Spider-Man Read-Through 041: Brother Power, Sister Sun (SSM 12-15)
MASTERPOST
Oh my, long time no see!
I've been craving some Spider-Man these past few weeks. I did a bit of a break following the stellar Wein Green Goblin arc, as I think I was getting burnt out.
Since then, my boyfriend gifted me Marvels (1994) for Christmas, so expect a post about that soon-ish. I also still got to continue the Dark Web event, but it's not quite a priority (although I enjoyed what I read).
Anyway, I figured that it was time for a bit of reading, what do you think? The secondary aspect of Spectacular Spider-Man absolutely looks perfect for today's post.
Oh, Flash as a damsel in distress, y'all know I'm fond of this <3
The issue starts like the best issues: HOMOEROTICISM!
I've read and watched Death Note. Several times. I know the homosexual power of a tennis match. And I'm totally here to see more of Peter's personal life, because it's been seriously missing those past two years (of comics).
I like that their relationship is multi-faceted, they're now both mature enough to recognize when they're being unfair with each other. Next thing you know, they'll kiss!
Except they don't, because a cult interrupts them on the court. They both decide to see what's up with that. The titular siblings are responsible for this, but Flash is shaken to his core when he notices that Sister Sun's voice is also... Sha-Shan's! And her "brother" is actually her husband. Not a twist I expected, but one that instantly makes the storyline more interesting.
Spidey arrives just in time to save Flash from the duo's magical ray,
Flash caring for Spider-Man, so nice to see! Cops arrive before Spidey can subdue the duo, and we get more panels of Flash being carried by his boyfriend. I'm so here for it!
Boyfriends! Boyfriends!!!!
So the fish on the wall is Glory's present! I wasn't sure here, but I did think it was a possibility.
...Wait. Wait!
This is a different fish, because...
So Peter has TWO fish decorations in his apartment. Damn!
Anyway, Peter goes back to ESU and his hot teacher helpfully informs him that the cult he encountered is led by Korba (aka Sha-Shan's husband), who found some mystical power in Vietnam.
I love that the professor mentions the Bugle, makes the world feel interconnected! Anyway, Flash's message is a bit funny. Did he really need to underline the important words? Hahaha.
So Flash confronts Sha-Shan, but gets rekt by Korba.
Spidey too. Wonderful panel, by the way. I fear this post may need a second part...
#13! In the alley he was just thrown into, Spidey meets Razorback, a villain with a design so hideous I simply do not want to look at it: a green, tight suit with a gold belt and a boar head.
Razorback punched Spidey into Sha-Shan's restaurant because he heard that was the custom around here. He's absolutely right. Just wanted to know the little spider fella.
Spidey doesn't care because his boyfriend is in danger upstairs. After he makes sure Flash is alright, he tries to follow our cultists...
But Razorback interrupts him. You know what? I'm starting to like the guy. He annoys everybody and smiles, and that's kind of my gremlin energy as well. He also put a tracker on the duo's car, so there's that.
Turns out things are personal as well for him, but there's no time. Razorback has another trick up his sleeve.
This isn't yet Stegron-level of buffoonery, but it's certainly close, hahaha.
Anyway, we meet the duo's chief:
That design is kind of really solid for a villain?
So anyway, I was wondering who this new character could be, and the Marvel wikia helpfully informed me that this is a clone of Adolf Hitler, which I never expected. Okay. Uh. Okay? COMICS.
Razorback's issue with the cult is that his lil' sister is part of it. Okay, cool. What a mess of an issue but let's go along. And his sister arrives as he's fighting goons with Flash, while Spidey fights the duo. They all get shackled in a dungeon. Cliffhanger!
#14! They're freed by Razorback's car!
This is the only panel that matters.
So the big plan is for the cult to spread hate through TV broadcast. Simple and efficient.
There's a confrontation, in which the Hate-Monger says he bested Hulk even though the textbox says he didn't... and Spidey and Razorback get brainwashed into attacking each other. Flash saves the day, then...
Uh, okay. So he's an imposter. Alright then!
In the last issue of this batch...
It keeps on giving.
Turns out Man-Beast is from Counter-Earth, created by the High Evolutionary. If you've seen Guardians of the Galaxy 3, you get it. Damn. I kind of expected that, but still. Things are changed around a bit, but it doesn't really matter because Man-Beast is EVIL INCARNATE, and he sure hopes you remember that. He's the one who actually gave powers to Korba!
Everybody fights. Sha-Shan's good again! The cultists are no longer subservient! Korba's dead! Man-Beast's dead (probably not, but who cares).
Well, Razorback's sister thinks she might find another cult that's a bit less evil. Uh, okay. Sure.
Overall, it's a shame because I was really into the first issue, but then, once again, it became 100% fighting for like two issues and a half and that's just not something I'm too interested in, although the interpersonal stakes were nice.
Just a reminder for everyone out there who is a Spider-man fan. Remember to respect the Spidey's that came before, because they gave us some HOT Flash Thompsons for us to picture while reading Flash redemption fics (because in comics, he becomes one of Peter's closest friends, and knows his secret.)
Picture evidence: Here is who they cast as Flash Thompson in Tobey McGuire's Spider-Man:
That's fucking right. Joe Magliano.
Then came Andrew's The Amazing Spider-Man, which gave us:
How could we NOT start shipping Flash/Peter?!
So remember your history! And that Flash, is a Himbo!
