Review: Amazing Spider-Man #45

“It feels good to stop running.” – Overdrive.

Synopsis:

This issue opens with Peter Parker alone enjoying, or half enjoying a performance of Shakespeare in the park. Though he wasn’t supposed to be alone. MJ had something come up that prevented her from attending and Peter goes through the list of people who could’ve come but didn’t, another woe is me I’m all alone beginning for our erstwhile web-slinger. Things are about to get hectic though…

Nick Spencer brings us an introspective Peter Parker who is wondering if there’s something in this great universe that’s keeping him apart from his betrothed. But before he can get too lost in thought, Peter has to rush out in front of a car in order to save a pedestrian. There’s just no rest for the weary. Peter jumps into his costume than into action against the reckless driver. I’m enjoying how this title is bringing us an apparent nightmare of Peter’s come to life and he’s having a hard time determining whether or not what he’s facing is reality or a dream world. A great dilemma for the wall-crawler. The antagonist here is struggling with who he is and who he wants to be, giving the character a great arc in this issue. However, the main antagonist isn’t who he appears to be. Some great twists here and a fun read. Great stuff includes Peter’s confrontation with Overdrive and the return of a classic villain.

Bagley, Dell, and Owens bring the characters to great life and make them believable amidst improbable odds. The web-slinger looks on point here and their Peter Parker is reminiscent of the John Romita era. A boost for us older fans to be sure. Highlights include Peter’s rescue of the pedestrian before he suits up and the splash revealing this issue’s main villain.

In Conclusion:

I can’t get enough of Peter Parker’s Spiderman and this issue doesn’t disappoint. It includes all the ingredients of a great Spiderman story. The beleaguered Parker, wondering why everything works against him in life. The suiting up as the chief protagonist, even though he wonders why he continues to do so, what reward does he come away with at the end of the day? All this and some great action as only Mighty Marvel can do it. Overdrives dilemma makes him a more fleshed out realistic character and we can empathize with his plight. The chief antagonist’s warped view of the righteousness of his actions makes him a compelling villain, and after all, is said and done, we find he’s not even after the Wall-crawler. All this and a nice twist at the end make this a must-have for all Spiderman fans. ***1/2 (8.8 rating.)

SCORE: 3.5/5

Writer – Nick Spencer
Art – Mark Bagley, John Dell, Andy Owens
Colors – David Curiel
Letters – VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher – Marvel

Author Profile

Kevin Given

Kevin Given has studied with â€œ Longridge Writers Group â€ and â€œ Writerâ€™s Boot Camp â€ a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the â€œ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter â€ franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of â€œ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter â€ # 1 and â€œ Files of Karl Vincent â€ # 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series â€œ Dracula Rising â€ (working title) and developing â€œ Foul Blood â€ into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given