, and was hired by Jameson to pretend to be the ghost of Mysterio and capture Spider-Man. He plagued Spider-Man with illusions, even as Peter Parker, by planting an image-inducer on the wall-crawler's costume. Spidey later used the inducer to track down and confront a nervous Berkhart. When Spider-Man wasn't fooled by the ghost routine, Berkhart lost his temper and was easily overcome. Jameson abandoned him when he was jailed and he resented Jameson ever since.

[El Santo]

I thought this sucked mightily. And after the quasi-crappy time travel storyline, I think I'm done with this book.

The whole story resulted in...nothing. Mysterio randomly takes over the school for no good reason, and the whole situation is resolved with no real effort on the part of Spider-Man. The "real" Mysterio is some kind of hellish servitor, and Ms. Arrow has bony spikes in her wrists, and maybe has a secret she doesn't remember. Tiny pieces of interesting story floating in a morass of boring, meaningless banter and dumb "challenges" that never really challenge Spider-Man at all. This was a waste of paper.

I'm going back to Amazing. This sucks.

[bigboi87]

Ah. M.Arrow. Cute. I Don't know much of Marrow, except for the one ish of ASM she was in pre-reboot.

I was thinking Ms. Arrow = Miss Direction.

Hopefully someday we'll have only one Mysterio again, he'll re-open the old folks home scam, and JJJ will end up there.

Hoo-hah! Maybe in Spider Girl.
Which issue of ASM did Marrow appear in? I vaguely remember her having a thing for Peter Parker, but I cant remeber which issue.

[Arilou]

Which issue of ASM did Marrow appear in? I vaguely remember her having a thing for Peter Parker, but I cant remeber which issue.

I know they met briefly in a one-shot "Spider-Man & Marrow: Bad to the Bone" I think it was called.

[brundlefly]

I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of Beck's spirit coming back from Hell (or limbo, whatever) and now being a ghoul or ghost or that kind of thing with actual magical powers instead of his previous MO. It kind of undercuts what the character was all about (schemes, smoke and mirrors, misdirection) to have him now as some kind of undead slave to hellish masters, carrying out their bidding. And the only other explanation (Beck faked his death in Daredevil and this "back from Hell" stuff is all just another one of his acts) is pretty illogical: why pretend to have cancer, and then fake his death in front of Daredevil of all people? What was to be gained by that? And I too would have preferred the Mysterio fight to have had some kind of outcome or conclusion; instead now we have 2 or 3 different guys all claiming the name of Mysterio, none of them with any clear motivation besides claiming said name and not liking Spidey. I don't know what the Marrow appearance was all about. I, too, figured it was the female Other and cringed, but the idea of it being Marrow (Mrs. Arrow, bone claws, makes sense) is just kind of .....well, random.

Vulture's back next issue, so despite my misgivings about the conclusion to the Mysterio arc, I'll be back for that to see what PAD has planned for him.

[Cody H]

What kind of rationale could they come up with for Marrow hanging around the Spiderverse? I mean, I'm not that familiar with the character but I don't see the connection, am I missing something? Having not read the issue yet, I'll just reserve judgement, though I suspect it isn't actually Marrow, but rather has some kind of connection to The Other, maybe she is The Other, having emerged from the cocoon in the church.

[garin]

I wouldn't have guessed Marrow (didn't know there was a Spidey connection there, for a start) but it does make sense.

She has pretty much the right look too, although the last time we saw her in Generation M she still had a bone crest thing on her head, and may have been depowered (there's some confusion over this).

[Arilou]

She has pretty much the right look too, although the last time we saw her in Generation M she still had a bone crest thing on her head, and may have been depowered (there's some confusion over this).

I think she's switched eye-colour though (in Spider-man/Marrow she is blue-eyed when she isn't all pink and bony)

What kind of rationale could they come up with for Marrow hanging around the Spiderverse? I mean, I'm not that familiar with the character but I don't see the connection, am I missing something?

Well, she went on a date with Peter Parker in the Spider-Man/Marrow one-shot, and Spider-Man did kind of help her against SHIELD.

I'll just reserve judgement, though I suspect it isn't actually Marrow, but rather has some kind of connection to The Other, maybe she is The Other, having emerged from the cocoon in the church.

That's my suspicion as well, but that wouldn't be as much fun :p

[Joe Acro]

Which issue of ASM did Marrow appear in? I vaguely remember her having a thing for Peter Parker, but I cant remeber which issue.
Marrow was never in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man. She did, however, show up in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #4 (Vol. 2).

I know they met briefly in a one-shot "Spider-Man & Marrow: Bad to the Bone" I think it was called.
That was the one where she threw herself off the Brooklyn Bridge, right? I've never known how she survived that...

[Arilou]

That was the one where she threw herself off the Brooklyn Bridge, right? I've never known how she survived that...

She was shown in the sewers next to this... Big lizard/alien.... THING at the end of the issue. And she does have a healing factor *shrugs*.

[Loestal]

I'm pretty sure it was the lady spider thing, I would never of guess Marrow....regardless of them being in a one shot together...it makes no sense. That's like saying that if she used claws instead of stingers it is probably squirl girl because they were in a issue or two 10 years ago. The only thing that makes it a possibility is the name...which isn't enough for me to buy.

[The Shadow]

From Marvel.com:
Thanks Joe!!!

Much appreciated.

[DoctorDoom]

Nice. Flash finally accepts Peter is Spider-Man. :)

[LabRat]

I remember reading something about Quentin Beck coming back being related to that Dead Girl comic that came out several months ago... Can anyone check on this?

[DBZ MAN]

I hate coming back from the dead stories. But I liked the fac they used Klum from Kevin's run.

[Red Lotus]

So.. is Miss Arrow the spider creature from The Other?

Probably not, if Beck is correct with all his talk about her masters, but maybe she wasn't feigning ignorance. It'll definitely be interesting to see where this goes.

This is why I thought she was the Spider creature. Beck masters seem to be other worldly and so would be the spider creature's.

[Mysterio's Helmet]

For the person that asked: ASM #141 and 142 for the first Mysterio II appearances.


This felt like a tryout to me, from Marvel. Plus the letter column basically begs you to answer the question:

Which Mysterio would you prefer to see most???

That's what I got out of the end of the storyline.

It was a fun arc. No doubt. But as others have alledged: there really wasn't a conclusion. Well, we get Marrow for some reason.

Don't know yet whether I'm happy Beck is back as SpectralMysterio or not. Mysterio III I was hoping would bite the big one but I'm sure Marvel doesn't want to step on Smith's toes. (y'know.....in case he finishes that DD: Target thing...or other future considerations.) Anyway, fun to read because I'm a diehard Mysterio fan (see the nickname?) ultimately inconclusive.

[The Confessor]

I think that while the whole Ms. Arrow being Marrow thing would've been quite clever, I'm convinced that she's actually tied into The Other storyline somehow. Those stingers from her wrists are just too similar to Peter's for it to be anything else in my opinion. And it wasn't that long ago that we saw Peter using his stingers against El Muerto (back in #6). I think that's the connection that the reader is supposed to make. Still, Beck's speech about Ms. Arrow's 'Superiors' was pretty intriguing.

Also, nice to see Flash accept Peter as Spider-Man and the dialogue between Flash and Peter as they rushed into the basement to defuse the bomb was really like back in the old days before Flash lost his memory.

By the way, when do you people think this 3-part story occurs in the overall 'Civil War' timeline? Personally I think it happens before the big battle in CW#3/CW#4. Mainly because there’s the opening scene in part one where Peter's going to school and his unmasking is still red-hot news (and not the death of Goliath). Plus he's still wearing the Iron Spider outfit, so I'm assuming he hasn't fallen out with Tony Stark yet.

What do you think?

[Troy Wall]

I'll tell you what I think. I think if for some reason PAD leaves this book or it gets cancelled before he's able to develop these plot lines he's created I'm gonna be pissed!

Ok, PAD--don't forget...before you leave this book you have to explore the murderous Uncle Ben thing, tell us if Arrow is Marrow or not, and make a final decision on Mysterio (Beck, I mean). Do you hear me PAD?!?!?! DO YOU? :)

I really like this book. Way different from Amazing, which is a good thing to me. I like different flavors!

[drinkblatzbeer]

i finally read the story, and as far as a fun spidey story goes, this is good...

i laughed out loud in a few occasions, which is rare from a comic...

[666andahalf]

It's hard to say about Miss Arrow's true nature. It'll be interesting to see where that's going.

In regards to the "Demonic Mysterio", I don't think that it's Quentin Beck back from the dead at all, rather, Maguire Beck (Mad Jack II), from Mysterio Manifesto. Maguire was all about Quentin Beck's legacy. Plus, "Demonic Mysterio" acts very similarly to Maguire in the way she talks. Remember back in part one of the storyline when Klum first puts on Mysterio's costume, he's being watched by a mysterious observer via hidden camera who has that same tone of voice. When demonic Mysterio showes up, she talks about Klum's rare opportunity to prove himself to (something like) "interested parties" against Berkhart (who she'd not be to happy with since he left her to rot in jail while he went free). This interested party could be the criminal underworld (which I guess since Kingpin's in jail, it's whoever's next down the ladder). And the Kingpin did say in Spidey/BlackCat that he got the Mysterio costume from Jack 'O Lantern (Mad Jack) which was Maguires prievous identity. Now, I have no idea what the connection with Miss Arrow is but if it is Maguire then it would make slightly more sense if she was Marrow.

[Kefky]

I'm still really enjoying this book. I can understand the complaints that the last two arcs haven't had enough closure, but I really like the fact that PAD's setting up all this stuff(the Tracer, alternate reality uncle Ben, Ms. Arrow, Quention Beck) for an epic storyline down the road. You don't see spidey writers doing this kind of planning beforehand these days. Plus, I think these both of these arcs had plenty of content, and also worked well by themselves. Just my opinion, though.

As for PAD leaving, I wouldn't worry about it. He's wanted this gig for ages, and he's the kind of guy who sticks to his projects. Unless the book gets canned(VERY unlikely), or an editor with a grudge kicks him out(somewhat unlikely until JoeQ's running marvel, since he's always been very supportive of PAD), I'd say he's staying on the book at least until issue 50.

[drinkblatzbeer]

i hope you're right, i jumped on this book with this recent arc and loved it...
this, along with x-factor seem to be some of PADs best work yet...

[Will.S]

I found the issue enjoyable although trying to keep track of the Mysterio's (and who is who) kind of drove me nuts.

What I found the most satisfying is seeing Ms. Arrow break out the stingers, I was hoping for JMS to pick up on that when he finished the CW related stuff but it seems like Peter David did the honors quite nicely. What's also great about Peter David's Spider-Man is that while Spidey is going through his own drama during JMS's book, we can see the school aspect of Peter Parker's job back in full swing again (no pun intended) so it's almost like all the parts everyone wanted to see acknowledged during The Other and the early JMS run are being used.

I still didn't care much for Nauck's art since his proportions on Spider-Man are way too huge and musclebound. If there's any other perfect artist for FNS it's Ale Garza since he can do a perfect wirey Spider-Man but retain the cartoony influence of Wieringo. Hopefully though, Scott Eaton can make the title his own.

[Sophisticated_Gamer]

This was a pretty insane issue, especially all the kliff hangers...also was the one chick arrow, from teh xmen?


BTW I got my letter published in FNSM # 12...i am so happy...it's under Andrew :D

[The Shadow]

this, along with x-factor seem to be some of PADs best work yet...
While I'm really REALLY enjoying FNSM... X-Factor is out of this world!

[drinkblatzbeer]

This was a pretty insane issue, especially all the kliff hangers...also was the one chick arrow, from teh xmen?


BTW I got my letter published in FNSM # 12...i am so happy...it's under Andrew :D
ha, yeah, getting a letter published is pretty cool...when i was like 13 i got a letter, well, sort of published in ASM 387 (red cover with young vulture) but they edited it, and asked an extra question i know i didn't ask...so basically it was a half edited letter and my address, but it rocked nonetheless...

[Cody H]

Finally managed to make it to the shop and pick this one up today. I like how the last few stories have finished with some unresolved issues (alternate reality Uncle Ben, Miss Arrow's identity, Mysterio's "masters" and their interest in Spidey). I hope Peter David continues to let them simmer as subplots before addressing them entirely. I feel that's the big thing that's been missing with all the recent Spidey 'events' has been the subplots and it's nice to know we're getting some of that with Friendly Neighborhood.

[Will.S]

Finally managed to make it to the shop and pick this one up today. I like how the last few stories have finished with some unresolved issues (alternate reality Uncle Ben, Miss Arrow's identity, Mysterio's "masters" and their interest in Spidey). I hope Peter David continues to let them simmer as subplots before addressing them entirely. I feel that's the big thing that's been missing with all the recent Spidey 'events' has been the subplots and it's nice to know we're getting some of that with Friendly Neighborhood.
Yeah I agree with that one.

Interestingly the upcoming issue seems to go back to the woman who thought Spider-Man was stalking her so that should be fun. The future scene in that issue with MJ giving her a verbal lashing for some reason has me thinking that it'll tie in with the alternate Uncle Ben story.

[El Santo]

Am I the only person who felt kinda cheated with this issue? All that buildup, and then the whole situation gets solved with total ease by Spider-Man and his amazing new gadgets?

[stillanerd]

I found the issue enjoyable although trying to keep track of the Mysterio's (and who is who) kind of drove me nuts.

Especially since this could've been an opportunity to actually get rid of two of them leaving only one Mysterio left. And I'm not really too keen on the idea that the original Mysterio is, essentially an agent from hell (not unlike what DC did with Doctor Light back in the early 90s) because, as I've said before, I just don't think heavily supernatural stuff really works for Spider-Man. It would have been much simplier if Beck just faked his own suicide and came out of "retirement" after his arch-nemesis publicly revealed his identity.

What I found the most satisfying is seeing Ms. Arrow break out the stingers, I was hoping for JMS to pick up on that when he finished the CW related stuff but it seems like Peter David did the honors quite nicely. What's also great about Peter David's Spider-Man is that while Spidey is going through his own drama during JMS's book, we can see the school aspect of Peter Parker's job back in full swing again (no pun intended) so it's almost like all the parts everyone wanted to see acknowledged during The Other and the early JMS run are being used.

Well, if Ms. Arrow does turn out to be the She-Spider/Other, then it does suggest my belief that the JMS mini that supposed to "fix" Spider-Man will have Spidey and the "Other" team-up to stop some great evil, maybe Shathra the Spider-Wasp and Morlun, from overtaking the world and finally putting an end to all the mystical spider-totem craziness, not to mention, I hope, somehow restoring Spidey's secret ID and just what are the six junction points in Spider-Man's life? (Hopefully answering another one of JMS unsolved mysteries: what lead to the possible future of Spidey as depicted in ASM #500?) Hey, Joe Q did say over at Newsrama concerning the upcoming "Back in Black" arc that everything that's been happening to Spidey now supposively all ties into that mini.

[Will.S]

Especially since this could've been an opportunity to actually get rid of two of them leaving only one Mysterio left. And I'm not really too keen on the idea that the original Mysterio is, essentially an agent from hell (not unlike what DC did with Doctor Light back in the early 90s) because, as I've said before, I just don't think heavily supernatural stuff really works for Spider-Man. It would have been much simplier if Beck just faked his own suicide and came out of "retirement" after his arch-nemesis publicly revealed his identity. I actually agree, I didn't exactly love the supernatural slant on Mysterio and I was hoping to see the return of just 1 Mysterio (preferably in the classic costume) but then again there's more to Quentin Beck's story, maybe the Deadgirl series is a clue about his return?

Well, if Ms. Arrow does turn out to be the She-Spider/Other, then it does suggest my belief that the JMS mini that supposed to "fix" Spider-Man will have Spidey and the "Other" team-up to stop some great evil, maybe Shathra the Spider-Wasp and Morlun, from overtaking the world and finally putting an end to all the mystical spider-totem craziness....Eh, I don't see Ms. Arrow teaming up with Spider-Man to do that. What Peter David seems to be inferring with the character is that she's under "deep cover" to try to bait Spider-Man/Peter Parker into some kind of trap.

[Sophisticated_Gamer]

ha, yeah, getting a letter published is pretty cool...when i was like 13 i got a letter, well, sort of published in ASM 387 (red cover with young vulture) but they edited it, and asked an extra question i know i didn't ask...so basically it was a half edited letter and my address, but it rocked nonetheless...

But you should read it, because he gave me the coolest response to my letter...

[Venom]

I loved this issue! I'm glad that Beck's finally back. I don't care if he's dead as long as the one-true Mysterio is back. Here's the question though; why is he back now and what is he planning? Who are his superiors? Is Ms Arrow Marrow from the X-Men with a revamp or The Other? Man I love this book! Peter David always does this with me after each story arc comes to a close, posting multiple questions on this forum.

[Peter David]

I actually agree, I didn't exactly love the supernatural slant on Mysterio and I was hoping to see the return of just 1 Mysterio (preferably in the classic costume) but then again there's more to Quentin Beck's story, maybe the Deadgirl series is a clue about his return?

Eh, I don't see Ms. Arrow teaming up with Spider-Man to do that. What Peter David seems to be inferring with the character is that she's under "deep cover" to try to bait Spider-Man/Peter Parker into some kind of trap.

No, I'm implying that. You're inferring it.

PAD

[RedShark92]

I’m curious about questions on the supernatural status (or lack thereof) on the original Mysterio.

Given the character’s nature, how do we know for sure that there really is something supernatural going on with him, versus him just following his MO and messing with people’s heads?

After all, as I recall even Matt Murdock had trouble seeing through some of his illusions in Smith’s DD run and Murdock’s senses make him incredibly difficult to fool in that manner.

Seems a little early to worry too much about it...

[Cody H]

Interestingly the upcoming issue seems to go back to the woman who thought Spider-Man was stalking her so that should be fun.Actually I believe next issue is focusing on Deborah Whitman who's, from what I've heard, wrote or writting a book on how Spider-Man ruined her life.

[666andahalf]

I’m curious about questions on the supernatural status (or lack thereof) on the original Mysterio.

Given the character’s nature, how do we know for sure that there really is something supernatural going on with him, versus him just following his MO and messing with people’s heads?

Check my post at the end of page 3.

Actually I believe next issue is focusing on Deborah Whitman who's, from what I've heard, wrote or writting a book on how Spider-Man ruined her life.

It's nice to know PAD actually cares about some of Spidey's past supporting characters.

[Mideon]

haha That's awesome that he's bringing Debra Whitman back. She hasn't been seen for like 20 years.

[The Confessor]

Actually I believe next issue is focusing on Deborah Whitman who's, from what I've heard, wrote or writting a book on how Spider-Man ruined her life.


Shheesh! Deborah Whitman was such a '3rd Division' girlfriend for Peter Parker compared to the 'Premier League' Gwen Stacy, Felicia Hardy & Mary Jane Watson. I mean, the guy's got a pretty amazing track record where hot chicks are concerned...and then there's Deborah Whitman!! :confused:

Hell, even Betty Brant was hotter than her!

Still, I must admit to being rather fascinated by the prospect of her return. I wonder if she'll still be sportin' those HUGE round spectacles?

[Venom]

I wonder if she'll still be sportin' those HUGE round spectacles?

Check out the front cover to Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man #15 and you'll know my friend.

[The Confessor]

Check out the front cover to Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man #15 and you'll know my friend.


Well, after spending 17 hours in my top-secret subterranean laboratory analysing pictures of Deb Whitman then and now with the latest spectacle measuring technology, I conclude that her glasses have shrunk in size slightly. See for yourself...

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6366/debwhitman2sw6.jpg

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/4730/debwhitman2006mi5.jpg

They're still pretty freakin' big though! :eek:

[Alan2099]

haha That's awesome that he's bringing Debra Whitman back. She hasn't been seen for like 20 years.
Well she was a regular on the animated series in the 90s.

[Will.S]

Actually I believe next issue is focusing on Deborah Whitman who's, from what I've heard, wrote or writting a book on how Spider-Man ruined her life.
For some reason I confused Deborah Whitman with the other character because of the solicitation text.

[90'sCartoonMan]

Well, after spending 17 hours in my top-secret subterranean laboratory analysing pictures of Deb Whitman then and now with the latest spectacle measuring technology, I conclude that her glasses have shrunk in size slightly. See for yourself...

Looks like Deborah wised up and realized her glasses don't need to be big enough to fit her eyebrows.

I liked the Mysterio face-off in this issue, Spider-Man was playing it smart and letting them settle things. I still think Klum kinda sucks, and he was wearing my least favorite Mysterio costume.

I want to see more of Beck. If any of Spidey's villains can have a supernatural theme, it's Mysterio. And who knows, maybe he'll be restored if his bosses let him off after a while. Or he's lying.

Best part of the issue for me was the Spider-Man/Flash interaction. He could've only been in denial for so long. But Flash still lost a lot of his memory, right? I wonder what things will be like between them now.