The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23 (1989)

“Atlantis Attacks, Chapter Four: Abominations!”

Rating: 4/5

Writers: Gerry Conway & David Michelinie
Artist: Rob Liefeld

A story running through all Marvel publications about the Atlanteans and Lemurians attacking the surface world. They’re trying to rebuild a crown that will give them great power and they plan to bring the serpent god, Set, to Earth. They switch Abomination to inhabit the body of Emil Blonsky. She-Hulk and Spider-Man battle Abomination and defeat it. While She-Hulk’s asleep, the leader of the Lemurians marks her to be Set’s wife.

There’s a neat retelling of the origin story that reminded me of Twilight Zone. Also, there’s a few pages that detail what all Spidey’s spider sense can detect. Another short story about sleazy photographer, Nick Katzenberg, trying to move into May’s boarding house. She finds out his scuminess and throws him out.

Spidey counts down his top 30 villains:

30. Red Skull
29. Crimemaster
28. Sin-Eater
27. Hammerhead
26. Chameleon
25. Hydro-Man
24. Shocker
23. Molten Man
22. Silvermane
21. Juggernaut
20. The Fly (really?)
19. Carrion
18. The Jackal
17. The Tarantula
16. Rhino
15. Puma
14. The Lizard
13. Electro
12. Mysterio
11. The Sandman
10. J. Jonah Jameson
09. The Burglar (who shot Uncle Ben)
08. Venom
07. Scorpion
06. The Vulture
05. Dr. Doom
04. Kingpin
03. Kraven the Hunter
02. Dr. Octopus
01. The Goblins (Green and Hob)

There’s also a recount of all of Jonah’s plots against Spidey (Spider-Slayers, Scorpion, Fly, etc).

Ends with a prequel about the Atlantis thing about when Atlantis actually plunged underwater. The emperor started serving the demon Set and wanted ultimate power by creating a serpent crown. Things go awry and the Celestials (the creators of the Atlanteans) destroy the city and submerge it. This story also runs through all Marvel publications.