Lizard Nation
The Good
It's great to see the Lizard again. While Conners has been a frequently recurring character in Amazing Spider-Man, it seemed like it was only a matter of time until he became the Lizard again. To finally let it happen, and so close to the end of the Gauntlet too, really shows that the Lizard could achieve star billing as a Spider-Man villain yet again. I particuarly liked the last few panels. Very dark things happen, which is quite daring for a series based on Marvel's premiere hero. If your kids are easily scared, don't give them this issue!
Some have complained about the clear split between the art of Emma Rios and Chris Bachalo. If I'm honest, I wasn't distracted by it at all, which can only say good things about the way the story itself gripped me in. I'm also really digging Peter Parker's development as an unemployed, hopelessly single bum. As a guy who has spent a great deal of time being unemployed in the past, it's weird how the writers have captured that struggle and humilation so effectively.
The Bad
The Gauntlet, as an event, continues to leave me unimpressed as a whole. While I love to see Spider-Man's rogue gallery come out in force to give him the fight of his life, I can't help but feel the writers did not do a good job of connecting all these events effectively. Maybe when it wraps up, we will see who is pulling the strings more clearly but as someone who has been reading this series weekly for months, I can't say I've been left with a strong impression of what is connecting these events.
Also, what's with the complete disappearance of Anti-May? Why isn't she divorced yet? Give us answers!
