Amazing Spider-Man #661 & 662

Quick two-parter as Spidey subs for Giant Man (Hank Pym) at "Avengers Academy". I haven't been following that book, but I assumed that when they called it a "school", it was something similar to "Avengers: The Iniative". Nope, it's an actual SCHOOL ROOM with chalkboards, desks and all that.

Anyways, Spidey takes the Academy kids on a field trip to patrol the city. They stop some muggers, then run smack dab into Psyho-Man (to fulfill a sub-plot that began with the FF a few issues ago). It's basically an alley brawl as Psycho-Man kinda' stands there and messes with Spidey and the kids. Rather un-creative plot, since it all happens on a typical alley. The crux of the story is that the Academy kids all face their "inner turmoil" and end up fighting Spidey. How does Spidey snap 'em out of it? He TALKS to them ("c'mon, you can fight this!"). Like I said, very un-creative and basic plot as it's a subpar issue of 1970's "Marvel Team-Up". Yet it's rather fun to see Psycho-Man used out of his element in such a basic beat-em-up story.

Since I wasn't familiar with the Academy kids I didn't mind too much. I just wanted to see them in action and figure out their gimmicks. There was also a cute gag about Spidey's early days as a pro wrestler. He couldn't get paid without revealing his real name... so the kids ask him why he didn't simply open an LLC account for himself.

But as soon as I closed the books, I thought: "hmm, so that's the Avengers Academy? Ehh. Pretty lame story I just read, though."

Both books run a quick two-page "prelude to Spider-Island"-- an upcoming Spidey event where, apparently, the entire island of Manhattan ends up with Spider-powers, courtesy of the Jackal. That premise reminds me of the late 80's "What If.." series, where they had junk like: "what if the Fantastic Four all had the same power". It's such a corny premise that it might work, though.

Issue 662 has a short back-up about "Magnetic Man". A retconned old Spidey villain who's finally out of prison. Since he can't get a job, he tries to go back to this old ways. Peter Parker is walking by, talks him out of it, and refers him to Horizon Labs. OK... but this plot has come up a few times in the past 15 years or so. I just read a Spider-Man "Annual" from 1998 featuring a similar plot. An retconned Spidey villain named "Sundown" finally got out of prison, couldn't find work, and tried going back to his old ways. Only difference is that it was Spider-Man, not Peter Parker, who helped him. Pretty sure I recall this story being applied to other guys, as well. Since the mid-80s at least. Then there was "The Battler" in 2003's failed Thunderbolts revamp. So the "forgotten Spidey villain finally out of prison" seems to run every 5 years or so.

Summary: Old plots are recycled...but now with the Avengers Academy and INNER TURMOIL.
Cover Price: 3.99 (each)
Rating: 1.00

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