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SPIDER-MAN'S TANGLED WEB #9
"Gentlemen's Agreement Part Three"
Highly Recommended (9/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Lee Weeks
Inks: Josef Rubenstein
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Axel Alonso
Price: $2.99 US/$4.50 CAN |
"Gentleman's Agreement" has been, like the best of the Tangled Web stories, unlike most Spider-Man tales I have read. Spider-Man was a
supporting player at best, and instead we take a look at how he has affected the
life of Charlie, a cabbie with some bad luck but a good heart. The concluding
chapter offers a few surprises, as Charlie once again proves himself a hero in
his heart and works his way out of an impossible situation with his wits, rather
than relying on power or Spider-Man's help. Weeks's artwork is always a treat,
and he has done a terrific job on this story, playing up the human drama and the
crime noir feel of the setting. This was one of the best story arcs of the year,
and it definitely tops my list of favorite Spider-Man stories in recent years.
Every issue of this series
has opened with a partial flashback to how Charlie learned Spidey's identity,
and it serves as a great setting of the stage. Without narration, Jones and
Weeks are telling us that on a stormy night, a set of unusual circumstances
changed Charlie forever. This pays off nicely in the finale, which reveals the
rest of the flashback to us and gives the story a bittersweet ending.
Jones has a style of writing
the crime scenes that reminds me of Elmore Leonard or Brian Azzarello. I believe
these criminals, because they're not one-dimensional villains. They each have
their own flaws, their own senses of humor and their own sort of honor. I was
particularly impressed by Seeds, who comes across as smart and skilled,
Charlie's dark mirror in many ways. He's an excellent adversary, forcing Charlie
to push his boundaries and really think and act quickly to protect his ally.
Despite how much I wound up
enjoying the story, it was the artwork that was the initial draw. Weeks and
Rubinstein do a terrific job here, with an excellent sense of storytelling and
incredible detail that helps bring the realism out of the setting and the
characters. These characters are not costumed, they are just people, but Weeks
does an incredible job of giving each one a distinctive look and delivering
facial expressions that speak volumes.
This story has been an example of talented creators working at the top of their game, completely in synch with one another. It's a crime story that fans of 100 Bullets should check out, but I doubt that any of
the fans who came to the book for Spider-Man will find themselves disappointed
either.
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