Joe Kelly and Terry Dodson’s two-part guest story on Amazing Spider-Man #20 wraps up today, sending Black Cat and Spidey on a date gone wrong. They face off against the Simpleton Six (a working title, per Spider-Man), as the entrepreneurs test out villain tech. That certainly won’t end up blowing up in Spider-Man and Black Cat’s faces, right?
This is a fast-paced issue, with most of the events taking place in the span of a few minutes. Spider-Man and Black Cat are attacked by some goons using villain tech supplied by White Rabbit. They think their benefactor is dead and must wipe out the heroes to secure their monetary interests.
The fight splits between Black Cat and White Rabbit dodging attacks and bonding while Spidey and White Rabbit’s coworker Kareem talk things out. Kelly adds some interesting character work to White Rabbit, while Kareem might be questioning the whole putting a fast one on Tombstone. You get the sense Kelly is trying to give Black Cat and Spidey a chance to help a relationship while reflecting on their own. “Trying” is the operative word here, since it never feels certain in its approach.
Meanwhile, White Rabbit is questioning Black Cat for dating Spidey, which seemingly falls on deaf ears. It hurts the effect that Black Cat seems pretty passive the entire time.
Another epic opening page.
Credit: Marvel
The startling relationship revelations will make or break this comic for you. Until this point, we’ve got little to go on as far as MJ, but this issue solidified where Peter is with her. At least, how he sees her – I can’t say this issue says much about the relationship between Black Cat and Peter, but a revelation certainly puts them on track to get much more intimate.
Art by Terry Dodson and colors by Rachel Dodson always keep Spidey looking great. No matter the angle, his mask and musculature are on point. The action can feel like second fiddle to the acting, though. Sometimes the attackers are so small you have to squint to see what they’re doing. There isn’t a lot of detail in many panels, which gives you the gist of what is happening but not enough to soak it in.
Amazing Spider-Man #20 will get folks talking. It’s not the most effective action comic while also only doing a so-so job relaying relationship chatter that doesn’t quite say much. That said, Spider-Man confirms he and MJ are over, and it’s a new era of love for Black Cat.
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