Review: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 - Infinite Destinies

The Infinite Destinies story line, running through this years’ Marvel annual continues with Spidey meeting up with the human who was possibly the first recent recipient of an Infinity Stone, Star. It’s great power with great responsibility meeting greater power with no responsibility.

For those not in the know, Ripley Ryan has somehow been chosen by the Reality Stone, has gone up against Captain Marvel and joined the Thunderbolts. Still through all that, Ripley is a bit of an enigma with no real focus of goals. So what does a girl with nearly unlimited power do when there isn’t alien invasions or half Kree super-heroines to fight.

Karla Pacheco has quietly been winning me over. After what I thought was sluggish start to her Spider-Woman book, she has found her feet and from the penultimate issue of the first arc onwards has delivered consistent writing with some interesting little surprises along the way. I am then a tad surprised, and disappointed, to find that Pacheco has teared that up to go “all humour” which event the characters themselves state, are not that funny. Chaos seems to be the side of choice for the humour main as things happen in a loud and brash manner. Peter Parker is almost unrecognisable; how he is exempt from the reality changes is anyones guess, right up until the trademark Parker speech. Possibly originally conceived as a viable opponent for Carol Danvers, Star is reduced here to almost Harley Quinn styled randomness, in a similar kind vibe to the Batman: The Animates Series episode Harley’s Holiday. It’s pretty hard to take Star seriously when she is written in this manner. I have greater faith in Jed MacKay writing Star in her up and coming appearance in Black Cat.

Art is provided by Eleonora Carlini and if chaos is the theme. Carlini follows that mandate to the letter. Spider-Man looks like the little cartoon caricature that used to appear in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, sitting on Spidey’s shoulder. Carlini also extends body lines, which generally I don’t have a problem with, though it does cause some issues for Spidey in his swinging and spier poses. There are manga influences on show for the exaggerated facial expressions. Colors are provided by Erick Arciniega whose work is vibrant for the most part; Archiniega has fun with the reality changes elements with plenty of red and less brazen background colors. VC’s Joe Caramagna supplies the letters with a fun easy font.

The book also features chapter four of the Infinite Fury back-up, written by Jed MacKay with art by Juan Ferreyra and VC’s Joe Caramagna pulling double duty providing the lettering. It’s an interesting episode to be honest, with the villain of the piece semi revealed, especially if you have been reading Heroes Reborn.

Sooner or later, Marvel is going to have to change the title of Amazing Spider-Man, as I feel that it hasn’t actually been “amazing” for quite a while. The back-up story takes a twist, but be honest, are you really going to spend $4.99 for a back-up? After reading the Black Cat annual, with little impact on the Infinite Destinies big picture; I had hoped that this annual would fare better. Instead, I am left with Infinite Disappointment.

Writing (Pacheco)- 2.5 Stars
Writing (MacKay) – 3.5 Stars
Art (Carlini) – 2.5 Stars
Art (Ferreyra) – 3.5 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars

Overall – 3 Stars

Written by; Karla Pacheco & Jed MacKay
Art by; Eleonora Carlini & Juan Ferreyra
Colors by; Erick Arciniega
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