In the latest MK launch, future comic book megazillionaire Mark Millar shows a lot of the technical skill and talent that will make him one of the most successful independent creators in the history of the medium. It doesn’t hurt that he is paired with the masterful Terry Dodson on art.
It starts with a terrific battle against Green Goblin in which members of the crowd are injured and blame it on Spider-Man rather than the villain. Nonetheless, Spidey wins and Osborn is arrested.
But soon after, Peter Parker receives an anonymous call. The voice names him as Spider-Man. Aunt May is kidnapped. Uncle Ben’s grave is vandalized.
Realizing his wife is next, Peter sends Mary Jane into hiding and then breaks into prison to confront Norman Osborn–who Peter believes is the only villain alive who knows his identity.
Osborn admits he leaked Peter’s identity.
So now Spidey has to figure out who has his Aunt May. He tries to track down the kidnapper’s identity, with appearances by The Avengers, Owl, and others. Teaming up with Black Cat, he figures out that Electro and Vulture are behind it. He’s wrong, but as readers we don’t know who it really is yet–we only see silhouettes of the person.
The battle with Electro leaves Peter hospitalized…And Vulture shows up at his bedside. They fight.
The weakened Peter is rescued by Black Cat.
Owl then takes both Electro and Vulture and tortures them. He has them at the end of issue #4, which marks the end of this first arc, and shows J. Jonah Jameson being sold a picture of an unmasked Spider-Man.
We’re also teased with images of MJ on a plane, leaving New York, while Spider-Man and the buxom Black Cat are working together.
This story is pretty typical Mark Millar: Fast pacing, lots of action, and each story moves into the other without full resolution. He’s like Chris Claremont on steroids. That’s not a criticism, it’s just an observation.