Though I had my qualms with the first two chapters of this story arc, the setup made for a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. This story really was fitting for a 500th-issue anniversary. J. Michael Straczynski really taps into the emotional heart of the character, and this story not only sums up his history well, but the essence of the character too. I have to say, though, that it's Romita Jr.'s dark artwork that really brings out the drama in this story. This was a strong effort overall, and a wonderful look back at 40 years of Spider-Man stories.
Adrift in the time stream, Spider-Man finds himself face-to-face with his past and his future. He faces two hard choices. He can prevent the accident that transformed him into Spider-Man in the first place, and he can give his future self a hand in preventing his own demise. As he struggles with those two immense choices, he also faces the daunting prospect of returning to the present. Dr. Strange sends out a mystical lifeline to bring Spider-Man back, but it requires more strength of him than any other task he has faced, either as Spider-Man or as Peter Parker.
Romita Jr. brings a Frank Miller-like tone to the vision of Peter Parker's ugly destiny. I'm still not struck on the future Spidey design, but the scene focuses the reader's attention on what the character says, not what he looks like. The vignettes from Spider-Man's past stand out as the highlight of the issue, visually and otherwise. Romita Jr. really conveys the hero's despair and fatigue, and he does so solely through body language; he hasn't the liberty of relying on facial expressions. The shift to John Romita Sr.'s softer style at the end of the book works perfectly. There's a more serene and hopeful tone to the scene, and the change in styles works with the story, not against it.
Straczynski's a clever fellow. He whets his audience's appetite for an upcoming Dr. Strange story while maintaining the spotlight squarely on the wallcrawling title character. I love the personality and fun the writer brings to Spidey's mystical ally, and I look forward to what Straczynski will do with him in his own book.
One of the strengths of this script is that it pays tribute to Spidey's history without requiring one to be intimately familiar with it. I recognize some of the moments that are recreated here, but Straczynski is careful to maintain an accessible tone throughout the book... even for those who missed out on the first two chapters of this story arc. This is a schmoltzy script, but it works on that level, and quite effectively.
