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I'm splitting this commentary into three parts: Actual Review, Gratitude and Rant.
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PART ONE: The Actual Review
J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema end their truly spectacular run on Spider-Man with an action-packed and emotional final confrontation between Peter Parker and Harry Osborn. Yes, both have their own colorful long johns, but really this issue, actually... this run, is about Peter and Harry: the men behind the masks. And it all comes to a close in this issue, with its final two pages being some of the most powerful pages ever in a Spider-Man comic and the best pages Sal Buscema ever drew in his entire career. They were so good that DeMatteis chose not to write dialogue in them because of how well those silent pages told what needed to be told. Speaking of DeMatteis, he expertly scripts this issue like all the other issues of this run and does it effortlessly. This issue truly deserves the reputation it gets.
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PART TWO: Gratitude
I just want to take the time to thank DeMatteis and Buscema for this run as if I were standing in front of them. Last year, 2022, a lot of giants in the industry passed away. George Perez. Neal Adams. Tim Sale. Kazuki Takahashi. Kim Jung Gi. The list goes on. One of the most important lessons in life is knowing who/what you have before they're gone. I just hope to get this message across to the writer and artist of this issue before they go away, and hopefully they'll see it.
To J.M. DeMatteis - I've been reading comics since 2015 and, unsurprisingly, started with whatever Amazing Spider-Man run was going on at the time. Ever since then, I've read countless Spider-Man comics from different writers and artists. Spider-Man was my introduction to comics, to superheroes, and it's because of not just his relatability, but because he perseveres in spite of all the trials and tribulations he goes through in life. Lately, as I'm getting older, I sometimes feel as if I'm drifting away from the character. Feeling as if I've outgrown him. Let me just say that it wasn't until this run of Buscema and yours that Peter Parker felt so real to me. The way you write him, the trials you put him through, and how even in states of anger and frustration he doesn't lose sight of who he is. There is so much more than I can say but I think I can sum it up in this: your Spider-Man work, even outside of this run, have had a profound impact on me and who I am as a human being. And I could not thank you enough for all the work that you've done on the character.
To Sal Buscema - This run isn't the first time I've experienced your artwork. That honor goes to the sequel to the Sin-Eater storyline from Spectacular Spider-Man with Peter David. I've really liked your work then, but looking at your work here now I am floored by it. In my eyes, you're one of those great artists who not only has an attractive art style, but also exceptional storytelling and panel layouts. I haven't been this impressed with comic artwork in a while. Your artwork in this run, especially the silent panels and pages, remind me of how powerful comic book storytelling can be. Your art in this run makes me want to go draw again, and this time take it to the next level. Thank you so much.
God bless both of you. You both reminded me of how much Peter Parker means to me on a personal level. I pray that I get to meet one or both of you some day. If not, hopefully in the afterlife.
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PART THREE: Rant
Marvel is so dumb for not having this run completely available in print nor digital. That needs to change. There's literally no reason for this run to remain uncollected for this long. There's even a Polish edition of this entire run REMASTERED. THEY HAVE THE SCANS!! WHAT'S TAKING THEM SO LONG?! I don't care if they make a thick paperback edition printed on tissue paper. JUST DO IT ALREADY. more