Posted - June 18 & 19, 2014 | July 13 to 18, 2014 | Updated : August 27, 2015

Marvel Knights Spider-Man 3

After reading this issue, I'm renaming it 'Marvel Knights Electro'. I really like the way Electro handled himself here.

First a very, very brief -and slightly incomplete - recap of the last two issues. Aunt May has been kidnapped and Spider-Man has been informed that the perpetrators are Electro and the Vulture. As of the end of issue 2, Spider-Man has tracked them down and is about to confront them.

Before we get to the oh-so-glorious fight scenes, one of Peter's "thought boxes" gives us some additional details about the events of last issue.

I mentioned in my commentary last issue that, in looking for help to find his Aunt May, Peter should have tried Dr. Strange first. It was never mentioned before but it looks like Peter did try the Doctor and even DD. Millar only showed the Avengers and the Owl. This goes down as the fastest retcon I've ever encountered.

Now to the confrontation between Spider-Man, Electro, and the Vulture. You know the old saying about the guy who brought a knife to a gun fight? Well, the Vulture DID NOT bring his wings to this fight so its Electro vs. Spider-Man. Let the games begin.

This fight happens in a bordello, and look, Vulture has found himself a very striking date.

Contrary to the shapely figure and red hair, Jean Grey isn't moonlighting in a bordello.

Before long, we have this beautifully rendered explosion:

The "money" statement is being shouted by Electro to the Vulture. The money involved? $20 million. What are these two lunatics doing lugging around that kind of cash?

Even through it all, Electro finds time to brag about his new costume.

How tough is Spider-Man? He gets blasted by Electro and still manages to give Max a solid kick.

Look at this, I didn't know Electro could do this.

This is a great exchange between Electro and Spider-Man

I've recently been looking at documentaries about unemployment and recessions, so the importance of money has been on my mind a lot lately. I totally agree with Electro here, I don't care if its the Hulk, the loss of twenty million demands an ass kicking.

This next panel is the best Electro panel in the issue. Art by Terry Dodson.

Big, bad Electro coming through. Go get the Spider lightning head! Oops!

So it was Electro and the Vulture right? Where is the Vulture? Here he is:

I did not realize that the Vulture had the inherent power to float, I thought he needed his gear. I do know that his wing harness gives Mr. Toomes added vitality, more than making up for hisadvanced age. The fact that Electro is in the thick of it and Toomes is forced to slowly float back to get his gear made me laugh.

Before long, Peter regains the upper hand

My first reaction to the panel above is that its very bloody. This is as bloody as the panel in issue 1 where Spider-Man punches the Green Goblin. I suddenly remembered that the Marvel Knights line was meant to be a grittier, darker take than the regular comic book fare. There are only 22 Marvel Knights Spider-Man issues so lets enjoy them while we can.

Electro has been beaten to a bloody pulp and he has this to say

I love it! I love how tough Electro is, I love how he behaves when the situation goes against him. There you are, at the mercy of your foe, and you call him a moron. That's just awesome. Welcome to 'Marvel Knights Electro'.

The "moron" thing was all bravura, but now comes the big reveal: Electro and the Vulture had nothing to do with the disappearance of Aunt May. They stole the twenty million from the Owl and the Owl is using Spider-Man to get back at them. Parker is a chump and, more importantly, he is nowhere near getting Aunt May back. But this is Peter Parker, so when it rains it pours - Electro hits the distracted Spider-Man yet again.

This one is bad, Peter winds up in a hospital, where a doctor makes a fateful decision.

I thought it was simply a doctor practicing her best judgement but a later conversion makes me think.

The whole thing is winding down, but lets not leave before getting a glimpse of MJ.

The Vulture is my favorite Spider-Man foe so the final panel of this issue is both amazing and a cliffhanger.