Recently published in...

Comics Buyer's Guide #1654, where I review the following:
The Mighty #1
Hotwire: Requiem for the Dead #1
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1
Amazing Spider-Man #583

Here's my Spidey review:

Amazing Spider-Man #583
Marvel Comics
Writers: Mark Waid, Zeb Wells
Artists: Barry Kitson, Todd Nauck
Grade: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

Every so often, the media decide to focus on a particular comic book. Whether it's the outing of a gay character (such as Alpha Flight's Northstar) or the death of a famous hero (such as Superman or Captain America), "event comics" often gain national exposure, boosting sales exponentially. A recent example of this phenomenon is Amazing Spider-Man #583, which features a Zeb Wells backup story called "Spidey Meets the President!"

On assignment to cover the presidential inauguration, photographer Peter Parker does a quick-change to Spider-Man, when a Barack Obama imposter crashes the inaugural proceedings. While neither Obama nor his doppelganger look like the real deal, the cover image on the variant edition bears a striking resemblance to the commander in chief, and the story does contain some chuckles.

The main tale, written by Mark Waid, is called "Platonic," referring to the current relationship between Peter Parker and Betty Brant. The multi-layered narrative touches on friendship, romance, and loyality, with the inevitable fisticuffs helping define Parker's selfless, yet misunderstood, personality.