Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111 Review

Issue Review
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111

Direct Market Release Date: October 22, 1985

Credits

Title: ... And Then the Gods Cried
Writer: Jim Owsley
Layouts: Rich Buckler
Finishes: M. Hands
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Nel Yomtov
Editor: Jim Shooter
Executive Editor: Tom DeFalco

Summary

Trapped in Tokyo, Japan, The Puma decides to pay a visit to his old teacher, Master Muramoto. While he describes how the Beyonder, who he is destined to kill, teleported him here against his will, Muramoto introduces him to his guest, Kurami, who happens to be the Beyonder. The Beyonder tries in vain to dissuade Puma from killing him. After the Puma leaves Muramoto tells the Beyonder to use his omnipotence to glimpse into the future at the consequences of his actions in regards to the Puma's purpose.

Back in New York, Spider-Man prevents a car that has just been in a car accident from careening into a crowd of people. He is unaware that the occupants of that car are members of the Beyonder's Oneness cult, and that one of them, Maude Macchio, lost her life in the accident.

Later, Thomas Fireheart shows up to Peter Parker's apartment while Parker and Mary Jane Watson finish their painting job. Mary Jane excuses herself, and Fireheart insists that he is now fully aware of the scope of the Beyonder's power, and asks for Spider-Man's help. The omniscient Beyonder is already aware of their meeting and makes himself appear before them. He tells Fireheart that he needs to embrace his true role in the universe, and notes that Peter Parker best exemplifies this concept. The Beyonder then offers Fireheart an example of someone close to him who has followed the Beyonder's advice, and teleports Muramoto to the apartment. Muramoto, who has always been fond of rock music, is sporting a punk fashion sense and a guitar. The Beyonder disappears, heading off to book a show for Muramoto at a local nightclub owned by a member of his cult. Disgusted that Muramoto and Peter Parker fail to act against the Beyonder, Thomas Fireheart leaves. Muramoto sees the irony that while the Beyonder's current purpose is to show others their roles in life, including those like the Puma, whose role is to destroy him.

Meanwhile, the Beyonder visits Death, and contemplates on the irony that his role in existence is to reveal to others their destinies, even if their destiny is to kill the Beyonder. For him to fulfill his role in the universe, he will need to die.

Back at the Daily Bugle, news breaks that Maude Macchio has died in a car accident. Her husband, Ralph, is the owner of the nightclub that Muramoto has been booked to play that evening, and is seen on the news blaming the Cosmic Cult for his wife's death. Had they not joined up, they would have had no reason to have been in Midtown where the accident occurred. Kate Cushing assigns Peter Parker and Joy Mercado to do a story on Macchio's club. Parker takes a quick trip to the men's room, only to find the Beyonder, who tells him that he hopes that his death at Puma's hand will inspire others to find their purpose, and fulfill his destiny.

Later that night at Macchio's club, Muramoto takes to the stage with his band, Old Master and the Chanters. The Beyonder is watching from the audience, and is immediately aware that the Puma has arrived to kill him. Before he can reach the Beyonder, an angry Ralph Macchio pulls out a gun to take out his misguided revenge on the Beyonder. Muramoto leaps off the stage to save the Beyonder and is killed as the bullet passes through his body and hits the Beyonder in the head. The Beyonder heals himself up, upset that Muramoto sacrificed himself for nothing. Upon seeing his dead master, the Puma announces that he no longer has any doubts about his role to kill the Beyonder, who encourages him to attack.

Peter Parker leaves Mercado to cover the story and changes into Spider-Man, and returns to see that the Puma has enlarged to twice his size, imbued with the power as the universe aligns itself around him while he fulfills his destiny. Spider-Man tries to save the Beyonder, and is shocked to find that the Beyonder doesn't want to be saved. Spider-Man announces that he suspects that the Beyonder is manipulating reality, and Puma becomes momentarily distracted by that thought. He attacks the Beyonder with a massive blow, only to find that the Beyonder still stands. The Beyonder sadly tells the Puma that he doubted himself, only for a second, and failed in his attempt. Dejected, he teleports away, leaving the Puma alone with the body of Muramoto.

Quotes

Muramoto: Puma, your senses are strong enough to detect a sparrow's feather landing on a still pond. Therefore, I find it difficult to believe you could not realize... I'm only half-through side two of my new Duran Duran album! You, my son, must learn patience.

Puma: I'll see you dead, Beyonder.
The Beyonder: Do you believe that guy?
Muramoto: Kurami... do you truly know who that is...?
The Beyonder: I know what I WANT to know.
Muramoto: Then, I suggest your wish to know everything there is to know about the Puma... and the catastrophic series of events you've just set in motion.

Maude Macchio: RALPH! Ralph, you stop this car this instant!! We're supposed to be handing out pamphlets -- spreading the message of cosminc oneness! YOU joined the Beyonder's movement with me, didn't you?!
Ralph Macchio: Aww, quit your bellyachin', Maude! I think the movement's good, but hey -- today is TENNIS day! We'll play a few sets and then... ..We'll get nailed by a big van.
Maude Macchio: RALPH!! LOOK OUT--!

Thomas Fireheart: There! Surely you are convinced now.
Peter Parker: Actually, I think I am. I think the Beyonder's right. Is what he's asking so terrible? He just wants us to be ourselves.
Thomas Fireheart: Insanity! Sensei -- Isn't the Beyonder a threat?!
Muramoto: Absolutely! The Beyonder is the greatest threat to the known universe...
Thomas Fireheart: AHA!
Muramoto: ... that is, if he wishes to be. Kurami -- The Beyonder - is neither a benevolent or malevolent being. But, evin if he wanted to destroy the universe, there isn't a thing any of us can do to stop him.

The Beyonder: (to Death) For me to win this game, I will be brought into your embrace. But what does that mean to a being like me? What lies beyond the beyond...? And why... ...why am I afraid...?

The Beyonder: The Puma has the power to destroy me... and doesn't even know it. I have concluded, Spider-Man, that my ultimate role... is to die. Hopefully, countless others can learn from my example, and find their roles. Then the uneveness of this world, the oncompleteness all around us, will end. Puma will be my big win. I need it. Must have it. If I don't get it... well... I dont' even want to think about that.

Commentary

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111 is the second part of a two part story started in Amazing Spider-Man #273. The chronology jumps between the two issues, and the Uncanny X-Men #202 is best read as occuring between pages 14 and 15 of this issue. 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

Grittier and darker than its partner, this book revolves around the Beyonder's decision to end his own life, and features several deaths and a gun battle in which the Beyonder is shot in the head. On its own it is a good read, but the difference in tone between this book and DeFalco's Amazing Spider-Man require some effort to join the two together. Adding to the discord is the fact that this issue is inked by M. Hands, which was the name used by Marvel whenever they needed a rush inking job by a large number of artists. As such, there is no consistent artistic style throughout the book.

If I understand things correctly, Spider-Man's use of his webs to stop the Macchio's car caused Maude Macchio's death. This mirrors the death of Gwen Stacy, who also met her end coming to an abrupt stop from a high velocity fall with Spider-Man's web. Parker is never made aware that he was even involved with the Macchio's accident.

Inexplicably, the Secret Wars II triangle on the cover of this issue is different than all the other books in this crossover, reading "Secret Wars II Cross-Over", rather than the typical "Secret Wars II Continues in this Issue".

For music buffs, there was no new Duran Duran album released in 1985, leaving one unsure of what tape Muramoto is listening to on his Walkman in Japan. Also comical is the following exchange between Club Macchio audience members during the final gun battle:
Audience member: Somebody call the Police!
Audience member: You can't They broke up!

This issue also marks the second meeting in this crossover of the Beyonder and Peter Parker near a toilet.

Up next...

While not in continuity, Secret Wars II continues in the 1998 comic Deadpool Team Up #1!

The original Secret Wars II continues in Secret Wars II #8!