Advance Review: Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Lgy #895)

On the eve of his 60th anniversary, Spider-Man gets another restart. So what is different this time? Well quite a lot to be honest. Gone is the happy domesticity, gone is good standing in the hero community, gone is Peter’s already troubled friendship status, gone is Ben Reilly and gone is something in a great big explosion. Confused?

As the book starts, Peter has survived a massive explosion. This isn’t a spoiler, the page has been advertised on Twitter amongst other places. What follows is an ostracized Peter, with bill issues, May issues, and MJ issues. Sound familiar? Oh there is also a resurgent Tombstone and mob to deal with, eventually.

I have often said that Spider-Man is mainly interesting when Peter has stuff to deal with; once he puts on the suit you know he is going to win out. Well it comes light that writer Zeb Wells may feel the same way, after all why break up a happy home that existed at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #93. Peter’s problems are one thing; with Tombstone making a step-up in the crime business, you know things are going to get a touch difficult for Spidey as well. Wells also shows that he has an eye on the Marvel continuity; there is a nice “green door” reference that fans of Al Ewing’s previous Hulk’s run. The dialogue works well; now that he doesn’t have the Beyond stuff going on, Well’s have Peter’s voice down pat. I also enjoyed seeing the Peter / May relationship from a different perspective.

There are artists that suit certain characters. John Romita JR. on Spider-Man just plain makes sense. Now, as you may know, I am a huge Romita JR. fan; hell I even like his Superman work! Here, you get exactly what you paid for; great art with strong panels coupled with good facial elements. I for one like the beard! On top of that, Tombstone looks like a real threat for the the first since Gerry Conway and Sal Buscema’s excellent run on Spectacular Spider-Man, itself referenced by Wells. There is nothing I dislike about the art and that includes Scott Hanna’s strong inks which match Romita JR. trademark heavy lines. Marcio Menyz provides the colors which at times feel a tad brighter than the tone of the book would suggest. VC’s Joe Caramagna provides the letters keeping Tombstones usual whisper, which I liked to see. There are a slew of covers to choose from; its buyers choice, I would go for cover “a” from Romita JR.

Wells has effectively soft re-booted this character; some may feel that this is a step back, especially given how the Peter and MJ relationship was going previously. Others may like the change of pace. I am firmly in the latter camp. Throw in the fact that Wells is re-visiting one of the better times in Spider-Man’s history; the aforementioned Tombstone appearances via Messrs. Conway and Buscema, gives me hope that this book could take a more grounded approach to everything Parker; at least for a while.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Zeb Wells
Art by; John Romita JR.
Inks by; Scott Hanna
Colors by; Marcio Menyz
Letters by; VC’ 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