Peter Parker: Spider-Man #39 synopsis

the plot: Spider-Man is trapped by his old enemy Dr. Octopus, and his boss Fusion, who blames Spider-Man for the death of his son (Re: issues #30-32). Spidey manages to give them the slip, and he gets away with Octopus' briefcase, and a artificial limb that seems to be at the bottom of the conspiracy with Congressman Miles. After looking into possible government ties to the project, Spidey meets with Col. Nick Fury of SHIELD to discuss the mob ties of Biotechnix, and the mind controlling capabilities of the artifical arms. Fury also explains that the man Spidey had been looking into, John Hancock, was in fact the name of a radiation seeking satellite Fusion hoped to use to find Spider-Man.

By controlling a SHIELD agent, Fusion gains access to the Hancock device, though Dr. Octopus unexpectedly murders the SHIELD agent, and then he turns on Fusion, revealing that his acts of servitude was a sham to gain access to Fusion's work. Meanwhile Robbie Robertson and the Daily Bugle reveal Miles as a criminal and Biotechnix is investigated, and Spider-Man heads out to find Doc Ock and Fusion to put the two of them behind bars as well. But when Spidey returns to Fusion's lab, he finds Fusion strung up, very badly bloody and beaten, and crudely grafted to many mechanical limbs.

the review: Well, the Dr. Octopus arc contained at least one unexpected twist, that being Ock's turnaround on Fusion, which was a pleasent surprise. I don't know though, I found this issue very confusing. The bit about the John Hancock satellite was a little hard to follow, and it took multiple readings to understand everything. Aside from that the art was great, and it's always a treat seeing other characters in guest roles that actually serve the story, rather than hinder it. It was fun seeing Nick Fury (even with the curious hair-dye job) and the Hulk, and Ock's been set up for what should be a very exciting brawl next month.

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #40 gets **1/2 out of *****. It wasn't that bad, only a little on the confusing side.

continued in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #41

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