Comics Corner: The Spectacular Spider-Man 143

   

Title: The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 143
Release Date: October 1988

Highlights

  • Death of Persuader, AKA Roland Rayburn
  • First appearance of the security guard, Mel Zimmerman, Ben, the bartender, Dave, Steve, Andrea, and the Lobo Brothers, Eduardo and Carlos
  • First appearance and death of the hired gunman, Andrew
  • First appearance of the locations Herdling Refinery, Grapevine Lake, and the Lobo's Mansion
  • Spider-Man has been returning to Punisher's boat, following the events that had them both investigating Tombstone, but he hasn't returned
    • Some would be burglars try to rob the boat, and thinking they might have information, he pounces them, but learns nothing
  • Punisher is spotted at the Dallas airport by a security guard who's good at remembering faces
    • A report overhears him confronting the vigilante
  • The Arranger attempts to fill Kingpin in on current events, which is actually just a synopsis for the readers, but is told to shut up, and that he, the Kingpin, is more interested in his revenge on Daredevil
  • The clone of Gwen Stacy is on a bus in Ohio, headed towards Peter Parker, looking for his help
    • The vehicle is attacked by the High Evolutionary's men, who are continuing their pursuit of her
  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 308 and 309
  • Peter meets Mary Jane at a bar, and the two have dinner plans
    • Those plans are interrupted by a news report saying that the Punisher was spotted at the Dallas airport
      • As Peter storms off to catch a plane, Mary Jane calms herself down saying she knew there would be days like this, and that she's not angry...much
  • Punisher infiltrates an oil refinery being used to smuggle drugs for the Lobo brothers, and does what he does best, kill people, and blow it up
  • When Peter arrives in Dallas, he meets up with Andrea who works on the team promoting the book Webs (see oddities)
    • He shows up to attend a convention to sign copies of his book, and asks her about the Lobo brothers (see oddities)
      • In doing so, we get a backstory on them
  • Peter takes a break while signing books to dip out as Spider-Man, and hunt for the Punisher
    • He finds him on the tail end of a killing spree at the Lobo brother's mansion
      • He's holding the brothers at gunpoint, and they tell him to do what he's going to do, and tell the Kinpin that they spit on him
        • This temporarily breaks the "spell" he's under by the Persuader
  • Spider-Man breaks up the party by webbing Punisher's gun away, but this only starts a fight between the two
    • The Lobo brothers dip out during the scuffle
  • Spider-Man is grazed across the head by a bullet, temporarily knocking him unconscious
    • He awakens to Punisher standing over him with his gun drawn
      • Instead of shooting Spidey, Punisher turns his weapon on Andrew, and Persuader, killing them both
        • He tells Persuader that he only fogged his brain, but never had control of his mind
  • Seeing and hearing everything from a safe distance, the Lobo brothers profess their forthcoming revenge on Kingpin
Low Points
  • Peter is explaining to a kid how his older red and blue costume wasn't as easy to capture on film as his new one
    • The kid tells him he thinks it stinks, and is promptly told by Peter, "G'way, kid, ya bother me."
Oddities
  • Pretty convenient there just so happens to be a convention in town that very day for Peter to trek to Dallas and sign books at
  • How would Andrea know about a pair of local drug dealers when she works in book promotion?
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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