Rating: *** 1/2*

This issue was a lot of fun. It was fast paced and it had non-stop action, which is good for the final issue of a comic book storyline. I also enjoyed the artwork this time; maybe I just grew accustomed to it, but the artwork didn’t bother me as much here in this issue as it did in the others.

Well, I called it in my last review when I said that Kaine would interrupt the stand-off between Peter Parker and Raptor so Peter wouldn’t have to reveal his identity; however, Kaine is there to assist the Raptor - not Peter. We also the flashback to the time when Ben Reilly confronted Raptor (then known as Damon Ryder) in his house - the same house that we know will burn down and kill his family. So we have a two fights playing out back and forth - Kaine showed up during that fight as well. Writer Marc Guggenheim does a nice job of jumping back and forth between the past and the present as well as building up a suspense to final outcome of both stories.

Screwball also shows up again as Spider-Man sets her up for a fight, but it really was a planned diversion for his confrontation with Raptor. This distraction enables Peter to free Harry Osborn and his cousins so that he can change into Spider-Man. Raptor is curious as to why Spider-Man continues to show up to help “Ben Reilly.” Kaine answers that question by pulling off Spider-Man’s mask. The clone situation is explained to Raptor, but Kaine says that Peter is the clone. I think Kaine explains it this way as an excuse for Raptor to take out his revenge on Peter. Raptor may not want to attack Peter if he knew that Ben was really a clone. Just my theory on this situation.

Of course Spidey defeats Raptor and Kaine, but they escape as the police arrive on the scene. In the past, it’s revealed that Damon killed his family in a rage as he was feeling the effects of the dinosaur DNA he injected himself with. He’s delusional and doesn’t believe he did it. We end in the present with Kaine and Raptor hiding out and arguing. Raptor tricked Kaine into helping him attack Peter by lying to him. Kaine begins choking Raptor and we are left unsure if he kills him or not.

I like that Kaine is still alive at the end of this issue. I really like his character and look forward to seeing him again. I would like to see Marvel extend this story and maybe have the character slowly become a good guy. A “brother” in a similar way that Superboy and Superman are “brothers.”

I think it would be a nice story if Aunt May was a part of Kaine’s attempt at redemption. I loved when Aunt May knew that Peter was Spider-Man. That was one of the things I disliked about Brand New Day in that the editors had that erased from continuity. I mentioned in a previous post about this storyline in that it would be cool if the clone of Gwen Stacy returned to be a love interest to Kaine, but what if we had Mary Jane be the love interest. How about that as a love triangle!

Next week Deadpool shows up. That should be funny. See you then!