Amazing Spider-Man #627 – Review

by Roger Stern (writer), Lee Weeks (artist), Clem Robins (inks), Jeff Parker (colors)

The Story: Spidey’s dinner with just-friend (or is she?) Carlie Cooper is interrupted by the Juggernaut being thrown across the NYC skyline and crashing down in Central Park, unconscious.  His investigation into what or who could have possibly stopped the Juggernaut eventually brings him face to face with the costumed individual responsible (and it’s a costume Spidey has some history with).

What’s Good: Stern returns to the pages of our Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler with ease, slipping in as if he’d never left.  The scribe even finds time to organically summarize Spidey’s origin in the first-page narration, making the “Previously on Spidey” page before it superfluous.  Before we can even say “webs,” our hero is already knee-deep in intrigue as he discovers the downed Cain Marko.  This issue went so effortlessly from point-of-interest to point-of-interest that it should really be classroom material for any newbie writer who wants to learn how to kick off a story.  I mean, the guy even makes a page-and-a-half recounting of every Spidey/Juggs fight entertaining!  Kudos also to the Marvel-style common sense showcased in Spidey’s thinking.  If you’ve got a Juggernaut problem, who you gonna call?  Ghos -!  Er, I mean, Professor X and Doc Strange, of course.  Sure, he doesn’t actually get a hold of the resident experts on all things Juggy (It is Spidey’s mag, after all) but the effort is appreciated by this reviewer, as is the inclusion of the NYPD’s Code Blue squad.  Of course they’d be called in for something like this.  It’s nice to see continuity addressed and addressed well.

Lee Weeks.  Ah, what can I say that isn’t perfectly obvious any time someone reads something you’ve penciled?  Should I mention that you’re a consummate draftsman that knows how to tell a story clearly and dynamically?  How about that you’re solidly dependable, always showing up on a title and never affecting the quality, except in the positive?  Shall I tell the readers that your Juggernaut, even unconscious as he is most of the issue, looks incredibly imposing?  The villain as drawn by you really looks like he weighs half-a-ton.  And your Spidey?  As lithe and heroic as ever.  You know, Lee, I’m at a loss at where to begin.