the plot: After a latenight rescue of a kidnapped woman as Spider-Man, Peter Parker finishes his first day of teaching science at Midtown High, the same school he attended years before. On his way out of the school after class though he's approached by Principal Harrington who informs Peter that he's very grateful for the one hundred thousand dollars donated by a friend of Peter's who turns out to be the mysterious Ezekiel. Ezekiel and Peter then go out for lunch, where Peter asks Ezekiel what he meant earlier about where his powers actually came from. Ezekiel explains the mystical nature of Peter's powers, while mentioning that Spider-Man has so far only fought pretenders, and has yet to really fight his equal. That equal appears to be Morlun, who has been tracking Peter for centuries. Ezekiel takes Peter to his building where he shows him a chamber he's created for Peter to use as a protection shelter. Peter declines Ezekiel's offer though, and soon after he puts on his Spidey suit to save people from a burning apartment building, Morlun arrives to take on Spidey, knocking him backwards into a parked car with a single blow.

the review: So, we're now three months and three issues into J. Michael Straczynski's run on Amazing Spider-Man. And yet for all of the new concepts and ideas brought into the series, I just can't help but feel underwelmed. I mean, the characterisation is top notch, the diologue very well done, John Romita's art work is excellent as usual, and the new colorists (Dan Kemp & Avalon Studios) are really doing a great job. But still, I haven't really found myself leaping into the issues so far, or really gotten too interested in the new story about Peter's powers. I find the ideas interesting when I read the book, sure, but I'm not really thinking about them very much otherwise, though I get the idea from the writing that I should be. It seems like it should be this groundbreaking new storyline, and yet I can't really get into it all too much like I have Paul Jenkin's work over on Peter Parker. I'm not trying to put Straczynski at fault; his new ideas are welcome and add a new flavor to the book, but still, I wish we could see a little more of what this new angle can offer, besides the scattered hints we've been getting. Then maybe I'll be a little more interested. But for now it's looking to be anti-climatic. Ah well. It could be worse...remember Chapter One?

Amazing Spider-Man #32 gets **1/2 out of ***** for it's concepts, and their unfortunate execution.

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