Halloween comics review: Marvel Adventures Spider-Man vol. 1 #20

Two creators I consider personal favorites — writer Peter David and artist Mike Norton — teamed up for the 2006 Halloween tale “Monster Mash” in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #20.

It’s the night of the Halloween dance, and Peter Parker’s planning on skipping it.  Instead, he heads out on patrol, where Hawkeye is stopping a robbery in progress.   But there, they accidentally open a shipping container that inside holds what appears to be Frankenstein’s monster.

Hawkeye and Spidey attempt to capture the monster before too much mayhem ensues — and Peter might end up at that dance, after all.

This is a fresh, fun story that is great for anyone with even a passing familiarity with Spider-Man.  It hits on the themes that make the character great, teams him up with the brash Avenger Hawkeye, making for witty dialogue and exciting action, and the entire proceedings have a sense of fun.  Add the Halloween theme, and “Marvel Adventures Spider-Man” #20 is well worth an All Hallows Eve read.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,655.  Still to go:  356.