My immediate thought after putting down Spider-Man 2099 #9: Miguel O’Hara hasn’t learned anything in the last seven issues.  When the series relaunched, creators Peter David and Will Sliney made sure to focus on Miguel’s willingness to cross lines that other Spider-Men might never approach. Now in Spider-Man 2099 #9, Miguel’s anger returns to center-stage, where he blurs the line even more between hero and villain.

This issue returns to a theme from issue #2: Miguel’s uncontrollable rage. He’s out to find out why he’s been lied to about Tempest, and he’s willing to use any means necessary to reach his goals. Miguel reminds us that he’s no hero in the traditional sense, as he basically tortures Man Mountain Marko during an unprovoked attack. I actually felt relief when the bartender shot Miguel before he could break any more of Marko’s fingers. Miguel’s anger then goes next level when he pummels Marko within an inch of his life. He’s ignorant to the irony of his own words; lecturing Marko about not hurting innocents, when Marko is pretty much an innocent bystander in Miguel’s conflict with Mrs. Monrose.

The issue’s cliffhanger also involves new information about Tempest’s past which should send Miguel into an even bigger fit of rage. Previously in the series, Miguel’s anger has left him vulnerable to distractions, like allowing Kweeg to enter the present from 2099. This time, his temper is even more inflamed, so the consequences should be even worse.

One aspect of this issue that seemed inconsistent was David’s portrayal of Peter Parker as Spider-Man. In earlier issues, Peter was shown to be an all-seeing, Big Brother CEO.  He would check in with Miguel through a video screen, often to judge or criticize Miggy’s style of super-heroics. In this issue, Peter and Miguel are face to face, but Peter comes off as a bit of a milquetoast pushover, who has no control over Miguel’s behavior. Considering all the screw-ups going on at Miguel’s wing of Parker Industries (Kweeg enters the present, Terrigen Mist accident, Marko’s brutal assault), I would’ve expected Peter to come down a little bit harder on Miggy.

Will Sliney’s art is at its usual standard, and he’s experimenting with panels to add to their effectiveness. During Miguel’s battle with Marko, he and color artist Rachelle Rosenberg create an distinct page that doesn’t actually show the gore of Miguel’s brutality, but by alternating from a wide show to a close up of Marko’s face, we still get all the impact of all his torture.  On another page, he uses the white space, and an iconic Spidey pose, to break up Mrs. Monroe’s monologue. Sliney also uses a full page spread to showcase a crystal chandelier with incredible detail.

Although the stories have been moving at a glacial pace, it’s a welcome relief to return to the themes and plots of the first issues. David is certainly playing a long game with many moving parts, and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that the stories will ultimately pay off in a satisfying way.