In Marvel Team Up #33, Spider-Man and Nighthawk battled the Meteor Man, one of Spider-Man's oldest (yet often forgotten) foes. But since nothing was settled, the Web-Slinger and the Meteor Man have a rematch in this issue - with Valkyrie, Nighthawk's teammate in the Defenders, aiding Spider-Man.

Spider-Man and Nighthawk ended the previous issue with a disagreement. Nighthawk felt the Meteor Man (formerly known as the Looter) needed psychiatric help, while Spider-Man felt he was a threat who needed to return to prison. When Nighthawk explains his story to Valkyrie, she agrees with Spider-Man's take on the situation. "Yes, you explained--you explained how you abandoned your responsibility! You involved yourself in this Meteor Man matter -- and then you quit," she tells him. And like a true Asgardian warrior, Valkyrie mounts her winged steed Aragorn and flies off to battle, intending to do what Nighthawk wouldn't - capture the Meteor Man. Meanwhile, Spider-Man has found the fugitive, although he's not having much luck dealing with the Meteor Man. He's sitting on a rooftop thinking about his recent encounter with the Gwen Stacy clone (as shown in Amazing Spider-Man #144-145) when the Meteor Man drifts in on the helium balloon he wears on his back. "You made inquiries -- probed where you were not wanted -- with a matter that was not your concern!" the villain tells Spider-Man as he pounds him on the head. "You must be made to account for these intrusions, Spider-Man -- and that accounting is now!" I'll hand it to the Meteor Man - he's got a much more extensive vocabulary than, say, the Sandman or the Scorpion. After punching our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man around for a while, he dumps him in the East River with a warning to stay away. "Terrific. Nothing I like better than a cold bath to start the morning off right. Why don't these things happen to Roger Moore?" Spider-Man asks as he pulls himself out of the chilly water.

Later, Spider-Man hears a police report of the Meteor Man robbing an antique store on 34th Street. He heads to the scene and when Valkyrie sees him swinging through town, she decides to follow. She introduces herself and offers to help, but Spidey says, "Thanks, but no thanks, lady. Meteor Man is my responsibility -- and mine alone!" I wouldn't turn down her help, Pete; Valkyrie is one tough customer, as readers of The Defenders will attest. She ignores Spider-Man's suggestion and follows him into the antique shop. A fight ensues, but the Meteor Man is able to escape with an antique figurine carved from a meteor rock. Spider-Man explains to Valkyrie that the Meteor Man originally got his powers from a gas trapped inside a meteor and has been seeking out other meteor rocks in an effort to boost his powers (as we saw last issue when he stole a meteor sample from Nighthawk's mansion). The Meteor Man floats away on his balloon. This time, Spider-Man agrees to let Valkyrie and Aragorn help out. The winged horse allows the heroes to pursue the escaping villain. Valkyrie uses her sword to puncture the Meteor Man's balloon, sending the Meteor Man crashing to the ground below. His enhanced strength saves him from death, but it takes the fight out of him and puts him in the hospital. Spider-Man decides that's exactly where he belongs, not a prison. He's taken to heart what Nighthawk said to him in the previous issue about the Meteor Man needing a psychiatrist. "I guess you learn fast in this business, Valkyrie," he says.

We also get a fair amount of set-up for the next issue. Two police officers stumble across a dark ritual taking place in an abandoned church. The leader of this ritual, a robed man named Jeremiah, whom we met in the previous issue, murders the two cops with a fiery blast from his hands. This storyline comes to the forefront in the next issue, although Spider-Man won't be part of the battle.

Marvel Team-Up #34 is a big improvement from the first installment of this two-part tale. In the previous issue, I felt that Spider-Man acted out of character - he was too quick to lash out in anger at Nighthawk. He's back to acting like the Spidey we know and love in this issue, though.

As a villain from the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko days (Amazing Spider-Man #36, to be exact), the Meteor Man should have a more distinguished spot in Spider-Man's rogues gallery. Plus, he's got one of the best secret identities in comics - Norton G. Fester (what a great name!) But he remains a rarely used and certainly underappreciated villain. His next Spider-Man appearance won't come for another five years in Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #41, when Spidey gets some help from Giant-Man to battle the Meteor Man.

Next issue: There's no Spider-Man in this one, but the Human Torch and Doctor Strange team up to battle the demonic forces of Jeremiah!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.