#35. “Funeral Arrangements” (Spectacular Spider-Man 186-188)

A terminally-ill Adrian Toomes, aka The Vulture, seeks redemption and revenge in the time he has left.

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Letterers: Rick Parker, Joe Rosen

This story is as much a reflection on life and legacy as it is a meditation on how we choose to respond to profound adversity. Toomes is driven to pursue revenge against those who wronged him yet, conversely, seeks forgiveness from May Parker for having wronged her in the past. There’s some really nice character work here that offers a multi-layered depiction of the Vulture, establishing the foundation for a compelling fuller arc that is, sadly, never pursued.

#36. “Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface”

After years of doing battle with Batman in Gotham City, Clayface relocates to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of acting. And nothing will stand in his way…except, of course, the Hollywood system.

Writers: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Artist: Xermanico
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Tom Napolitano

As someone who works in the entertainment industry, I empathize with poor Clayface whose artistic aspirations are thwarted time and again by forces darker than any found in the shadows of Gotham. Kelly and Lanzing do a wonderful job of balancing the horror with humor, all while offering insight into a tortured villain who, at the end of the day, honestly and truly believes in his art. And that proves his downfall. Great.

#37. Venom: The Hunger

Writer: Len Kaminski
Penciler: Ted Halsted
Inker: Scot Koblish
Colorist: Tom Smith
Letterer: Ken Lopez

Eddie Brock wages an internal battle with his alien counterpart and its insatiable hunger.

Despite its dated visual style, this story delivers a unique take on the classic Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy, presenting Brock’s relationship with his parasitic counterpart as something akin to a drug addiction while Venom’s hunger for brains is similarly grounded as a chemical dependence. A vicious and visceral descent into body horror.