Synopsis & Review by RachelGrey:
Synopsis: Mary Jane wakes up to the sound of the television. She walks into the living room to find Peter wide awake and watching the news. Peter says he just couldn’t sleep and tells MJ she should go back to bed. The news reveals that Stark Enterprises and Fantastic Four Incorporated have made more than two billion dollars as a result of the Civil War. Later, Peter meets with Tony and tells him he wants to see this prison they’re keeping all the captured heroes in. Tony tells him no, but relents when Peter reminds him he’s supposed to be his right hand man. The two meet with Reed Richards in the Baxter Building. Reed says he suggested to Tony that he should allow Peter to see the prison some time ago. Tony says he’s, of course, been busy and wasn’t able to tell Peter. Peter asks where Ben and Sue are, and Reed just says they’re not around and announces the Negative Zone will open shortly. Peter is surprised to hear they’re keeping the people in the Negative Zone, but Tony says it’s the only place they can safely keep them insisting they had no choice. Reed then interrupts and tells the duo they are clear to precede.

Peter grabs a jetpack, flies through the N-Zone with Tony, and is astonished to see the huge prison. After bypassing the security clearances (one of which has an affinity for 1960s TV actors), the two enter. The place is made of layers of synthetic vibranium and each room is specified for each occupant. The two walk through the prison and Peter sees some of the occupants beg for help, tell him they don’t belong there, and some who are kept sedated. As the two leave Peter says he guesses it makes a decent interim solution when Tony tells him it’s not interim. It’s permanent.

Peter tries to argue when Iron Man gets right up in Peter’s face and tells him they either sign up or stay in this prison forever, as probation or house arrest doesn’t work for something like this. And angry Peter tells Tony to take off his helmet and tell him that again. Tony removes his helmet and tells Peter he doesn’t like what he’s doing, but it’s the law, so they have no choice. Peter fires back that the law says these people should have a trial then and that they can’t just lock these people up and throw away the key. Tony then informs Peter they can and they have. Peter says Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) is in court trying to defend these people but Tony informs Peter that the Negative Zone is outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts and only the Supreme Court can do anything…and Tony happens to know that that will not happen. Tony then gets up and Peter’s face again and threatens it really would be a horrible thing to spend the rest of their life in this jail.

The two leave the N-Zone and arrive back into the Baxter Building. Peter asks Tony for a minute alone with Reed. Once Tony leaves, Peter asks Reed “Why?” Reed answers with a story about an old uncle he loved very much. Uncle Ted was a stubborn write who didn’t always follow the rules or conform. But this was during Joe McCarthy’s time and Uncle Ted’s ways got him called upon. In the trial, he basically told the committee to “Go to Hell”. He was held in contempt of court for six months and no one would hire him or have anything to do with him once he got out. Peter says it sounds like Reed’s uncle was a brave man, but Reed says the point is his Uncle Ted was wrong and he didn’t follow the law, whether it was right or wrong. Reed then says he supports the law because he believes he has to support it no matter what and eventually it it’ll be changed in a lawful way. Tony then arrives and tells Peter it is time to go. Peter turns to leave and tells Reed he thinks he would have liked his Uncle Ted, but reminds Reed he loved him as the door shuts and leaves Reed in the dark.

As they prepare to leave, Tony tells Peter he wants him to go to Los Angeles for while to help him with something called The 50-State Initiative and to help clear his head. Peter says his head is clear and asks about May and MJ. Tony says they’re safe with him and tells Peter he’ll have a jet prepped tomorrow before taking off. Later that night, Peter quietly wakes up MJ and May and, avoiding the security cameras, meet in the kitchen to talk. Peter tells the two of them they need to get out of the building. He tells them he doesn’t have time to explain but he’s made the wrong choice and he’s fighting on the wrong side. He realizes there is going to be a price for his mistake and he has to do what he feels is right. Just then, the building shakes and loud BOOM! sounds echo through. Peter tells the two of them to get going before changing into his Iron Spidey costume and running when he is attacked…by an angry Iron Man!

Review: JMS and Ron Garney deliver another enjoyable issue. The delay was somewhat annoying, but still not too bad. The biggest plot problem here was that it was a very wordy issue, but JMS is known for that and with Civil War, it is to be expected. The big thing here is that Peter has switched sides, but we all knew that was coming. Peter didn’t get far before Tony got to him, though, did he? I’d assume Tony suspected this was coming as tensions between the two have been growing and People had noticed a difference with Peter. I wonder why he would take his Iron Spider suit with him since Tony could easily track him through it. My next question would be how on Earth does he hope May and MJ make it to safety? They’re just humans in a building surrounded and protected by Stark’s guards. It should be interesting to see.

So…Tony really is a jerk. His attitude through this issue really supports that consensus. He keeps getting up in Peter’s face and even threatens him. I’ve never been a big Iron Man fan, but this doesn’t seem like the way to treat him, especially with his movie coming out. Perhaps they will do Iron Man’s big redemption around that time. He treats everything like they have no choice. A big thing people like about the super heroes is that they always believe there’s another way and a better way. I think that’s another reason the Pro side is deemed the “bad” side. The motives, while somewhat logical, don’t really ring to what the people want to hear or what comic readers are used to hearing as the reasoning behind heroes’ actions. Reed doesn’t really score any points here either. His story seems like something an Anti-member would say. It was basically Uncle Ted suffered and died for what he believed in, but never gave in. It’s a noble thing like that comic readers enjoy and support…so trying to twist it into a Pro argument didn’t really work here. Reed’s reasoning to support the Act is again, the “We have no choice” argument. I don’t really buy into it since I think they entire Marvel Universe does have a choice. In the end, I’m with a lot of others that say the Pro side just hasn’t been shown with a strong argument in this event. I’ve heard good reasoning from interviews and from discussions. But I haven’t seen much of anything in the actual comics.

Ron Garney’s art is decent in this issue. His art can be very static and plain, but it isn’t really bad. Just not anything special. Iron Man still looks clunky though. My biggest problem with the art is actually the coloring. Everything seems too bright. Peter’s hair color, Iron Man’s suit, and more.

I’m happy Peter is finally on the Anti-side, but I wonder how his titles and story will be now that the world knows him and will soon know him as a traitor. Hopefully Civil War hasn’t messed up Spider-Man but enhanced him like Marvel has promised. I guess that just remains to be seen.