WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #87, available now from Marvel.
The past few months have been anything but kind to Peter Parker. After having his role as Spider-Man openly threatened, Peter ended up on the verge of death following a confrontation with the U-Foes. Now that he has made a partial recovery, Peter is eager to get back into action. Of course, he isn't anywhere near ready to take back up the mantle of Spider-Man, though there is one old alter-ego that is perfect for the occasion. Not only is the Bombastic Bag-Man back, but he is more important than ever.
Peter Parker has already suffered from one failed attempt to return to his former heroic lifestyle. Thankfully, his closest friends have come together to help him through the long recovery that awaits him. Amazing Spider-Man #87 by Zeb Wells, Carlos Gomez, Bryan Valenza, and VC's Joe Carmagna sees Black Cat and Captain America come together to Peter just the superpowered physical therapy he has been looking for, although doing so in his usual costume isn't an option. Apart from the fact that "Spider-Man" is currently owned by Beyond Corporation, Peter isn't anywhere close to his typical self yet. Luckily, Peter's Bombastic Bag-Man suit is virtually omnipresent, at least as long as there is a paper sack nearby. He might look ridiculous, but this particular transformation is now and has always been one of Peter Parker's most important.
Peter made his first appearance as the Bombastic Bag-Man all the way back in 1984's Amazing Spider-Man #258 by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz. After turning to Reed Richards for help uncovering the mysteries of his alien costume, Peter decided to leave the symbiote in the care of Mister Fantastic. Discovering the symbiote suit's true nature and giving it up was a major turning point for Spider-Man, though it left him without any way of protecting his identity at the time. Or rather, it did until Johnny Storm gave Peter a spare Fantastic Four costume and paper bag. At the time, the Bombastic Bag-Man wasn't taken seriously despite being indicative of a much greater change for the man beneath the bag.
This time around, however, Peter and his allies seem fully aware of just how important his transition from coma patient to Bag-Man to (hopefully) Spider-Man once more really is. The paper sack itself might have an obvious meaning on its own the same way Peter's spider insignia does, though that doesn't diminish the uphill battles of which it is symbolic. From the looks of things so far, Peter is well on his way to making a full recovery in spirit faster than anyone had expected. Even if his physical recovery takes a bit longer than that, reigniting that signature Spider-Man spark is the most important step towards getting Peter Parker back in action.
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With any luck, swinging through the city streets as the Bombastic Bag-Man will be the start of Peter's proper return to form. Having his fellow superheroes there to help him get back up to speed is certainly invaluable, and the experience of getting back out as one of his least recognizable alter-ego's is quickly proving to be a powerful change of perspective for the former Spider-Man. And, if nothing else, this will at least keep Beyond Corporation's lawyers off his back for a little while.