REVIEW: Amazing Spider-Man No.884

Peter’s tales just keep getting stranger and stranger one could almost think that a solicitation for him becoming the new Sorcerer Supreme is in the running in the wake of Dr. Strange’s recent death.

The intro to the latest Amazing Spider-Man No.884 was a turn from the horror presented in 883 that one could almost mistake this for a Ram V book instead of this being a Gleason run.
For those like myself expecting The Daughters of The Dragon to continue where the last issue left off, expect to be disappointed once Ben’s girlfriend pops up for several pages in a swimsuit with letterboxes focused on the Beyond Corporation. This goes on for two pages too long, and if reader’s have yet to share the same sentiments that Miles Morales has with the Beyond Co., they should feel it by then. Any comic book reader knows that corporal involvement is never a good sign and will end poorly, having ramifications for the remainder of the series as a footnote. The good thing about this dreaded inclusion of the Beyond Corp. in this saga is that the best of the worst is subsequently brought out as we get Gleason channeling his inner Peter Milligan, making this 884th issue as psychedelic as possible as reader’s get to take a front seat on just how annoying a spider-sense overload can actually be.

Detractors can easily point out that Spider-Man should be able to withstand radiation poisoning given the birth of his powers, but great comics are supposed to suspend disbelief ; and if that were the case anyways then one of the greatest subplots in comic book history wouldn’t even exist , a la’ the reason Doc Manhattan forced an answer to Bowie’s question on if there really is life on Mars.
Gleason does an excellent job in selling the pain Peter goes through mentally and physically due to his current ailments. The man’s on the road to recovery, but the sequence with the stereotypical “mammy” character for Pete’s P.T. could have been dialed back. I know people exemplify exaggerated stereotype’s in this reality, but in comics reader’s want to see better than the reality they are surrounded with.

One sequence I am glad that was not dialed back was the beatdown of Pete by a pair of muggers. I haven’t laughed at a superhero beatdown like that since I was in high school and first picked up Millar’s “Kick-Ass” ! I would not be surprised if Gleason and the rest of the Beyond Board (Kelly Thompson, I see you !) picked up inspiration from Millar, Milligan, Sienkiewickz, and other such legends. The homage’s are noticeable, indirect, and are paying dividends for this new era of the friendly neighborhood Spider.

Just as long as Gleason can avoid characters bordering on Jim Crow caricatures and actually delivering on another Knight & Wing team-up instead of a bait and switch, then he and the rest of the Beyond Board can continue to ride the wave of a solid run that can be talked about for years to come, instead of just another blip in long-running comics continuity.

Score : 3/5

(Writer) Patrick Gleason
(Artist) Patrick Gleason
(Colorist) Morry Hollowell & Nathan Faribairn