Late Show with Big-Time

I really hope that Big-Time is, somehow, the guest host. He does have an errand to run, after all, and he has television's Paul Shaffer. Also, why the heck does the Jameson-Lopez thing get three panels? Other than Mary Jane, who is doing pretty much squat, theirs is the storyline I care about least. At least show us what Aunt May has been up to. I've been doing this blog for... oh geez. Two years come Thursday, and we haven't seen Aunt May once.

TIL: The fact that Maria Lopez continues to make Jameson act all silly and stuff.

Paul Shaffer

It would appear that Big-Time has television's Paul Shaffer in his little posse. Lord only knows what CBS and David Letterman will think of this development. I do like the attempt to insert a bit o' the ol' mystery into the strip, at least for a day or two. Who is Big-Time referring to? What is this errand? Does it involve a quart of milk and half a dozen eggs? Stay tuned to find out!

TIL: The ridiculously ornate thing the phone is hanging on.

Big-Time Delivers

Big-Time delivers by talking about the specific clock he wants stolen. However, a question arises: does he just have a collection of clocks, or is it a clock store or something? If it is just a collection, how the heck did he get all the money to buy the clocks? Or are they all stolen? I doubt we will find out.

TIL: Big-Time's vocabulary lesson.

Hey, Clock Exhibit! WE KNOW!

We've now spent two days establishing that, yes, there is a clock exhibit and that Peter thinks it's beneath his notice. Any time spent on this topic, without talking about capers involving said exhibit or actually being at that exhibit, will be time wasted. You hear that, Big-Time? TIME WASTED. I trust you'll do the right thing, my fiendish friend.

TIL: Big-Time appears to have a torso of the Pseudo-Spider on his wall.

Really, Peter? Really?

Seriously, Peter? You can't believe that the Daily Bugle is calling you public enemy number one? The newspaper which, at the best of times, simply doesn't mention you at all and at most other times asks whether you're a threat or a menace? You can't believe they're calling you public enemy number one?

Sigh. A few more days like this and all the progress this strip has made in actually being good will be for naught.

TIL: Spider-Thug's gestures. In fact, I can't think of one time he hasn't had a comical facial expression or gesture.

Repeat

Today's strip is either a condensed version of yesterday's strip, or perhaps Big-Time and his henchman are just repeating themselves. You would also think Big-Time would think, "Hm, this Spider-Man costume is missing something." Oh well.

On the plus side, Big-Time seems much happier today than he was yesterday. I suppose that's good.

TIL: Spider-Thug's pose in panel one. It looks like he's dancing.

Nefarious Plot REVEALED!

So we finally see how the daring robbery was accomplished! Except, uh... did they take the silk rope with them? After all, Spider-Man's webbing dissolves after about an hour. If they left it there, it could be a tell-tale clue that this nefarious imposter is not the real web-slinger. That, and the fact that it's a length of silk rope.

TIL: The fact that Spider-Thug looks like Jimmy Olsen with a mustache.

Guilty as Sin

Big-Time's plan is sound, if lacking in several details. However, the real gem today is the second panel. It is, perhaps, one of the best responses to Spider-Thug's almost question I can think of. Yeah, he was guilty, but that's the past. He's looking towards the future of menacing Spider-Man and totally ruining the wall-crawler. Good show, Big-Time.

Also, the fact that he's served his prison sentence means that, unlike many villains, Big-Time is honestly and truly reformed. Not only that, but he has made himself a new life as some sort of clock shop person. So his war against Spider-Man goes from "typical thing villain does" to "potentially ending this new way of life for him, but he doesn't seem to really care or get that." He doesn't seem to realize that masterminding these crimes is a good way to get sent back to jail.

Big-Time: More complexity than anyone was ever expecting from this strip.

TIL: I already said the thing I liked, in the actual meat of this post. I'm not going to say it again, as it would be redundant.

The Origin of Big-Time

Note how this only answers why he is obsessed with time and Spider-Man, but does not really address the clock issue. I'm willing to let it slide, since it turns out he has a goatee. I thought it was a shadow or something, honestly. Those glasses are also pretty spectacular.

TIL: The head-swivel in panel two.

Six-Legged Spider

A-ha! The Spider-Imposter only has six legs on his spider costume. A quick look at the previous few weeks tells me that this has always been the case, I just didn't notice it. Very clever, Mister Lieber. Very clever indeed.

TIL: Both of Big-Time's lines today have something to do with time. Fantastic.

Big-Time: Wearing a Clock

First off, some meta-stuff: new poll of the week and Panel of the Week up later today. Now, on with the actual post!Today, we get clarification that the classic snarky Spider-Man is not the same Spider-Man who went to go see Big-Time. There was some worry about that, yes. Spider-Man is also being rather cocky today, something else that's rather classic. Also, acrobatic, which is whiz-bang crackerjack.

We also see that Big-Time is, in fact, wearing a watch on a chain around his neck. Big-Time is fantastic, and while I'll no doubt regret saying this as the weeks drag by, I look forward to spending this time with him.

TIL: Big-Time. He may be this year's break-out character.

Introducing Big-Time

And so we have the awe-inspiring solution to the mystery of WHO IS THE SPIDER-IMPOSTER?

It's some random guy with a mustache and bad hair. This follows the pattern of having a super-villain in the strip, followed by some random crime boss.

However, we are also introduced to a guy- nay, a MAN- named Big-Time. In two panels, we already know this:
1) He expects punctuality from his lackeys
2) He uses the word lackeys
3) He actually looks like a pretty smooth sort of guy
4) He operates from a place filled with clocks.

If that chain around his neck is a watch, then it's safe to say that this fellow is pretty much a more management-oriented version of DC's Clock King. The original one. This one. (That second link is not Land Captain approved.) I might actually like Big-Time.

TIL: Perhaps Big-Time. Only TIME will tell. (Pun was not intended, then spotted, and time was put in all-caps to emphasize the unintended pun.)

Looming Fisticuffs

Yeah! Go get 'im, Spider-Man! We'll soon be seeing some good ol' fashioned fisticuffs for sure!

Thing I liked? Looming fisticuffs!

Al's TV

There's that dastardly Spider-Imposter pushing over that car again. That burns my biscuits more every time I see it, that does.

Thing I liked? I guess that Al's TV has a pretty good window display!

Peter Parker and his Television

That Peter Parker and his television sets. He just can't seem to escape them!

I liked the abstract-looking street in the first panel.

My Goodness!

Oh my goodness. Spider-Impersonator just flipped over a car. In my book, that's tantamount to assault. I hope Peter Parker hears the news soon, and takes this dangerous fellow to task.

Thing I liked? The fact that this strip alone had more action than the previous storyline.

Spider-Impersonator!

Ahoy there, Spider-Buddies! I bet Mike P is kicking himself, because something actually happened in the strip today! As you can see, someone is using Spider-Man's identity to commit crimes! Is it Chameleon? Mysterio? Kraven the Hunter? One of the multitude of villains and uncommon thugs who have been able to impersonate Spider-Man? Do you think we'll find out soon, or will ol' Stan Lee drag out the mystery? I'm all a-tingle!

Thing I liked? The juxtaposition of Peter's comments this week and the revelation that this storyline was going to be about someone impersonating Spider-Man!