Short Version
The Revenge of The Spider-Slayers results in casualties! As Spider-Man has saved John Jameson from an attack by Scorpion and the New Avengers come to help Spidey take down Smythe, that isn’t just affecting our friendly neighborhood web slinger. His boss, Max could jeopardize Peter’s duo identity. However, is Max onto his identity or onto a different truth? Anyway, Peter’s Aunt and J. Jonah Jameson’s wife, Marla (whom is the cousin of Peter) is in danger still! Can Spider-Man spin a web to free himself in this issue? Fret not true believers; Spider-Man is smarter than he appears!
Long Version
This issue opens up with Peter talking to his boss, Max
Modell about his connection with Spider-Man. Long story short, Max deduces
that Spider-Man has hired Peter Parker to build awesome gadgets to aid him in
fighting the good fight. Max says that Peter’s methods are for good and keeps
it hush-hush. The device, Peter or Spidey, needed was a scientific weapon that
would render all of the Spider-Slayer Insects’ 6th sense or "spider-senses" incapable of working properly. While Spidey is swinging through
the city working on his game plan, Hobgoblin drops a ceiling on Randy trying to
kill him and get his girl. However, his plans to kill Randy fails as only his legs are crushed. While the New Avengers are getting beat up by the
Spider-Slayers, Spider-Man executes his plan at stopping the Spider-Senses’ of
his enemies. However, due to a fight with Scorpion, Spider-Man also turns his
Spider-Senses off!
While Smythe’s plans to kill J. Jonah Jameson’s friends and
family fails badly, Smythe does gain small success. In the end, Jameson coupes
with his failure at saving his wife and doesn’t blame Spider-Man. While the
Revenge of the Spider-Slayers story is over, Big Time isn’t over just yet. As
most know, Amazing Spider-Man #654 is the beginning of the brand new patriotic
Venom! Amazing Spider-Man #654.1 is going to have Venom and Spider-Man fighting
side-by-side the good old-fashioned web-slinging way. Flash Thompson is seen opening
up getting the Venom Symbiote. Flash finds out that the project is called
“Rebirth 2.0”, but Flash would rather have more of a Spider-Man themed named. While
this story is short lived, Flash becomes the newest Venom. It is unknown if Spider-Man will agree or oppose to Flash’s
decision.
Dan Slott did double duty and wrote the story for both, Revenge of the Spider-Slayers and Venom. His writing is really intense, Dan isn’t afraid of killing off a character or revealing a small secret of truth as seen with Peter and Max. Max thinks that Spider-Man has hired Peter to create great gadgets in helping him against crime. Another shocker character was killed, but I am not going to reveal that spoiler. Flash Thompson didn’t surprise me to be the next Venom, while originally I wanted it to be John Jameson; I am more excited for it to be Flash. Flash is a cool character and he will be a great partner/sidekick for Spider-Man!
The art team, Stefano Caselli, Paulo Siqueira, and Ronan Cliquet De Oliveira, all did a terrific job with the artwork. Paulo and Ronan did an awesome job with Venom; I really liked the artwork for the pre-issue of Venom. The colors worked perfectly with the art and I overall just liked it. Revenge of the Spider-Slayers has ended and Big Time continues. Spider-Man has to deal with a new problem and so does J. J. Join in the Big Time, true believers. Spider-Man has more adventures waiting ahead!
Story – 9.8
Artwork – 9.2
Overall – 9.5