PETER PARKER's got a real shot - a chance for a spot in a competitive Empire State University program as a high school student. Nothing's going to keep him from his goal...unless the old Parker luck strikes again! And a crime boss's interference with an experiment of DR. CURT CONNORS threatens to do just that, as an unexpected run-in heralds the return of the deadly LIZARD! But if SPIDER-MAN is going to save the day, does that mean Peter Parker will have to sacrifice his future? A tale of great power and the cost of responsibility in the mighty Marvel manner!
Rated T
Overall there isn't a whole lot to say to summarize about this one shot story as a whole. The whole thing moves pretty quickly, involving mostly one long chase scene, with the highlight being the art on the splash pages where a few punches are exchanged between Spidey and the Lizard. Other than that, the issue ends rather uneventfully albeit with a slight emotional twist but if you've been enjoying these callouts to the bygone era of Marvel Comics, you'll find more of that enjoyment here. Read Full Review
A thwipping good time, with a fan-favorite villain, but it doesn't really have a greater purpose in the grand scheme of things. Read Full Review
A fun, ultimately unimportant Spider-Man story that feels classic in execution and delivery, but fails to make any larger point with staying power. Read Full Review
Witty banter is one thing, and any Spidey story worth its salt will have it, but when a character's monologue starts hitting Shakespearean levels of length, it's time to cut things down a bit. As a result the story can't really build, and it winds up being forgettable. Read Full Review
Teenage Peter Parker blows an ESU internship interview because the Lizard needs Spider-attention. That's the way the "great responsibility" cookie crumbles. This is a very simple comic, verging dangerously into simplistic. Part of that is due to the light continuity and the conscious effort to cater to younger readers. But a larger part of it is due to Ralph Macchio's prose style being dated if not obsolete.
There are some hints of classic Spidey in this, but ultimately, there's not much here.