Spider-Man, like any other normal person, would prefer to stay indoors on cold winter days. However, his battle-hardened sense of responsibility often compels him to leave the comfort of his heated apartment in order to save the day. On one such occasion, Spidey braved an unprecedented blizzard to rescue a little girl held hostage in New York’s Central Park. The Web-Slinger nearly died when the snowstorm proved too much for him, but he was saved by an unexpected ally lurking among the whipping winds.
Amazing Spider-Man #277’s backup feature “Cry of the Wendigo” (by Charles Vess) is a beautifully crafted tale that strips away the excesses found in many other Spider-Man stories in order to distill the essence of what makes him a hero. Charles Vess, an acclaimed fantasy artist who specializes in bringing mythological creatures to life through his work, wrote and illustrated this one-of-a-kind short story.
The sparse wintery panels, the hint of the mythical unknown, and Spidey’s quiet determination to rescue the girl at all costs combine to elevate the story from a standard backup into something special and memorable. The plot begins with Spider-Man witnessing the kidnapping of an ambassador’s daughter. The abductors aren’t a legion of supervillains, but a street-level gang looking for a quick ransom.
The kidnappers flee into Central Park believing no one will follow them there during the snowstorm. But a certain arachnid hero is undeterred and causes the gang’s van to crash into a snowy embankment. Disoriented by the accident and freezing snow, Spider-Man slowly trudges away with the girl. While resting against a frozen fountain, the girl desperately tries to rouse the Web-Slinger by warning him that the Wendigo will get him if he doesn’t get up and move.
