DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #17


 

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

Synopsis: Spider-Man teams up with Silver Sable to free despotic king and his daughter from the Sinister Syndicate. 

Comments: For years, I had no idea what issues #288 and #289 were. #288 was the conclusion of the "Gang War" story arc that DeFalco and Frenz started when they were fired from Amazing Spider-Man and #289 was the revelation of Hobgoblin's identity as Ned Leeds, which later proved to be incorrect. 




The deposed evil king reminds me of the deposed evil prince in Thor #429, also by DeFalco and Frenz. 




The Rhino seems really smart in this issue, like the Beast. Was this some phase he was going through at the time? Was it like Flowers for Algernon? 




The Beetle mentioning the "Big Man" without revealing his identity to the reader reminds me of how the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants referred to Magneto as "Leader" in X-Men #4 for a page to prevent revealing his identity to the reader. Also, like Doctor Octopus, bringing up Magneto, cowed everyone into behaving. 






Peter is disguised as a local rebel and is recognized by the rebel's aunt. That country's version of Aunt May. Peter thinks the townspeople are threatening him when they're actually concerned. 




This like when any hero visits Latveria. The country is under the control of a tyrant. 




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