The Amazing Spider-Man #659

With Peter Parker joining the Future Foundation, ex-Fantastic Four, he has a lot on his plate. Juggling with his job, girl friend and also other teams like the Avengers, Spider-Man is a really busy bug. However, joining the Future Foundation has reminded Pete what it feels like to be loved and/or enjoyed on a family based team. The loss of Johnny Storm is depressing and everyone is still mourning about it, however this is now a brighter future! Continuing from Amazing Spider-Man #658 we see if the team will actually combat Pirates and also get the booty? Plus get a close look at the prequel to Spider-Island called Infested. And don't forget that Ghost Rider and Spider-Man are still teaming up on their adventure in New York, what can possibly go wrong when two heroes go out for a drink? Amazing Spider-Man #659 is written by Dan Slott, artwork by Stefano Caselli, and colors by Marte Gracia.

The Good

 There is something about this Spider-Man title that always makes me laugh. If I haven't said this before, I'll say it now, Dan Slott is one of my favorite Spider-Man writers. He knows how to keep Spider-Man to his roots when Stan Lee and Steve Ditko were working on him, while throwing in a more modern Spider-Man. Frequently adding old adventures of either Spider-Man or the Fantastic Four is what makes this title fun and interesting. While at times it seems that Dan is using references of Spider-Man and/or the Fantastic Four to frequently, he does a good job at balancing the history of the characters/team. While the Amazing Spider-Man title isn't on the same path as the main Future Foundation title, I like how things do get mixed with one another and creates a good story. Dan does a terrific job at keeping Spider-Man's title stocked full of comedy. Don't believe me, look below...

So with this giggle every once and a while, it makes it more of a Spider-Man book than anything else. I am also liking how Dan is pushing Peter Parker and Carlie Cooper into a interesting direction. With Carlie Cooper finding out that Peter Parker isn't on a business trip for his job, how will this effect their relationship (check out the previous issue)? We have already seen what happens when people lie in Carlie Cooper's life, especially with all the craziness that has happened recently. But will she ever find out that Spider-Man and Peter are one and the same? This is still the big question that will come up when Peter returns back to New York when this is all over. We might even get Carlie Cooper to be a female villain to Spider-Man, while she dates Peter Parker. Story twist. Who knows what will happen, but that could be a possibility.

What about the art you say? The artwork is awesome. When Stefano Caselli worked on the artwork for the Spider-Slayers title, I had to say that it was okay. However, in this issue I think his artwork has improved, or maybe it's the colors, that make Caselli's work look really amazing. He draws the characters really slick and cool looking when it comes to faces and poses.

And of course, what is Marvel without advertising their eventual Spider story arc? With Spider-Island coming super soon, we now have infested. The prequel to the story. Readers will find out how Spider-Island came to be, and what does Jackal a.k.a. Miles Warren have to do with it? While the story seemed really boring in the beginning, I did have hope when Jackal was added. What I hope to see in Spider-Island is the return of the Scarlett Spider, or another clone of him since Jackal is in this title. Anyway this should be looked into if you are really avid about the new upcoming title.

The continuation of Spider-Man and Ghost Rider's team-up heats up, as Ghost Rider's bike becomes a giant monster like being. I honestly don't remember this occurring in any Ghost Rider book. If like two heroes who really have nothing in common team-up, then read this. Otherwise you can continue enjoying the main Spider story.

The Bad

The revelation on who is behind the interdimensional gateway that is messing with things of the future and present, seems really broad. I mean we recently got done with a Secret Six scheme in a couple issues back of Spider-Man, why do we need to see them again? It seems to me that Dan is still trying to make Spider-Man consistent in his own book by adding villains that he would fight on a day-to-day bases.

The Verdict

Pick it up if you must, or leave it alone if you may. This doesn't have anything to do with the main Future Foundation title, so do not fear. This is good who want to see a bit more of the team since, really, they just jumped into the Marvel Universe Continuity really recently. Amazing Spider-Man #659 has good writers, excellent artist and a really enjoyable/laughable story. Overall this is a 5 out of 5.