The second NEW VEI version of the Quantum & Woody took serious leaps forward. The second issue of THIS comic took serious leaps forward, as well. This one is brilliant. And silly. It has an amazing ability to stir together the two - and deliver an amazing story. Still revolving around the whole telling the story inside of the precinct - it works. The first large panel with the homage to Batman & Robin running - only up the side of the building - great. And then - when the boys are facing the water guns - and the lost lunch onto the air conditioner...
I am laughing out loud multiple times.
The only negative I had was that the inking or penciling was a little too heavy. When the jokes start flying about the couple thing - as much as I want to be completely open-minded, and be offended by this thing... I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I am a sucker for a running gag. And the screaming back to turn up the megaphone and more lights to illuminate when trying to sneak up - great sarcasm. Of course, the non-linear storytelling that Priest is so famous for is evident here. And I am praising it.
Look out... anyone?
The oldest comic book cliche. Misunderstanding between two heroes leads to a brief conflict - neither side really winning or losing. Decent conflict - and it sets up a few things here. First - the real interest of a female villain. I felt like a lot of the later Black Cat issues were really playing out from this kind of a cat and mouse pattern. Secondly, it builds quite a bit for Medusa. She'll end up in the FF eventually. But here, I felt like she could have built herself into a cool Avenger. As crazy as that is, it also adds the complexity of the relationship with Gwen and her Dad back into the background. Again, here's some of the strength of this comic. It builds the character of these characters - with real complexities. Adds the Osborn mess again - and that will eventually come back. But the seriousness of this - without the balance of the humor of Spidey - hurts this comic. It doesn't have some of the great zingers that Spidey usually tosses at his opponents. Don't know why he can't dig out the sarcasm. It doesn't have the same heights as when he really fights. Finally, Medusa being a model for a hair company - and that conflict is resolved REALLY quickly at the end - seems superficial. AND REALLY dated for the time.