Amazing Spider-Man #612 (Ongoing)

The issue solicitation promises a revamp of many of ol' webhead's classic foes and starting with Electro, it does exactly that. Writer Mark Waid not only manages to craft a strong detailed tale of how Max Dilon became Electro but convincingly portrays Peter Parker's persona and all his baggage and angst as well. One other great thing going is the artwork of Paul Azaceta, which is strikingly reminiscent of vintage Jack Kirby with a dash of Steve Ditko going through a dark, moody phase. As all true believers know, Steve Ditko co-plotted with Stan Lee the very first issues of Spider-Man and also drew it. It's like the Amazing Spider-Man back to its roots. Three thumbs up.
Spider-Man first appeared in the comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug. 1962). The series was canceled with that issue, but response to the character was so positive that a solo title, The Amazing Spider-Man, was launched with a March 1963 cover-date. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko, and the pair produced 38 issues from 1963 to 1966. title is the character's flagship series. Most of the major characters and villains of the Spider-Man saga have been introduced here, and it is where key events occur. The title was published continuously until 1998 when Marvel Comics relaunched it with a new issue #1 (Jan. 1999), but on Spider-Man's 40th anniversary, this new title reverted to using the numbering of the original series, beginning again with issue #500 (Dec. 2003). Issue #612 starts the new story arc, "The Gauntlet" and is entitled "Power to the People."

'POWER TO THE PEOPLE' PART 1. They're Hunting Spiders...THE GAUNTLET begins here! The event that redefines Spider-Man's classic arch-enemies one by one starts with one of his deadliest - Electro! Destitute and desperate, conned out of his life's meaning and worth - Max Dillon becomes the voice of the common man against the brutal injustice of a system overloaded by greed. With Spider-Man already looking over his shoulder. Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta bring you the story of a hero with everything to lose against a man with nothing left to gain. Prepare for death's short, sharp shock. Prepare for Electro. By: Mark Waid, Paul Azaceta, Adi Granov, Marko Djurdjevic --

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