The good news is that the art improves by leaps and bounds as compared to the first issue (though it's certainly not what I could call strong at this point). The bad news is that the script falls apart. Any sense of logic is thrown out the window, and as a result, the issue can elicit more than one pained groan from its readers. Furthermore, it's not at all clear what this story arc is meant to be about. Writer Reginald Hudlin jumps from plot point to plot point, never devoting nearly enough time to any of them to develop character and certainly not plausibility. The edge and maturity that Mark Millar set as the standards for this title in the first 12 issues are nowhere to be found.
As the Absorbing Man continues his work as a superhuman enforcer for a druglord (in exchange for the drugs he needs to feed his habit), Spider-Man recovers from a wound inflicted by a New Anengers teammate during a sparring session. How to address the "accident" causes plenty of tension within the new team. Eventually, Peter Parker heads back to work, where he's paired with a new reporter for a Spider-Man news feature. When trouble arises, the new guy cramps Peter's style as he tries to slip away to change into his Spidey costume.
Tan and Sibal's work on this issue isn't nearly as loose and sketchy as what we saw in the previous one, which comes as a relief. The opening scene, featuring the Absorbing Man, instills the proper level of menace in the character while bringing his fantastic powers to life effectively. Unfortunately, the focus we see in that scene fades as the issue progresses. The Ethan character, in "costume" or otherwise, is so big that he looks ridiculous rather than powerful or imposing. Tan's interpretation of the title character's mask doesn't really look right either. I find it hard to believe that this is the same art team that's responsible for the visuals on X-23. There's just no comparison, which further reinforces my belief that this project was a rush job.
There are so many problems with the story in this issue, I barely know where to start. First of all, the wounds Spidey sustains as a result of Wolverine's attack seem to change in severity based on what kind of dialogue the writer wants to offer. At first, we're told they're nothing but scratches. Later, we see Spidey lose consciousness due to blood loss. Wolverine says it's no big deal but never explains his actions. Furthermore, Hudlin plays fast and loose with the title character's secret identity. In the past year or two, it seems like it's been revealed to more people than it was in the first two decades of his existence.
Hudlin's got three main plotlines on the go here. There's Spidey's uneasy transition to becoming an Avenger, the introduction of a new, Superman-like hero in New York and the traditional super-hero-versus-villain conflict involving the Absorbing Man. One of the main problems is that Hudlin doesn't seem to know which plotline is his main focus. This storyline doesn't seem to be about one plot over the other. The notion of "subplot" doesn't materialize. 2/10
