Review: The Amazing Spider-Man #43

Nick Spencer has a sense of humor which aligns perfectly with Spider-Man. This book is the archetypal modern Spider-book. The madness in this arch resides in the monster Gog who has the ability to shift sizes. Spider-Man and Boomerang are working together as a solid partnership and they are working to get the Lifeline tablet before The Kingpin.

The real pleasure of this book lies with Ryan Ottley’s incredible art. Ottley has a unique style which adds movement and variety to every single panel. His style is perfect for an action book and every issue of Amazing is a treat even to flip through to see the variety and excitement he brings. What is great about Ottley’s style is that he is able to be expressive and exciting without over-exaggerating. This is especially rare in a book with a monster. Gog here is a true character and we can empathize with him as well as understand the danger he brings.

The mother of Gog’s deceased alien friend gave him with the Lifeline tablet for safe-keeping. Spider-Man and Boomerang come into conflict with this as they try to take the tablet from Gog’s possession before Kingpin is able to. Boomerang has never been a character who thinks things through and quickly brings this conflict into the streets of New York. Fisk arrives and bring an armor with him in his capacity as Mayor. As they attack Gog, Spider-Man switches to defending Gog, realizing the monster does not deserve to be murdered.

Boomerang attempts to help Spidey and Gog quickly misunderstands and assumes they are trying to play with him. Spider-Man uses this play to draw Gog into a small space, where he shrinks down to retrieve a boomerang. After putting Gog to sleep they fit him with an inhibitor column and take him home as a pet. The addition of a cuddly monster pet to the cast can only make this book even better.

Spencer’s humor is used to great use throughout the book. It’s a simple, smart story but it moves quickly and features great character moments for Spider-Man, Boomerang and Gog. Only Kingpin gets short changed as this major character is used but we barely get to see him. Spider-Man took home a monster with Kingpin’s army watching and we don’t get a real sense of the consequences and reactions to this decision. Hopefully future issues will give these actions real consequences, both in taking in a monster as a pet and in aligning directly against the forces of New York’s finest.

Writing 4 of 5 stars
Art 4.7 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.5 of 5 stars

Overall 4.4 of 5 stars

Writer: Nick Spencer
Pencils: Ryan Ottley
Inks: Cliff Rathburn and Ryan Ottley
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn and Dee Cunniffe
Cover: Ryan Ottley and Nathan Fairbairn

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.