Spectacular Spider-Man 146 - Inferno

Harry Osborn is attacked by his factory pipes and a face in the mirror.

Spectacular Spider-Man #146

Script: Gerry Conway
Art: Sal Buscema
Letters: Rick Parker
Color: Bob Sharen
Editor: Jim Salicrup
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco

Spider-Man deals with a ventilation pipe that's come to life then heads home where Peter and Mary Jane are continuing to handle the problems of having MJ's young cousin Kristy living with them. Joe "Robbie" Robertson has decided to plead guilty to charges of not speaking out about a murder twenty years ago. A lot of mob lieutenants are found slaughtered in a sign someone is gunning for the Kingpin. J. Jonah Jameson is not happy with his acting editor-in-chief's choice of headline for the Daily Bugle. Glory Grant literally bumps into a man who sweeps her off her feet. Harry Osborn has moved his family back to his old home on Long Island but is suffering nightmares from a face in the mirror. Outside the Hobgoblin is flying around. He meets Peter at his New York factory when suddenly the pipes come to life and attack him. And it seems his memories of the past are returning.

This is an issue mainly advancing subplots. It had been less than a year since Gerry Conway had returned to the title and already a huge number of plot lines are in motion. Some will come to the fore in Inferno but others would run on afterwards. One that particularly stands out is Robbie's impending trial. Earlier issues had revealed how in his youth he had become aware of Tombstone's activities but pulled a story due to intimidation. Later he witnessed Tombstone murdering a man but did not report it at the time. When Tombstone re-emerged Robbie collected and supplied evidence of his crimes to get him sent down but found himself charged with "accessory to murder after the fact" or "misprision of felony" over his failure to report the murder twenty years earlier. There's something that doesn't sit right about the way a witness is prosecuted for being intimidated even if he has gone on to reach a highly respectable position in society. Robbie's acceptance of the situation and decision to plead guilty just makes it more awkward.

Other plots are more simmering and show Conway has a good grasp on the supporting cast. Together with Sal Buscema's artwork, which I much prefer to Todd McFarlane's over on Amazing Spider-Man, this gives this title quite a traditional feel that's also using the current situation to the advantage. Getting married usually doesn't bring just a spouse but also in-laws and so it's good to see Peter having to deal with the situation of one of Mary Jane's relatives staying with all the complications of having to conceal his identity at home and also with the problems she brings with her. There are also some fun moments, especially when Jonah comes onto the Bugle's editorial floor to berate acting editor-in-chief Kate Cushing about the headline and shows her how it should be done.

But the main focus in this issue and indeed of the Spider-Man Inferno issues as a whole involves Harry Osborn and the Hobgoblin. Harry has come to terms with his father having been the Green Goblin but long suppressed the memory of having taken on the role himself despite the original Hobgoblin having twice come after him. Now though his dreams are bringing memories back to the surface and it's not helped by the way his factory comes to life to attack him. The shadow of his dead father is looming again and the issue ends with him seeing the Green Goblin's face in the mirror.

This is very much a calm before the storm issue, building up the characters and especially re-establishing the backstory to Harry Osborn and the Green Goblin. It's good to see the series in such strong hands with a fantastic cliffhanger.