The Amazing Spider-Man #402, page 11

This acquisition clearly appeals to the nostalgia fiber from my teenage years and to my art buff fiber alike.

As I said with my Amazing Scarlet Spider page, I really liked the Clone saga (despite its numerous story flaws) and especially the character of Ben Reilly and his costume (my favorite.)

Now, I know, collectors/fans in the know will tell me that this is not Ben Reilly dressed as Scarlet in this issue, but Peter Parker who traded places with Ben (now in prison,) in order to try and clear out his name.

And sure, there's no big swinging-punching action, but the overall simplicity and fluidity of the page (as always with Bags!!), the intensity of MJ's face as she expresses her disarray and fear at the idea that their future baby might be deformed or worse (because of Pete's irradiated blood,) Pete's hurt reaction, the distinctive Bagley smoke that appears gradually and engulfs MJ out of the picture and Pete partially, all of those elements participate to a scene that, on other occasions, might have proven dull and unclimactic, and yet that is clearly so not the case here.

And that second panel page-stealer with MJ?!! Awesome!! The smallest panel here being the prime visual focus is simply, as I said, awesome!!


Of note: this page doesn't appear to be inked by Larry Mahlstedt (there are three different inkers credited on that issue,) it's more likely Joe Rubinstein's work (correct me if I'm wrong,) yet it is still a thing of extreme beauty to my appreciative eyes, even though I usually prefer Mahlstedt or Emberlin over Bagley pencils.