Spider-Man : House of M #3

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Reviewer : Tim Byrne
Title : The End of Spider-Man
Writers : Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler : Salvador Larroca
Inker : Danny Miki
Colorist : Liquid!
Letterer : Cory Petit (VC)
Editor : Tom Brevoort
Publisher : Marvel Comics

The destruction of our protagonist’s world continues, as the publication of his personal diary from the end of last episode shatters his ‘mutant’ credentials.

Initially, the whole issue of how this diary is considered genuine is completely skipped. I’m assuming there was some way of checking for fingerprints or whatever, but the point isn’t even mentioned.

In any event, pretty much all the dominoes set up in the previous two issues fall into place. Spidey’s financial well-being is ruined, as the overt bigotry of this society takes its toll.

Interestingly, the bigotry here is almost cartoonish in its extremity. It is also a little inconsistent with some of the other minis in the ‘House of M’ universe. For instance, Tony Stark is a well-respected and successful businessman, despite being a human. Would the revelation of Spider-Man’s status as human really cause such a sudden and calamitous reversal in his fortunes?

At any rate, this is indeed what happens, and Peter experiences various reactions from friends and family, including three people who are dead in the 616 Marvel universe, namely Ben Parker, George Stacy and Gwen Stacy. While there is a certain emotional resonance to these reactions, it lacks for a genuine comparison with the ‘real’ Peter Parker, given that those three characters have all been dead for around thirty-five years of comics.

The conversation between Peter Parker and a hospital orderly is much more revealing, as it shows a three-dimensional side to some of the inhabitants of this alternate world, which seems sadly lacking in the portrayal of cretins like this reality’s J. Jonah Jameson. Indeed, the depiction of Jonah is so two-dimensionally childish and vindictive that it really beggars belief. This is particularly so given the focus on Peter’s childish crushes rather than the deception of his existence.

I’m rather deliberately avoiding the final twist, which involves the identity of the character wearing the mask of the Green Goblin. It veers completely away from my expectations and certainly sets up a number of intriguing possibilities for the conclusion of this story. It is still an open question as to whether this person is acting of their own volition or otherwise.

In terms of the writing overall, there are certainly some well-drawn characters, as well as a few intriguing reveals of this world’s versions of some classic Spidey villains. The final twist has certainly reeled me in for the conclusion.

The art is very nice indeed, particularly on splashes of the aforementioned villains, as well as the final reveal. The colouring by Liquid is a little suspect, with everyone looking like they’ve spent a week too long on the beach.

But overall, a great twist, and a story that is now keeping me involved ’til the end.