Not surprisingly, this issue, wrapping up the second Green Goblin story arc, is action-oriented. Together, Bendis and Bagley choreograph some terrific super-hero sequences, but the real power is to be found in the latter half of the book and its quieter, character-driven moments. It's almost as though the action is a necessary evil needed to get us to the more grounded, touching moments that serve as the title's biggest appeal and greatest strength. But to call it a "necessary evil," it would have to be uninteresting, and it's far from that.
Spider-Man and the Goblin's climactic confrontation spills over into the latter's home -- or to be more precise, the home of his human alter ego, Norman Osborn. The Goblin, having injected himself with multiple doses of his superhuman formula, possesses more raw power than ever before, and with it comes a brutality and rage that may be impossible contain. Worse still is the fact that Harry Osborn, the Goblin's son, regains consciousness in time to see his best friend and father waging a horrifying war against one another. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. hovers on the periphery of the battle.
I think what makes the art really work isn't the power and drama of the action, but the emotional intensity that the characters exhibit, thanks to Bagley's pencils. It's not the Goblin's gruesome, twisted exterior that grabs our attention, it's the desperation in Peter's eyes and the sorrow and shame painted on Harry's face. Transparency Digital's computer color effects bring a stronger sense of reality to the visuals as well. The blur of the helicopter lights and the hazy-gray texture of Spidey's webbing look quite sharp.
When Bendis took readers back to a classic moment in Spidey history -- one that reproduced in spirit in this summer's Spider-Man movie blockbuster -- I was taken aback. I didn't know what to expect. In my review of the previous issue, I noted that it may have been a good decision... if it resulted in some strong characterization. Well, things seem to have panned out nicely, as one of Peter's most important relationships has now been radically altered, and the new dynamic carry with it the promise of some interesting storytelling and character-driven moments in future issues.
The real punch of this issue, though, stems from a brief exchange between the title character and Nick Fury. I thought the addition of Fury to the world of Spider-Man to be an odd choice, but Bendis provides the payoff to that inclusion here. At its heart, the Spider-Man concept is about a kid with a huge responsibility resting on his shoulders, and while staying true to that responsibility, he's trying to eke out some semblance of a normal life. And here, he's told there's no hope that he'll achieve it.
