Maybe its because this is now the third issue in a row with Paul Azacetas doing the art chores, so perhaps Ive become accustomed to it, so this may explain why Im not particularly turned-off by it this time around. Oh sure, there are still some problems, in that his figures--even the slimmer ones--all appear to be on the pudgy side, and the facial features and expressions appear stiff and distorted. However, I do believe that hes been doing a decent job depicting fight scenes, from the Rhino almost landing on top of Spidey, to the wall-crawlers battle with the new Vulture and Freak towards the issues end.
Just like last issue, Mark Waid's plot is a prolonged chase sequence as Spidey desperately tries to find help for Lilys newborn baby while being pursued by various super-villains. And if you think that sounds very similar to what happened last issue, you would be right. The difference amounts to which villains come after Spidey this time around, which includes the new Vulture, Freak, Rhino, Mysterio, and another which Ill address later on.
To Waids credit, he does offer some good character moments. By far, the best example of this occurs during Spider-Mans confrontation with the Rhino, which builds on Joe Kellys previous story during the Gauntlet. Its effective as it is powerful in showing how frustrated and desperate Spider-Man has become in protecting Lilys newborn child and the Rhino, despite his desire for revenge against Spider-Man for the death of his wife, is a man of honor and principle.
When it comes to Carlie Cooper on the other hand, her characterization comes across as very inconsistent. After the police show up at that Coffee Bean and rescue her from Tombstone, she chooses to lie to them about Lily being at the scene, which she rationalizes to herself is because Lily was like a sister to [her] before she went crazy and betrayed everyone and that she wants to get to the bottom of this herself. Perhaps were supposed to conclude that shes feeling guilty about abandoning Lily last issue, but it feels jarring since there was no indication of her feeling emotionally conflicted about Lily before. And of course, shes shocked--shocked I tell you!--that Peter was no longer at the Coffee Bean (despite the fact Mary Jane told her Spider-Man rescued him two issues ago), and, thinking he has selfishly abandoned his friends, writes him off and goes looking for Lily--who she had, just last issue wrote off herself.
There are good twists and fake-outs Waid also written in this issue, though. For example, we find out that Doctor Octopus has not only been tracking Spider-Man on various TV and web broadcasts, but--in a case of using Spideys own tricks against him--has planted on Spidey a spider-tracer inspired octo-tracer to track his every move. And considering Spideys spider-sense is constantly going off throughout the issue and thus confusing him about where the next threat will come from, the implication is that its warning him about the tracer he unknowingly has on his person. Another occurs in a hysterically ridiculous moment (although Im not sure if this was intentional on Waids part) in which, thanks to Mysterio, Spidey is tricked into thinking Lilys baby has mutated into demonic-like Goblin like his parents thats trying to eat him. Its certainly an out-of-left field scene which helps to keep the reader on their toes.
The big surprise, however, comes from the cliffhanger at the end of this issue, in which Spidey, after giving Lilys baby to Harry Osborn to take care off, later is told the baby has died. Thus, furious that he has failed yet again after weeks of constant failure, Spidey swears revenge again Doc Ock--only for the reader to discover that not only is the baby still alive, but that Harry was actually the Chameleon in disguise. The fact that we had an earlier scene of the real Harry leaving MJ and Lily, and another showing Doc Ock talking to an unidentified accomplice, helps to add to how well Waid executed this twist. Although, one does have to wonder why the Chameleon chose to make Spidey think the baby was dead when he could have easily taken off without Spidey being any the wiser? If the Chameleon is working with Doc Ock, then hes just made Spidey more determined than ever to find him, which would then make him quickly learn that the baby is still alive--unless of course, the Chameleon is pulling a double-cross. It seems like this addition to the twist was put in to make the eventual confrontation between Spidey and Doc Ock more personal and little else.
Finally, Im still wondering why Mayor Jameson (and Homeland Security for that matter) still hasnt informed the police the real situation regarding Spider-Man and the baby, especially since theyre just now getting reports of super-villains going after Spider-Man and the baby as well? Or, since Spidey was able to go to a woman to ask for help (who then ran away thinking Spidey was going to kidnap her kid), why he still hasnt gone in front of a TV camera and explain what is going on--especially since his every move is being monitored on live TV? And why dud Doc Ock choose to let Mary Jane, Harry, Lily, and Carlie go last issue when they could have been ideal hostages for him to force Spidey to give the baby back? Especially since its obvious that, given how Tombstone is following Carlie, she, MJ, and Lily are probably going to wind up getting captured anyway?
At the half-way point of Origin of the Species, it does appear as though the story is improving, it still feels as though the story is dragging its heels, thus making it merely an adequate Spider-Man story. Considering this is supposed to be the grand finale to Brand New Day, one would have thought would have been much more.
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