For the most part, The Evil That Men Do has been a pretty light but entertaining super-hero story so far. Smith's dialogue captures the whole playful banter that's associated with Spider-Man specifically and quite a few super-hero comics in general. But if I had to choose one word to describe the book up to this point, it would be "ordinary." At least, that would have been true until this issue's powerful cliffhanger.
Spider-Man and Black Cat decide to figure out who tried to bump off Klum, the man they suspect to be the mysterious druglord known as Mister Brownstone. Unfortunately for them, Brownstone has the same idea and beats them to the punch, quickly eliminating any lead the heroes could have dug up. The pair of heroes and former lovers argue about what to do next, quickly tearing apart their partnership in the case. That split could prove fatal for one of them.
The artwork on this book has been pretty dark, a bit darker than the lighter tone of the script called for, really. Sure, the story has had its uglier moments, but the darkness really comes into play in this issue, or to be more precise, in this issue's final scene. It's thoroughly chilling, and the Dodsons bring the foreboding, chilling atmopshere to life, not to mention the intensity of fear in the eyes of one of the heroes.
Though it seems like little incentive for a hitman to reveal secrets, Spidey and Cat's torment of Scorpia in the opening made for a funny scene. It's a strong indicator of their nature as free spirits and their ability to overcome the weight of witnessing the nasty side of humanity on a regular basis.
Mind you, we see that sort of characterization and humor in Spider-Man comics, and super-hero comics in general, all the time. What we don't see in the genre, though, is the kind of horrifying scene that caps this issue. I'm not tasking Smith to tasking for including it; quite the opposite... I applaud it. The inclusion of such a real-world horror in the fantasy world of super-heroes draws the reader further into that latter realm. In one unthinkable moment, Smith gets the reader invested in the need for Mister Brownstone's punishment. We need to see this story through to its conclusion.
