I would like to introduce another great reviewer Gerry Sparling here with his very first reviews for Amazing Spider-Man.Info! Many thanks to him for his take on the re-boot of the Spider-Man titles back in 1998. He has reviewed both Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #1 and Peter Parker: Spider-Man Volume 2 #1. Lets begin with his take on the very first issue of the second volume of Peter Parker: Spider-Man, or for you long-time collectors and readers: Spider-Man #99!

The second Spider-Man series of the Reboot begins, with Peter Parker photographing the new Spider-Man battling armored mercenaries called the Agents of Anarchy who are attempting to free the international terrorist known as the Ranger from a prison van. Peter watches the new Spider-Man in action with interest, and continues snapping pictures, until he notices the Ranger breaking free from his bonds and escaping from the prison van. "Now you must forgive me...duty calls me to another place!" The Ranger exclaims, displaying some incredible agility as he leaps away from the scene. "The bad guy got away!" Peter tells the annoyed Spider-Imposter who recognizes Peter from the incident at the Tri Corp Foundation from Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #1. Suddenly, Peter finds a gun being pointed at his head by a member of the NYPD, several of which have finally arrived on the scene. The new Spider-Man uses this as an opportunity to escape, leaving Peter to handle the NYPD himself. Luckily, Betty appears and warns the police there will be an investigation into their operation if they do not let her colleague go. The police comply, and Peter and Betty head back to the Bugle.

Back at the Bugle, Betty clashes with J. Jonah Jameson over altering her article on the Ranger's escape, in order to feed his vendetta against Spider-Man. Jonah is insulted over Betty's accusation, and storms off, and Joe Robertson assures Betty her article will appear unaltered. Joe then reminds Betty she is scheduled for an interview with Senator Stewart Ward who is arriving at JFK airport tomorrow morning. "You're probably going to be conducting one of the first interviews with out future president, Betty", Robbie says. "No one, not even Jonah, has been able to dig up anything dirty on the guy." Robbie tells of Ward. "It's what this nations could use about now...an honest politician." Meanwhile, the scene switches to a presidential suite of a hotel overlooking the city of Chicago, where Senator Stewart Ward "contemplates his future...studiously avoiding his past." "So Many Died...Because of You." says voices around the room, as mysterious energies pour out of a coffee table and picture frames. "SHUT UP!" Ward shouts, flinging a glass at the television. The voices stop and secret service agents burst into the room, but Ward assures them that everything is fine.

Back in New York, Peter arrives at the Parker apartment to check up on Aunt May who isn't answering the phone, but she seems to be okay, and is talking to her good friend Anna Watson on the phone. May then tells a jubilant Peter that Mary Jane has finished her modeling shoot early and is returning home on a flight in the morning. The next day, at JFK international airport, Peter and Jill Stacy arrive to pick up Mary Jane, who runs out of the departure gate and jumps into Peter's arms, embracing him. "Er...guys? This is really embarrassing." Jill says, when suddenly photographers rush to the departure gate, and Peter remembers that Senator Ward is also arriving that same morning, obviously because of the hubbub of the media. Peter then notices a person lurking in the shadows and realizes it's the Ranger! "Time's run out Ward!" The Ranger shouts, wielding two batons that crackle with energy. The Ranger attempts to get at Ward, but the secret service agents bar his way. Peter wrestles with the fact that he could have stopped the Ranger earlier that day, but didn't, much like he failed to stop the burglar who killed Uncle Ben. As it looks like Peter is about to assist the Senator, the new Spider-Man appears and clashes with the Ranger. The terrorist quickly gets the better of the inexperienced hero, and uses a blast from his weapon to knock out the agents guarding the Senator. "I've got to hand it to you, Ward. You've got them all fooled. Not one of them can see you from the monster you really are." The Ranger says to the terrified Senator. "It finally ends today." The Ranger says, and is about to kill Ward when Peter appears and wallops the Ranger. This gives the new Spider-Man the opportunity to jump on the Ranger, and knock him into unconsciousness. "I don't have to take that from the likes of you!" The obviously disturbed hero roars as he pounds the Ranger.

"Like an embarrassed kid lashing out at a bully." Peter notes, as the angry Spider-Man shouts to Peter "Stop following me, or you'll be sorry too!", before making his escape. The hubbub dies down, and MJ embraces Peter as the media begin taking pictures of her and her husband. "But I'm going to find out more about the strange connection between Senator Ward and the Ranger. And I've a hunch I won't like what I find." Peter thinks, as the issue ends.

Nothing really merits calling this issue a classic, but a better effort all round then Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #1. That is partly due to the gorgeous pencil work by John Romita JR. whose talent manages to even make the most dull of scripts look interesting. Thankfully, the dialogue is not as cringe-worthy as Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #1 and the pacing of the issue is helped by the fact the issue is not as long as Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #1, hence, we hardly get any unnecessary scenes. The issue also does a better job of introducing the classic supporting cast to the new reader attracted to #1, but it suffers by not having Peter back in action as Spider-Man. And the Ward plot is nothing particularly interesting, merely repetitive of the same conspiracy-sci-fi stuff that Mackie has given us over the years.

II - "The Scintillating Spider-Man Scrapbook!" - 7 Pages

Artist - John Romita JR.

III - "Memories" - 6 Pages

Writer - Howard Mackie
Artist - Andy Smith
Inker - Brad Vancata
Letterer - Richard Starkings & Liz Agraphiotis
Colorist - Mark Bernardo
Editor - Ralph Macchio
Editor In Chief - Bob Harras