This issue feels more like a Daredevil advertisement mixed with filler. I know the annual had just come out and a lot of work went into that, but this is such an inconsequential issue. Yeah, Spidey teams up with Daredevil for the first time, but nothing much is done with it. The Ringmaster is a really boring villain. The plot is very barebones and there's hardly anything to really parse through here. We get another MJ reference, which is nice. But nothing really is progressed here, in the overarching narrative. I'm not even sure if Betty being upset with Peter will factor in next issue. We'll see. I will say this issue did move fast, but again, that's because there's not much here. I really hope next issue picks up. I think it will, as I remember having fond memories of the first time Spider-Man decided to quit.

Quote of the issue: "I'd Rather Have a Gent Like You With Me Than Agin' Me!!" more

I'll get this out of the way. Mysterio is a really cool, exciting villain. But when you explain all his tricks, it kind of lessens the appeal for me.

Throughout so much of this issue, I kept thinking about the Far From Home movie. It had to be because of how much of the plot was lifted from these early Mysterio appearances. I don't have that same sort of problem with Vulture, Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, Electro or the Lizard. It could also be because it's the most recent Spider-Man movie, and therefore it's the freshest in my mind. I don't know, but there's a ton of parallels. And the idea that Mysterio is using drones actually causes much less ruination in my opinion than spring-loaded boots and nylon firing guns. I don't want this review to just be a refutation on all the people pretending Mysterio is so much cooler when he uses ridiculous contraptions and 1960s special effects to achieve his stunts. I have a feeling these people have never read this issue right here, and that's fine as long as they don't pretend to know.

But let's not focus on that, let's focus on how ridiculously Mysterio gets beaten. Not the fight itself, but rather Spider-Man recording his evil monologue where he explains everything. That was so lame, but also the only quick way to clear Spider-Man's name...

The money troubles briefly return here but they're probably done away with for now! But they'll be back, they always come back.

JJJ was amazing as always. He's the best.

Quote of the issue: "A Miniature Recorder!! Bah!" more

Look, this issue is super silly. Green Goblin's plan doesn't make a ton of sense, B.J. Cosmos is a nutty character, and Green Goblin can't even count. It's ridiculous, and I'm not sure why it's *so* ridiculous. We're Stan and Steve trying to create Spider-Man's Joker and leaned into it too hard? I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, it doesn't really affect my opinion of the issue.

I liked it. It's not as solid as the last few issues. It uses the Enforcers again, after all. But it's still of a higher quality than the earlier issues.

JJJ is still great. And we never find out if Peter got those pix for him!

Quote of the issue: "But One Thing He Didn't Count On is My Power of Chest Expansion!!" more

this is so random lol

I surprisingly enjoyed living brain story but wtf was this second one ?
Living brain story: 7/10
Peter acting like dick and fights fantastic four: 2/10
Score should be 4.5 but I boost it to 5 because second story was at least short

This is another one of those early Spider-Man comics that I read very, very young. And honestly, I'm sure it held up better then. Before I knew anything about how computers work. This issue is such a silver age issue. It's advertised as a special "tribute-to-teen-agers" issue, and I think that's code for a tribute to Daredevil readers because this is super, super silly.

First, let's just get this out of the way. The Living Brain is a character created from a wellspring of... Inaccurate knowledge about how computers work. Of course, this is a comic book and so we have to suspend our disbelief somewhat, but I made fun of the Vulture so I'll make fun of this too.

One, computers/AI are not smarter than humans. They may possess more information, but knowledge is not the same as intelligence. Now, the Living Brain here is obviously using some advanced machine learning. He's taking advantage of Bayesian deep learning well before it was a thing. But uh, it's Marvel time, it's different. Even then, rough-brained Peter should know better.

Two, what exact inputs does the Living Brain accept? Early in the issue, Peter has to convert the information that his classmates give him into... Something, and he inputs it using a control panel. And then later, the Living Brain seems to hear sounds and have visual inputs as well. Kinda doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Also, I can't tell what the Living Brain outputs either. Is that hexadecimal or something? I wouldn't be surprised if it is, because the company that makes the Living Brain is ICM, which is clearly a parody of IBM, who had just introduced hexadecimal in 1963. Maybe that news blurb is what Stan Lee based this entire issue on.

Three, is the Living Brain malfunctioning or not? Why would scientists make their supercomputer into a humanoid robot with the ability to fight people? For dramatics?? I mean, that's what they say in the issue, but I don't believe it! On one hand, they act like the Living Brain was damaged by the two idiots hitting its control panel. On the other, the Living Brain is clearly even more functional than it was. It's not acting random as it should be. So clearly, these scientists programmed it with these abilities for some reason. Why? Why would they do that?

Four, Probability does not equate to knowing. The crux of the issue relies on this machine being able to accurately know... Everything. This is not how computers have ever worked. And the fact that Peter is sweating over it is soooo silly. These two random guys who apparently work with the scientist who is showing this around at schools only now decide that this machine is their meal ticket, after presumably sitting through this presentation many, many times. And it's like, man, these people are all idiots.

With that out of the way, we can focus on the Peter Parker stuff. Flash and Peter finally fight! This whole part of the issue reads like an Archie comic, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's not exactly Spider-Man. It's just all so silly. This issue is so ridiculous. At least Peter gets to turn it around for himself at the end. At least he's happy.

The back-up is awful. Peter acts like an asshole, and I was on board for it until he tried fighting the entire FF for no reason. I don't really mention the art much in these reviews, if at all, but I have to say, Jack Kirby's Spider-Man just isn't nearly as good as Ditko's. Maybe it's just because of how iconic Ditko's Spidey is, but I really had a problem with Kirby's version.

This issue is really dumb and I think it was glorified filler. They had to get an issue out, but hadn't any good ideas. Way to go, Marvel. Way to pander to your prime demographic and then fuck it up. I really hope this sort of thing doesn't happen again, personally.

Quote of the issue: "Drat This Knotted Shoelace!" more

best intro til now.

I'll be honest and admit that I do not find Sandman to be a compelling villain. I've never really read a Sandman story that, off the top of my head, really stuck with me. And his introduction here is kind of the same way. He presents a unique challenge for Spider-Man to overcome, but he doesn't really have the enduring personality to match. He's defeated by a vacuum cleaner! I don't care how industrialized it is, that's not cool.

The reason to read this issue is the Peter Parker soap opera stuff. Betty Brant was introduced in issue two, but she's finally named here. She and Peter actually interact on panel, it's quick but it's a big deal since she's going to become Peter's first love interest. On the flip side, we see that Liz Allen is willing to date Peter. She's another early love interest, and soon that sort of thing will be brought to the forefront.

There's some fun here with Jameson. Seeing him standing behind his desk in his underwear is a very funny image. Otherwise, he sounds like any Conservative anyone's ever met, and Conservatives are unintentionally funny too.

I said in my last review that I felt I wouldn't have enough to say about the issues I liked, but honestly this issue is proving to be more difficult. Not a ton happens in this issue, and the villain isn't as compelling as Doc Ock. So... Within the span of a single issue, we see how the longer format can help *and* hurt the storytelling. Sandman would've been a much better villain for an 11 page story. I think so, anyhow.

Quote of the issue: "Ever Get Any Love Taps From a Guy's Rock-Hard Head?" more

not a great start following amazing fantasy 15.