THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #642

I haven't read this book in awhile and there was a reason for that: the writers and artists change so much you never know what you're going to get. Add that to the fact that they've been putting this book out three times a month since 2007 and you can see why a lot of people probably gave it up (or played pick-and-choose with the storylines, like me). Marvel seems to have given in to reader frustration. This issue was priced at $2.99, a dollar cheaper than the usual price. And starting soon the book will go to a twice a month schedule with only one writer, the usual spot-on Dan Slott. I would still rather see it out once a month with the same artist, but at least they're changing (and if you want a the same writer/artist on a Spider-Man title every month just go read Ultimate Spider-Man. It's better, anyway). The big problem is that the changes can't come soon enough. This issue is one of the worst issues of any comic book I've ever read. It's part one of a big storyline featuring all of the major villains. Lily (aka Menace) gives birth to Norman Osbourne's baby in this issue (inside a coffee shop...and Dr. Octopus cuts the umbilical cord with a robotic arm...yes, it's awful, awful stuff). Apparently every bad guy wants to get a hold of the baby for no apparent reason (yes, it'll have evil powers...but not for another eighteen years, right?). The other semi-major occurrence is that Mary Jane is back in the fold, albeit still not with Peter, who is struggling to pay rent and hook up with girls. Writer Mark Waid is doing a terrific job writing Irredeemable, his bizarre, entertaining super-villain book, but his writing in this book is purely flat and dull. It's by-the-numbers and pedestrian, and the stale art by Paul Azaceta doesn't help. The only good thing about this piece of trash is the beautiful painted cover by Marko Djurdjevic, which is just a segment of a larger cover that will make-up all the covers for this arc. Marvel addressed the problems with this book but the changes can't come soon enough. 1/2*