Good, Bad, and Ugly uses of Spidey Tech (Amazing Spider-Man #682 spoilers)

[stillanerd]

First, we get an example of the bad. In the beginning of this issue, Spidey goes up against a villain named Equinox, who has the powers of both Iceman and the Human Torch. Since he couldn't come up with web formula specifically designed to stop Equinox in time, Spidey decided to "[borrow] a few tricks from someone else's bag." And just who was that someone else?





Gwen Stacy would approve, I'm sure.

However, when Spidey helps to rush a firefighter to the hospital who had one of his feet broken off as a result of Equinox's freezing powers, we get one of the rarest of scenes in superhero comics: how a costumed hero's high-tech gadgets could actually change the real world:



Okay, it begs the question as to why Peter can't make his web-shooters have practical, real-world applications like all the other stuff he's made for Horizon Labs (not to mention make a certain super genius with elastic powers who heads "the world's greatest superhero team" even more "useless"). However, I do think Slott does a commendable job in actually showing how Peter's Spider-Man inspired inventions actually start to make the world a better place beyond just him fighting crime. What's more, it makes for a nice juxtaposition in Peter believing he's finally making a difference as Peter Parker instead of taking pictures, only to have J. Jonah Jameson, moments later, J. arrives at Horizon Labs and threaten legal action to shut the place down, thus putting Peter new-found success in jeopardy.

But then, Doc Ock sets in motion his "final master plan" towards the end of the issue (which is quite brilliant, by the way), and at last we get to see what Peter has come up in order to prepare himself for his eventual battle with the Sinister Six. And the end result of all that hard work and preparation is this:





Because that's EXACTLY what Spidey really needed all this time: bulky shoulder pads and wrist-mounted laser beams!

All that being said, the issue overall is still quite enjoyable and a good start to the "Ends of the Earth" storyline.

Comments

*head tilt*

[illian]

Peter's always been exceptionally bright in most of his incarnations (he's kept up with Richards AND Stark at various points) but if this version has invented the Cryo Cube, that polymer, a comfortable design of noise reduction headphones that's popular and who knows what else, short of working for a Stereotypical Evil Corporate that is stealing its interns ideas, Peter ought to be rolling in the money right now (promotions, raises, bonuses, possibly even percentages of the contracts).

Re: *head tilt*

[icon_uk]

It's standard policy for patents arrived at whilst working at a lab to be the property of the lab, not Peter.

Re: *head tilt*

[tsunamiwombat]

Really? So he's producing multi-billion dollar idea's he doesn't even need the Lab for, and the corp is pocketing all the money.

Wow. Peter, your a dumbass.

Re: *head tilt*

[sir_razorback]

I don't think it'd be *all* the money, if he didn't get part of the funds they generate, why would he still be there?

That and the corp. gives him acess to resources that he wouldn't normally have, unless you want him linking his civvie identity to hero groups like teh Avengers or FF. Just my thoughts on one plausible way it would make sense.

Re: *head tilt*

[illian]

Right, standard for comics and real world. My suspension of disbelief is just encountering a momentary bumpy road while I'm trying to wrap my head around a company that isn't attempting to keep someone who has churned out at least three profitable patents for them (more or less by himself, knowing comics) as financially happy as possible. Even Wolfram & Hart offered bonuses and incentives! ;P

Don't mind me, on a meta level I understand why it isn't happening but apparently I should go get the entire suspension adjusted/replaced.

Re: *head tilt*

[tsunamiwombat]

Even if he only has a percentage, yes, he ought to be insanely wealthy.