Amazing Spider-Man #37 Review

 

Writer: Zeb Wells

Penciler: Ed McGuinness

Artist: Emilio Laiso

Inkers: Mark Farmer, Wade Von Grawbadger & Ed McGuinness

Colorists: Marcio Menyz & Erick Arcinega

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Ed McGuinness & Marcio Menyz; Arthur Adams & Alejandro Sánchez; Kaare Andrews; Federico Vicentini & Matt Milla; Jerad Marantz

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: November 8, 2023

 

After criminals blew up his wedding, Randy Robertson’s helping Mayor Luke Cage combat organized crime. He needs superhero help to overturn Fisk’s Law. But when he visits Peter Parker’s apartment, he finds more than he bargained for. Is Peter’s best friend in danger? Let’s thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #37 and find out!

 

Story

Rek-Rap wants to tell Peter his adventures, but his idol doesn’t want to listen. Peter’s trying like crazy to get his big web-whangin’ cousin to see sense and return to Limbo pronto. Then in bursts Norman. “Get out of Oscorp,” he snaps. Peter can’t deliver a witty comeback. Out on Long Island, the crime bosses are whining. Then a visitor appears, and says, “Listen up, dears. I’m the one raising the ruckus in organized crime and no mistake!”

 

 

 

Rek-Rap tale involving Kraken The Hunter serves up a delightful play on words and comments on Black Peter’s actions. With his sin supply freshly stocked, Norman’s drawing boundaries. It’s understandable, given what he’s gone through. Most intriguing is the revelation of who ordered Madame Masque’s death, and how it relates to Hammerhead’s conversation with Silvermane in the last issue.

 

As in the Emissary story arc, Peter seems overwrought in Amazing Spider-Man #37. Rek-Rap’s a Limbo lightweight new to superheroing. Yet Peter would rather shout at the big-and-powerful youngster than be calm, patient, and kind while he convinces the loveable lunk to return. Nor does Peter stand by his worshipper when Rek-Rap is in danger. Zeb Wells’ latest story may feel a little clunky, but Peter learns he should have paid more attention to Rek-Rap when he returns to his apartment and finds Randy’s phone. Is he suffering through aftereffects of carrying Norman Osborn’s sins? Is Peter struggling to come to terms with how he treated Kraven?

 

 

 

Art

Ed McGuinness, Mark Farmer, and Wade Von Grawbadger bring bronze age appeal to Rek-Rap’s story. Despite a great design and menacing poses, Kraken The Hunter’s facial features fail to shine. Still, the staging of spider symbiote’s fight with the adversary evokes Rek-Rap’s tussle with the Grave Goblin in the last issue. Peter takes off and puts his uniform on several times, seemingly for no reason other than to show his face. Rek-Rap may be slow in Amazing Spider-Man #37, but when he finally understands Peter sees him as more irritant than valued partner, his reaction is heartbreaking.

 

Emilio Laiso conjures a criminal interlude as mob bosses moan they’re the modern day Maggia. Hammerhead looks different than in recent issues, while a late entrant evokes Dr. Strange. 

 

 

 

Marcio Menyz & Erick Arcinega imbue Rip-Rap’s Storytime Adventures with four-color appeal. After ASM #31 hinted that Madame Mostrosity’s activities extend far into the past, Rip-Rap’s bronze age Marvel Tales make you wonder how long the demon has lived. At times, the four-color treatment seeps into panel backgrounds as Peter and Rek-Rap share the spotlight. Green suffuses backgrounds in Emilio Laiso’s interlude. Overall, some pages show less vitality, while others shine. Along with the differing art styles and Peter’s costume changes, the coloring changes lend an uneven quality to Amazing Spider-Man #37.

 

Joe Caramagna’s black letters in white dialogue balloons are easy to read, yet rows of text look tightly packed. Attractive red- or blue-edged narrative boxes relate Rek-Rap’s stories and Peter’s responses. The Rek-Rap Storytime Adventure logo looks worthy of gracing a one-shot or limited series: hint! Hint! The sound Madelyne’s Repossessor makes as he approaches Rek-Rap will send chills down your spine.

 

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing this issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As Gang War approaches, the crime bosses, the Repossessor, and even Peter Parker view cruelty as an expedient way to achieve their objectives in Amazing Spider-Man #37.

 

Rating 8.6/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.