That is how this story kicks-off. Councilman Brian Daley decides to take his baby boy out for a stroll to garner favor in the eyes of voters. Distracted by his own ambition, he fails to notice that a woman sneaks up and takes the baby for herself.
Councilman Daley turns to the Daily Bugle for help in spreading word of a reward for the baby’s safe return. Enter Spider-Man who swings off and eventually saves the day.
The plot for this issue is fairly straight forward and not very original, but it’s exactly the kind of stuff that Spider-Man is adept to. His sense of responsibility has him helping any New Yorker he can from muggers, thieves and rapists, so why not kidnappers too.
Bill Mantlo does an okay job here, but I get the feeling he did nothing more than cash-in a paycheck on this one. Nothing particularly stands out about this issue, but it’s a decent quick read.
Dave Simons art is.. mediocre. I much preferred Greg LaRocque’s art from last issue. Simons layouts are boring and predictable. I think the art might have been better if Glynis Wein’s colors weren’t so horrible. On one page the sky is blue, in the next few ones it’s yellow and then blue again and then purple. The buildings are all orange or peach colored and interior walls are an ugly mint green. Maybe he was just a slave to the four color printing process and budgetary constraints, but the pages’ pigmentations are uninspired at best.
Bottom Line: It’s a typical, self contained Spider-Man story with a happy ending. It’s enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable.
2 out of 5 stars