Hmm. This seems to be drawn by John Byrne and, most likely, a dream sequence. JJJ drives Spider-Man crazy, but he'd never hit him. Spidey takes it easy when he beats on "regular" criminals, so he wouldn't punch a 50-something newspaper man... even if he deserved it.
In fact, John Byrne came up with the idea that Clark Kent's powers didn't "kick in" until he was in his late teens because, to him, a child with super-strength wouldn't be able to resist hitting a bully. There was even some kind of "it takes time for Kryptonian cells to absorb solar energy" pseudo-science explanation.
"to him, a child with super-strength wouldn't be able to resist hitting a bully"
That makes sense. Ever read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancythomas.html)? It's a second-century apocryphal work that centers on Jesus's acts as a child. And there's no wonder it didn't make it into anyone's canon, because it portrays the Christ-child as doing precisely what Byrne feared a young Clark might do. Worse, actually: Jesus kills a boy for draining some water he'd collected, then another for bumping into him. When some of the villagers complain, he strikes them blind. (True, he does go on to resurrect another kid, heal someone, and provide grain for the hungry but still, yeesh.)
Seriously. I mean sure, JJJ is nearly always angry about something but I've never seen him come totally unglued like that. What happened exactly?
As for Spider-Man punching him, well...yeah it's not the right thing to do but considering this guy has been constantly on his back for no good reason for years, it's understandable his patience may have worn a little thin. Plus, in the eye-boggling, saliva-dripping state the old man is in now, Spidey might well have had reason to think he was in danger.
If I remember correctly, this was part of a fantasy that Flash Thompson had while hooked up to a machine by Mysterio. In it, he was a hugely popular superhero, and Spider-Man was his sidekick. Things were otherwise pretty much the same, but one of the main differences was that JJJ was NOT a powerful newspaperman, he was an obsessive stalker/heckler of Spider-Man who spent most of his time following Flash and Spidey around and ranting at them. (This was not spelled out as such, but it was pretty heavily implied.) Nobody took him seriously, and, in fact, people cheered after Spidey punched him out. Clearly, this was wish-fulfillment for Flash - as a Spider-fan, he'd probably gotten pretty ticked off at JJJ over the years. So while it may not have been in character for Spider-Man to do it, it was perfectly in character for Flash to IMAGINE him doing it. (Not to mention personally satisfying for me to read.)
Mysterio is here pretending to be Spidey; the scene has a double meaning, because it's not only letting Flash fulfil the fantasy of his hero finally striking back against his stereotyped idea of nasty ol' Jonah, but the Mysterio of the time was yet another of Jonah's former hired supervillains, and had some (never fully explained) emotional connection to Jonah's wife Marla. This isn't Spidey striking back, sadly; it's some geezer named Daniel Berkhart.
I'd suggest the next moment from the issue should be the one with Gwen & Peter in the ambulance. (Reply to this)
Thanks. I figured this must have been out of continuity. So this, then, is from the same story as the scan we recently saw of Sue planting a big passionate one on Flash and Reed being okay with it.
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there's a thought.
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Yep; makes perfect sense now.
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In fact, John Byrne came up with the idea that Clark Kent's powers didn't "kick in" until he was in his late teens because, to him, a child with super-strength wouldn't be able to resist hitting a bully. There was even some kind of "it takes time for Kryptonian cells to absorb solar energy" pseudo-science explanation.
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That makes sense. Ever read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancythomas.html)? It's a second-century apocryphal work that centers on Jesus's acts as a child. And there's no wonder it didn't make it into anyone's canon, because it portrays the Christ-child as doing precisely what Byrne feared a young Clark might do. Worse, actually: Jesus kills a boy for draining some water he'd collected, then another for bumping into him. When some of the villagers complain, he strikes them blind. (True, he does go on to resurrect another kid, heal someone, and provide grain for the hungry but still, yeesh.)
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Alternate gag:
ONE PUNCH!
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;)
You're doing it wrong
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As for Spider-Man punching him, well...yeah it's not the right thing to do but considering this guy has been constantly on his back for no good reason for years, it's understandable his patience may have worn a little thin. Plus, in the eye-boggling, saliva-dripping state the old man is in now, Spidey might well have had reason to think he was in danger.
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I'd suggest the next moment from the issue should be the one with Gwen & Peter in the ambulance.
(Reply to this)
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