SPIDER-MAN'S TANGLED WEB #6

The Rhino must choose between brains and brawn in a strangely touching tale

By Arnold T. Blumberg     September 29, 2001

I don't often return to the scene of the crime, as it were, in these reviews. For example, if I review the first issue of a relatively short-lived story arc, I rarely review its conclusion as well. Some may say that's a bit unfair; I'm just judging the book by its cover and not seeing a story through to its conclusion. I would argue that it's the only way we can cover as much ground as we wish without getting bogged down in revisiting every single title we touch upon, but in the end, you're right it is unfair. And sometimes, but only sometimes, I try to redress this wrong.

Of course, it takes a really powerful story to make me feel that it's worth taking your time and mine for that second look, and in this case, it is definitely worth it. TANGLED WEB was intended from the outset to feature stories that would explore Spider-Man's effect on the people and the world around him - a sort of MARVEL FANFARE-like anthology for arachnophiles. Last issue the title kicked off a two-part tale in which one of Spidey's dumbest villains, the rollicking Rhino, decides he's been dealt one too many defeats at the hands of the wall-crawler. So he does what any self-respecting supervillain would do he thunders over to the nearest mad scientist and demands a brain operation. The Rhino wants to be smart. And he will be, oh yes, he will be. But will it be the answer to his dreams, or just an even darker nightmare?

Anyone who's read FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON can guess where this is heading, and yes it is a bit derivative, but writer Peter Milligan portrays the Rhino as such a strangely sympathetic figure that you can't help but pity the poor fool as he transforms into an equally pitiable genius. Duncan Fegredo's artwork drops the Rhino into a world as ugly and angular as he is (he's arguably the first artist to capture the animalistic aspects of the Rhino's face since Romita first created him the Rhino that is, not Fegredo). We've seen the old 'supervillain sees the light' bit before, but rarely with such sensitivity or pathos. As Rhino's intellect accelerates out of control (and kudos to Milligan for some outstanding pacing in this issue as well, with the suspense surrounding the Rhino's condition ratcheting up with every page), we see his humanity slipping away. His final decision - to face the inevitable madness of such total clarity or revert to his former mindless, brutish self - is a poignant one. Who'd have thought we would shed a tear for this grey-skinned behemoth?

In the end, the Rhino's journey is not about intellectual enlightenment, but enlightenment of the spirit. In order to be truly happy, he only had to realize who he really was. The sad thing, as with most things in life, is that the truth was staring him in the face all along and it wears a thick grey hide and horns.

SPIDER-MAN'S TANGLED WEB

Grade: A-

Issue: No. 6 (part 2 of 2)

Author(s): Peter Milligan, Duncan Fegredo

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $2.99