Amazing Spider-Man #273 Review

Issue Review
Amazing Spider-Man #273

Direct Market Release Date: October 8, 1985

Credits

Title: To Challenge the Beyonder
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz
Finished Art: Josef Rubenstein
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Editor: Jim Owsley
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary

Thomas Fireheart, the Puma, has just been informed by his tribe that he exists solely to fulfill his destiny to save the Earth from an omnipotent being known as He-Who-Comes-From-Beyond. Fireheart is too caught up in his life as the CEO of a multinational corporation to take his tribe's beliefs seriously, but agrees to the elder's request to seek out the Beyonder.

On his way to visit his Aunt's boyfriend in the hospital, Peter Parker thwarts a mugging as Spider-Man. The thankful victims invite Spider-Man to join their group of Cosmic Oneness, whose leader and founder "sees beyond this petty world". After politely declining, Spider-Man wonders if this group could be connected to the Beyonder. His suspicions are further heightened at a Daily Bugle staff meeting, where new editor Kathryn "Kate" Cushing demands some investigative reporting on the cult.

Peter Parker then meets up with Mary Jane Watson, who has offered to help him paint his apartment after some recent fire damage. They enter his apartment and are shocked to find Thomas Fireheart sitting on the sofa inside. Fireheart politely but firmly asks Mary Jane to leave them. Fireheart reveals to Parker that he is the Puma, and that his heightened senses tell him that he knows Parker is Spider-Man. He offers Parker five thousand dollars to help him kill the Beyonder. Parker, uneasy about killing anyone, recognizes the danger that the Beyonder faces to the Universe, and agrees to tag along.

Spider-Man and the Puma sneak into the Cosmic Oneness headquarters, and track down the Executive Director, Barry Foxxe. Spider-Man notes that he looks nothing like the Beyonder, but the Puma, who reminds him that the Beyonder can assume many forms, proceeds to sneak up behind him to deliver a fatal blow. A conflicted Spider-Man resolves to stop the Puma's attack, but the Puma senses nothing unusual about this man,and stops ends up aborting the attack. He finds out from Barry Foxxe that the Beyonder, who is now working under the "Frank" alias he used while working for Vinnie Corbo, is currently at his condo on the Upper Westside.

Spider-Man parts ways with the Puma, deciding that he'd rather wait for the Beyonder to make the first move rather than be an accomplice to murder. The Puma visits the Beyonder's condo, and ponders how he should approach the Beyonder. As he does so, the Beyonder appears, already aware that the Puma is here to kill him. He is also aware that the Puma, reluctant to assume the destiny his tribe has set out for him, would rather work on his business interests, and teleports him close to Fireheart Industries' Japan offices.

Days later, Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker are finally painting apartment, when Thomas Fireheart reappears at the door asking to speak with Peter in private. He claims that recent incidents have fully convinced him of the Beyonder's threat to humanity and offers Peter Parker one hundred thousand dollars for Spider-Man's help. Parker refuses on the grounds that you can't surprise an omniscient being, and shortly thereafter, the Beyonder appears, surprising the duo.

Quotes

Tribe Elder 1: Such speed! Such agility! Shaman, your nephew is truly the greatest warrior of them all!
Tribe Elder 2: And yet,is even the power of Puma enough to challenge He-Who-Comes-From-Beyond?

Cult of Cosmic Oneness member: Thank you,Spider-Man! Perhaps you'd be interested in our message!
Spider-Man: Huh?
Cult of Cosmic Oneness member: We believe in the concept of Cosmic Oneness! Every member of the human race is like a cell in the body of a single great entity -- and we should all learn to work together.
Cult of Cosmic Oneness member: Have a button!
Spider-Man: Er... no thanks! I hate to wear anything that makes me stand out in a crowd!

Thomas Fireheart: We must stop him before it's too late! Spider-Man, I fully intend to compensate you for your time. Will a retainer of five thousand dollars be sufficient?
Peter Parker: Whoah! I don't hire out for murder at any price! (thinking) And yet, what if he's right about the Beyonder?!
Peter Parker: Listen, I may not like you, but I still can't let you face the Beyonder alone! It's suicide!
Thomas Fireheart: You have an interesting dilemma.
Peter Parker: I'm willing to go along with you for now... but I'm not making any commitments... until I've assessed the situation for myself.

Spider-Man (thinking): Don't do it, Puma! Don't force me to chose between my conscience -- and responsibility to the rest of the world
Puma (thinking): A swift swipe of my claws will fulfill my obligation to my Uncle! Why do I hesitate? Why do I not strike him dead?! It's.. no use! I can't do it! This is no god which stands before me. My Uncle has sent me on a fool's errand! The ancient prophecies have proven false!

The Puma (thinking): Incredible! He's radiating so much power -- on so many levels -- that my hyper-senses are in danger of overloading!
The Beyonder: Don't worry. I won't let you hurt yourself. I know that you're here to kill me -- but that's virtually impossible! I feel bad that you wasted your time coming here! Especially since you would have preferred working on your business interests, but... I can fix that!
The Puma: I... don't believe it! This is TOKYO! He... sent me to Japan! JAPAN!

Peter Parker: Read my lips, Puma -- YOU'RE NUTS! It's impossible to sneak up on a guy who's omniscient! He could even be listening to us right now! All we'd have to do is call him -- shout "HEY BEYONDER" -- and --
The Beyonder (appearing from nowhere): Yes--? What do you want?
Peter Parker (thinking): Oh, NO! What have I done?!

Commentary

Amazing Spider-Man #273 is the first of a two part story that continues into Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111. In a way, it's a bit of a jarring read between the two books, as Tom DeFalco's storytelling is much lighter in contrast to Jim Owsley's darker Spectacular Spider-Man. The chronology jumps between the two issues, and Uncanny X-Men #202 slides into the mix as well. The proper reading order would go as follows:

Amazing Spider-Man #273 pages 1-20
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111 pages 1-12
Amazing Spider-Man #273 pages 21-23
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111 pages 13-14
Uncanny X-Men #202
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111 pages 15-25

The revelation that the Puma exists solely to destroy the Beyonder is an awkward and obvious retcon, and I dont' think it has ever been mentioned or addressed in any of his appearances after this. Regardless, it does set up an enjoyable story on par with other issues from the fabulous DeFalco/Frenz run on this title And while having the Beyonder operate under the "Frank" alias he'd previously employed in Secret Wars II #3 is a nice nod to continuity, it seems odd that the Beyonder would start a religious order under the guise of a mob hitman.

Thomas Fireheart's five thousand dollar retainer seems a bit underwhelming when reading the story nearly a quarter of a century after it was published, but in 1985 dollars that would have nearly bought you a new car!

Up next...

Secret Wars II continues in Uncanny X-Men #202!