Review: Amazing Fantasy #1000

Marvel Anniversary issues have too often been single issues remakes with creative teams each doing just one page. So it’s an absolute joy to see an excellent, vibrant, interesting anthology issue with strong art and interesting classic and new writers.

Amazing Fantasy #1000 commemorates Spider-Man’s 60th anniversary and the stories are as varied as they are well drawn. While some of the short stories feel like filler, the peaks are just so great and make the entire issue well worth owning.

The highlight of the issue is Neil Gaiman’s Spidey story alongside artist Steve McNiven. Gaiman injects himself into what is both a love letter to Spidey and to creator Steve Ditko. Another fantastic story comes from Dan Slott and Jim Cheung as they flash forward to Peter Parker’s 60th birthday. It’s heartwarming seeing all the good Spider-Man has done for his neighborhood and their gratitude toward him as he lies in the hospital. It is nice seeing the potential that New York’s people might someday realize all the good Spider-Man has done, and being reminded of just how dedicated Spider-Man is to them in return.

Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s SpiderVerse story is also silly fun. This tale has some of the best art in the issue as the multiversal Spidey squad helps 616 Peter Parker realize that perseverance through life’s struggles is one of the key elements to being Spider-Man. Kurt Busiek’s follow up to Amazing Fantasy 15’s lesser known characters is a bit weaker, with a dull story and rushed artwork by the Dodsons.

Ho Che Anderson and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli mix mystical and psychological elements with Spider-Man playing both threat and savior. It’s a unique perspective of the fear that comes from spiders and our wall-crawling hero. Rainbow Rowell and artist Olivier Coipel’s day in the life of Spidey is an incredibly fun look at how a superhero photographer handles a quiet crime free day. It’s a fun look at JJJ, the Bugle and just seeing Spider-Man interacting with the people of NYC. Armando Iannucci and artist Ryan Stegman’s twist on a villain who creates fake news is a bit too on the nose in regards to its critique of the press, but is an interesting examination of how people would react to getting the news they want rather than news which is accurate. Anthony Falcone and Michael Cho’s examination of Spider-Man’s motivations feels a bit simplistic and repetitive but is a nice callback to his origins and the loss of Uncle Ben.

The final story is a nice touch with Spidey passing the torch by inspiring future heroes by recently passed writer Mike Pasciullo along with artist Todd Nauck. This entire issue shows so many ways in which Spider-Man can be portrayed both artistically and from a story telling perspective, but they all feel true to the character and cast. This is an amazing way to celebrate Spider-Man’s anniversary and hopefully inspires similar anthology style books for future Marvel anniversaries.

Writing: 4.7 of 5 stars
Art: 4.6 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.7 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.7 of 5 stars

Writer: Neil Gaiman and Various

Artist: Steve McNiven and Various

Colors: Frank Martin and Various

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.