Peter Parker: Spider-Man # 35
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciller: Mark Buckingham
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Colorist: Transparency Digital
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Wes Abbott
Cover Date: November 2001
Rating:
This week, I’ll take a look at Peter Parker: Spider-Man # 35 which tells the tale of a young boy and his “fascinating friendship” with Spider-Man that helps him in coping with the harsh reality he lives in.
This issue introduces us to LaFronce, a well-adjusted kid who has to deal with a mother who spends her days drunk (and possibly on drugs) so she has no time for him; The only time that he can find happiness is when he thinks about Spider-Man (via a trading card and his imagination) and he comes alive to check on him. The promise of going on patrol with Spidey and learning to count to twenty are some of the issue’s heartwarming factors that will bring you joy while reading this story.
Jenkins and Buckingham manage to take the concept of “Calvin & Hobbes” and turn it into a really great story that will bring out all the emotions in you. Paul Jenkins doesn’t get enough praise for telling such unique stories like this one where the allure of Spider-Man comes alive in the eyes of a young boy. Mark Buckingham’s artwork has always had a cartoonish feel but at the same time, he tends to bring with it a realistic tone that always comes off as being special; Peter Parker himself does not appear in this issue, but the uplifting overtones of this story alone makes it worthy to be in anyone’s comic collection and ranks very high when it comes to mentioning the best Spider-Man stories. The ending alone (**NO SPOILERS**) will take your breath away and will have the readers reminisce about being a kid and having that one hero they all look up to that gave them hope when times were hard and from what I took away from this issue is that no matter what obstacles we face in life, The Power of Imagination is always a beautiful thing to behold.
Well, that’s it for me. Thanks for sticking around and I will be back next week.