Amazing Spider-Man #28 synopsis
Amazing Spider-Man #29 synopsis
Peter Parker: Spider-Man #29 synopsis

the plot: The sun sets on the Brooklyn Bridge as young lovers Peter Parker and his wife Mary Jane embrace in a passionate kiss. Peter reflects on the recent events of his life. How Mary Jane was kidnapped by a Stalker who wished to take Peter's place, as both MJ's husband and as Spider-Man, how Peter rescued MJ, and how the Stalker took his own life rather than kill Peter. The sky darkens as husband and wife continue their walk. Peter talks about taking a trip with Mary Jane, to get away, and reminds her of how much he loves her. Later, at Peter and Randy Robertson's apartment, with Randy, Glory Grant and Jill Stacy's help, Peter and Mary Jane begin packing up Peter's things so he can move back into Aunt May's house with Mary Jane. Randy assures Peter he and Fluffy the cat (from Amazing #27) will be fine, to which Fluffy responds by clawing at Randy's face. Meanwhile Glory and Jill are just happy that MJ's back and they can get reaquainted. The packing is interrupted by a telephone call that Glory answers, and hands to Peter. Peter becomes furious when the caller asks if Mary Jane will return to modelling and if the kidnapping was a publicity stunt.

Back at Aunt May's house, May can't stop glowing with happiness and hugs Peter and Mary Jane. Explaining the joy she feels now that her family is reunited, she goes to prepare dinner and Peter and Mary Jane head upstairs. Leaping up to the top step in a single jump, Peter then carries Mary Jane upsidedown on the ceiling until MJ tells him to stop and they continue unpacking. As they finish dropping off their boxes in the attic and Mary Jane begins to head downstairs, Peter shuts off the light and the door becomes jammed. MJ has a panic attack, since the setting reminds her of her captivity. Peter pushes the door open and Mary Jane quickly covers up her fear. She then heads outside May's house and catches her breath at the side. Peter find her there and tells her "Whatever happens... We can get through it together."

Now at the dinner table, the Parker's sit down to eat and Peter explains that he and Mary Jane are just planning to take things slowly for the next while. Later in Peter's old bedroom, MJ sits on the bed looking at old photographs when Peter enters the doorway. MJ's asks him what he's thinking and Peter suggestivly replies. "Do have have any idea how much I love you? How much I missed you? How much I missed us?", Peter asks before he and MJ kiss. They're interrupted though when an explosion goes off in the distance. Assuming it's only a gas main, Peter returns to Mary Jane, until the news on Peter's old television reports that it's a terrorist group attacking the UN Plaza. Reluctantly, Peter puts on his Spider-Man suit and goes off to help as he can. Mary Jane stares off into the distance until returning to the pictures of her and Peter as the news report continues. "Aunt May and Aunt Anna had us a match from the start. The Cheerleader and the Science Nerd. No one thought it would really last", MJ comments looking at the pictures. "I did".

MJ stops though when she reaches a pile of pictures without Peter. MJ wonders aloud where Peter is, and that she needs him. Webslinging back, Spidey arrives, and asks MJ is anything's wrong. She simply tells him, they need to talk. After Peter has changed back into his regular clothes they go for a walk, MJ keeping quiet and Peter asking her if she's mad. She explains that with all that's happened in the last year they aren't the same people in the pictures, that theyu have become different people with different needs. But more importantly that things can't go back to the way they used to be. Peter admits he knows, and has for a while. MJ tells Peter she does love him and Peter reaches into his pocket to get something he found in the attic earlier. It's Mary Jane's wedding ring, delivered to Peter in MJ's luggage following the plane crash (Peter Parker: Spider-Man #19). MJ tells Peter to hold on to it for her for a while and after they kiss, MJ walks off into the morning. Looking off into the sunrise, Peter stands alone, thinking that if you'd asked him twenty-four hours ago where he'd be right now...

the review: Wow. I'll say right away that I really liked this issue, because, amongst other things it was an excellent way for Howard Mackie, a nine year Spider-Man writer, to finish off his run. While I had felt that it was a bad move to end the Stalker storyline in the third part, short-changing the character in the longrun, I can see why that was done. The Stalker wasn't a very developed character anyway, and this story wasn't about a confrontation with the Stalker; it was about reunited Peter and Mary Jane. This issue alone more than makes up for those 1998-1999 issues that seemed to lead towards a break-up between Peter and MJ, and portrays them as they should be: Two young people, very much in love with each other. Not only is that displayed by the beautiful artwork by Joe Bennett and Sandu Florea (who should be Joe Bennett's permanent inker from now on), but also by Howard Mackie's beautiful diologue. Peter staring into MJ's eyes and saying "Do you know how much I love you?" is simply beautiful.

Mary Jane's reactions to things that reminded her of her captivity was a nice touch as well, and the fact that "the Box" contained MJ's wedding band made sense a story that didn't seem to, to begin with. The characterisation is top-notch. This is some of the best charactisation I've ever seen for Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May. It seemed less like I was reading a comic and more like seeing real reactions to things, from Aunt May bubbling, to Peter wanting to have sex with Mary Jane. And Mary Jane's departure at the end? The great thing about this book was that I had a feeling MJ was going to stay, but my gut told me she was going to leave and I was kept guessing up until the end. When Mary Jane did in fact leave at story's end, I was not upset though, given the optimistic feeling for her departure, and that in the grand scheme of thje story it made sense.

While the story was heavy on emotions and romance, there was some humor to balence things out, and unlike some other Howard Mackie offerings I actually found it funny. Page four, as Peter's thing are being packed up, Fluffy the Cat's slouched stance and attempts to slash Randy, and Aunt May's questions about Florida's electoral process were both amusing. As I mentioned earlier, the artwork by Joe Bennett and Sandu Florea was amazing and beautifully detailed. With the wrong inker Joe Bennett's artwork suffers (witness Peter Parker: Spider-Man Annual 2000), but here the art looks wonderful. The faces are descriptive, the backgrounds detailed and the visuals dynamic. I could go on about the artwork in greater detail, but I'm sure by now you get the point.

So, the final chapter in the Return of Mary Jane may leave some annoyed (few, I'm sure), I found it to be an excellently produced issue and a truly fitting final issue for Howard Mackie. Excellent work all around.

Since I liked this issue so much and am in such a good mood, Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2001 gets ***** out of *****!

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