The latest issue of Panini UK’s Spectacular Spider-Man, #162, brings Peter Parker’s search for information on his parents to Edinburgh. In Local Hero, writer Ferg Handley and penciller Andie Tong have Spidey swinging through the Edinburgh skyline trying to find a secret AIM base, while being diverted into a fight with Union Jack who is chasing a werewolf.

Since the title is aimed at late primary school age children, they would probably be unaware of the significance of the illustration of a werewolf with an X on her tunic on the cover (you can click here if you would like to know who it is).

Edinburgh based Handley has a few nice touches for the older readers with late running trains and a dig at the tabloids, while Edinburgh residents will get the reference to the AIM base being in a recently closed infirmary.

The issue also includes a two page spread of various UK based Marvel characters including of course Captain Britain and Psylocke, although it would probably be best to draw a veil over what readers in the Republic Of Ireland would think of the title colouring their country in with a Union Jack or labelling the Irish mutant Siryn as part of “The Brit Pack”.

• Update 18 January 2008: Writer Ferg Handley, who is also still busy ” hammering out Commando books” for DC Thomson, tells downthetubes the story will climax in London. “After the European/British stories, it’s back to New York City for run-ins with classic villains (Spider-Slayer, Doc Ock, Electro, Vulture); then a two-part tie-in with Iron Man, followed by a Hulk two-parter (due to the movies that are coming out).”

Liam Michael-Rudden reported on the new issue for the Edinburgh Evening News on 16 January. You can read the article online here.

• Spectacular Spider-Man Issue 162 is available at all good newsagents for £1.99 and comes with a free Spidey Target Game.

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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Tags: Marvel Comics, Panini UK, Spider-Man