Well, that was another really strong conclusion to a Ditko multi-parter. True, this issue couldn't quite match last month's--VisualFiction is right, that might have been the single best issue since AF #15 (well, maybe the Annual beats it). Still, #19 gave a nice release for all that tension and pathos building up now for two issues. I guess as adults we're more impressed by the character development and supporting cast interactions in issues #17 and #18 as Stan and Steve turned the screws on Poor Put-Upon Petey, but my kids certainly preferred issue #19, hands down. Spidey really seems to be enjoying himself here in the fight scenes, and my kids got caught up in his exuberance. And man, did they ever laugh and laugh at that three-panel progression where JJJ's face falls after hearing the news of Spider-Man's comeback. I'm sure Ditko was planning for that sequence the whole time he was littering the previous issue with drawing of JJJ's grinning mug (starting with that wonderful splash page to #18). Once again, the set-up last issue really pays off this month. This three-issue story arc is one of the highlights of Ditko's entire ASM run--which is really saying something.

image