Top Of The Pile: Amazing Spider-Man #698

There has been a lot of controversy - and childish bile directed at writer Dan Slott - concerning this week's The Amazing Spider-Man #698.

Yet I managed to dodge the spoilers flying around the interweb and, after the crushing disappointment of the film of the same name, I was actually quite nervous about cracking open the issue - in case "the big surprise" sucked as much as the movie. I'm not sure my Spider-sense could have handled a double blow of that magnitude this week.

However, I needn't have worried. Stewart over at The Paradox Comic Group (The PCG) has written a spot-on, spoiler-free review of the issue which pretty much sums up my own feelings about the title.

The key phrase to take away from Stewart's review is: "Dan Slott has delivered a Spider-Man story for the ages, something that long term fans, occasional readers, perhaps just watchers of the previous live action films or maybe even those with only the loosest of grasps of who Peter Parker is should really read if they get opportunity."

Issue 698 is a magnificently crafted piece of storytelling, which will catch you off-guard with its mindblowing revelation which will then necessitate another reading of the issue to see it with from a very different perspective.

I thought I'd second-guessed the twist, but I was miles off target with Slott's bombshell being one of those spectacular leftfield surprises that can only work in the wonderful world comic books.

On The PCG, Stewart adds: "Dan Slott has shown time and time again that he is THE Spider-Man writer for the moment..." and I couldn't agree more.

Spidey has long been my favourite individual hero, but I haven't been as loyal to him as I have my beloved Fantastic Four. It was Slott's writing that drew me back in to Peter Parker's web and I can't see myself dropping the title any time soon - certainly not as long as Slott sticks around.

If my passion for comics or superheroes had been flagging - which it most certainly wasn't - this single issue would have been the catalyst that relit any fading embers. As it is I am more convinced than ever that, in the hands of talented writers and artists, comic book story telling really is the most versatile and surprisingly medium.