The Four Color Media Monitor

Giant Freakin' Robot wrote some history of a storyline that took place in the Acts of Vengeance crossover of 1989-90, in Amazing Spider-Man #328, where the famous web-slinger slammed the Hulk into the galaxy before getting him back to earth again:

It’s an age-old question—or at least an 84-year-old question anyway—ever since Marvel was created, fans of the comic book company have wondered, who is Marvel’s strongest hero? With the likes of Captain America, Wolverine, the Hulk, and Thor running around, the competition is high, and it’s kind of a complicated question to figure out—especially with comic book rules constantly changing.

While Spider-Man isn’t always Marvel’s strongest hero, there have been times when he has been, like in Amazing Spider-Man #328, during the “Acts of Vengeance” when Spidey was strong enough to punch Hulk straight out of Earth’s atmosphere and into space.

But why is it such a big deal if Spidey bashes the green goliath onto the spaceways? The Hulk may have the most questionable personality in the MCU, but he's still far more anti-hero than villain, so the whole notion this is something to love and celebrate is honestly ludicrous. Wouldn't it be better to highlight if and whenever Spidey does the same to an actual villain, like maybe the Abomination or the Bi-Beast? Even the time Peter Parker struck down a few X-Men in the 1st Secret Wars is hardly cause for celebration. It's when he can give the crooks a run for their money that's far more impressive, even if it should be in comical terms. This storyline, however, may be significant for one of the most surreal moments in Marvel history, since from a real life viewpoint, if the Hulk got knocked out of the Earth's atmosphere, he'd be in danger of quick asphyxiation.

In the vast Marvel Universe, where gods walk among mortals and monsters possess unparalleled strength, Spider-Man often finds himself overshadowed by his super-powered peers. Peter Parker might be able to lift 10 tons of weight, which, sure, allows him to swing a car over his head, but it’s not much compared to Thor’s godly might or the Hulk’s unfathomable strength.

However, while his strength might be mediocre in the superhero world, it’s Spider-Man’s determination and unwavering willpower that sets him apart from the rest and ensures he wins out against his enemies time and time again.

Well now we're getting somewhere. Superhuman strength isn't what should matter, but how well a hero's dedication, intelligence and courage can be written up. Same goes for Superman, in any story where his strength is nullified and he has to rely more on brainpower and determination to save the day.

All that aside, while Acts of Vengeance was not the worst crossover to come out of the Big Two in its day and time, it's nevertheless a shame this news site is going out of its way to fluff-coat a concept that brought down mainstream superhero comics in the long run, while the press just sat back and largely accepted it, without any questions whether it's helping, or serving to destroy self-contained storytelling along with continuity. Now, look where it's all at.

Labels: Avengers, Captain America, crossoverloading, history, Hulk, marvel comics, msm propaganda, Spider-Man, Thor, X-Men