Advance Review: Amazing Spider-Man #88.Bey

Marvel have a fantastic marketing program; it wasn’t that long ago that the published an Avengers book with no Avengers in it. Now, they have a book with no Peter Parker and no Spider-Man of any type! If anyone is happy about this, it will be amazing, at least fulfilling one aspect of the books title!

Hobbie Brown, AKA Prowler, AKA Hornet has big plans to save the world as both Hornet and Hobbie. Problem is, when his company is bought up by Beyond, he finds thats everyone has been paid off to the tune of millions of dollars. Of course, this being comics, Hobbie decides to look a gift horse in the mouth leading to a partner-in-heroics as the pair start to investigate Beyond and its holdings.

This book feels like a calm before the storm. I don’t mind that so much. I do mind that it comes at a full price. After all does anyone really care about Hobbie. Writer Geoffrey Thorne tries his best, introducing characters that may come back into the book at some point. However, inventor bought out isn’t a new concept, especially for Peter Parker. Characterisation wise, Hobbie comes across as naïve Peter type of person. The book is wordy; it has to be to bring readers up to speed, introduce a character add motivations all around….. but do I really care?

The art is supplied by Jan Bazaldua and Jim Towe. What starts out quite strong, square jaws and delicate lines changes into heavier cartoon styles. I am assuming that Bazaldua’s art makes up the first half and Towe the second. Why the need for two artist? I am not sure, but the pairing doesn’t help get pat the fill-in nature of the book. Neither does the request from the editor to let Marvel know if you enjoyed the new characters. Colors are fine, provided by Jim Campbell, who gives the book a kind of brighter than night type of deal. Letters are supplied by VC’s Joe Caramagna who delivers his usual high standard.

I get that not every issue of every comic is going to be a resounding epic that changes their respective comic book universes, but there has to be than the content of this issue. We all know that Peter Parker will be back in the suit and then how much of these Beyond elements will continue on. Speculators may get a kick out of the first appearance, but other than that, I can’t see any real reason to purchase this book.

Writing – 2.5 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 3.5 Stars

Overall – 3 Stars

Written by; Geoffrey Thorne
Art by; Jan Bazaldua & Jim Towe
Colors by; Jim Campbell
Letters by; VC’s Joe Caramagna
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network