You know you're in for ...something when the cover touts it's "The WEIRDEST issue of the year!" and has an Editor-In-Chief's 'warning': "This story is FUNNY. On PURPOSE. Beware!" I personally think the image of Spidey flanked by two goofy frog men is weird enough without having to be told it is, but whatevs.
A quick Google search tells me that the previous story arc was a rather dramatic one with Spidey versus Vermin and the Green Goblin, and we see him despondent on a rooftop as the issue begins. I suppose this "wacky" ish was meant to be a palate cleanser of sorts. Into the scene hops pudgy college student Eugene "The Fabulous Frog-Man" who happens to be Spidey's number one fan! What follows is a tale of family dinners, exploding carrots and random Beatles references.
Turns out Eugene is the son of a former villain that also went by the Frog-Man moniker, and ol' Eugene became a hero to atone for his reformed dad's amphibian misdeeds. He's also unfortunately a klutz who can never get the hang of his suit's hopping coils, and Spidey explodes at him for interrupting his brooding. That, and being such a doofus. Despite his hostility, Eugene still asks him to join his family for dinner as Spider-Man. Thanks to some poking and prodding by Mary Jane later on, Peter reluctantly agrees.
We are now introduced to our villains du jour, White Rabbit and The Walrus. She's a fairly uninspired villainous take on the Alice In Wonderland character, and you'd think, going with the theme, he'd be a play on 'The Walrus and the Carpenter', but nope. Instead, it's the Beatle's ditty 'I Am The Walrus', apparently, judging by his rainbow W insignia and his introduction of "Goo-goo-ga-joob". White Rabbit seems to have a vendetta against the fabulous Frog-Man, and enlists the tubby, brawny Walrus to help bash up Manhattan to draw him out. I'm also now realizing I've inadvertently already featured two Wonderland inspired comic book villains, guess I'll have to find more now and make it my shtick.
Meanwhile, Peter Parker shows up (in full costume, natch) to Eugene's suburban Brooklyn home to make good on his promise of a family dinner. He's greeted by the star-struck Eugene, his gruff but lovable dad Vincent (the reformed criminal) and Italian stereotype Aunt Marie. There are some fun moments when Vincent asks if super-heroes drink (Psst, ask Tony Stark why doncha), and awkwardness when Peter can't really make much conversation without divulging his secret identity to the family. Conversation about the weather ensues! When a newsflash mentions the mayhem downtown, Spidey uses that as an excuse to slip out for some hero-ing.
Spidey arrives downtown, smashes White Rabbit's carrot firing umbrella, and publicly mocks Walrus for having "the proportionate speed, strength and agility of a walrus." Then again, who wouldn't. This understandably pisses off Walrus, who knocks Spidey's block off in a rage. With Spidey down, a surprisingly adept Frog-Man arrives on the scene, knocking out Walrus with a single punch. Spidey's a bit embarrassed by all this falderal, but as White Rabbit starts to attack Frog-Man with a sword umbrella (Btw, open letter to Oswald Cobblepot: Someone's stealing your gimmick), ANOTHER, considerably clumsier, Frog-Man shows up and knocks out White Rabbit in a happy accident concerning malfunctioning leaping coils.
Hey, it turns out the first, good and competent Frog-Man was dad Vincent, trying to be the hero for once. The clumsy, moron Frog-Man was of course, Eugene. Vincent is proud of his son for saving him, and they have a nice TGIF bonding moment. Spidey needs a little glory in this ish, so when the revived Walrus charges at them, he literally knocks him out with a flick of his finger, cementing Eugene's (and now his dad's) hero worship.
Sure, this issue was indeed silly and goofy, but by no means the WEIRDEST of the year. And saying and issue is *supposed* to be funny seems a lil desperate, like having to explain a joke. Having it played straight would have been ten times funnier. And seeing as how Spidey's trademark is witty banter as he boffs the baddies, the humor is already there anyway. But, hey, there were some great nostalgic ads for TMNT and Simpsons video games in it! Until next time, catch you by the spinner rack!
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