Amazing Spider-Man #51 Review

 

Writers: Zeb Wells

Pencilers: Ed McGuinness & Todd Nauck

Inker: Mark Farmer, Todd Nauck, Cliff Rathburn & Wade Von Grawbadger

Colorists: Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega & Bryan Valenza

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Ed McGuinness & Marcio Menyz; Ivan Bigarella; Tony Harris; Skottie Young

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 5, 2024

 

The Beyond Corporation turned Ben Reilly's life into a bad dream. Queen Goblin tried to help him with the Hobgoblin's Winkler Device. But since Ben used it, he's suffered from a recurring dream. Is his broken mind trying to tell him something, and will it benefit Ben or others? Let’s thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #51 and find out!

 

Story

Doc Ock burns for revenge. Among the Sinister Six, Electro, Mysterio, and Sandman are up for anything. But Vulture is concerned. Kraven seems lost in a world of his own. Will the Hunter be an asset or a liability if they storm Norman's palace?

 

King Norman’s not bothered by anything. He’s reassumed the throne as a goblin born. He calls Doc Ock to boast of his imminent triumph. Norman even accuses Ock of telegraphing his plans when warning the eight-limbed wonder that his days of living the good life in his underground lair are nearing the end.

 

The Living Brain killed itself. But before it committed suicide, it gave birth. Composed of a smaller brain in a metal body, the Walking Brain leads Dr Curt Connors on a call to arms in Amazing Spider-Man #51. But is the entity that gave them the code phrase to turn Norman back into the Green Goblin on Peter’s side?

 

 

 

As for Ben Reilly, he's sat where many have sat before. Dr Ashley Kafka, Ned Leeds, Roderick Kingsley, and Peter Parker have used the Winkler Machine. Can Ben take something from Peter's time in the chair to make himself whole? At least, now that Dr Kafka told Ben that Beyond stole his memories, Ben should feel more kindly disposed toward Peter. Perhaps he can even help Peter. But is Peter even Peter Parker anymore?

 

Amid so many uncertainties, one fact is beyond doubt in Amazing Spider-Man #51. Peter Parker is not Spider-Man. He’s Spider-Goblin. Unfettered by convention or sentiment, he'll do anything to help others achieve their full potential. 

 

 

 

Art

Electro worries that someone has discovered the Sinister Six's landline in the sewers. The phone cord unites fractured panels to portray both sides of the conversation before Spider-Goblin swoops in via a two-page spread. Slanted panels showcase a frantic fight with Doc Ock before the camera returns to Oscorp, where the Living Brain resembles a used tin of Jiffy Pop. Kamala gives Norman a ring. Her smile suggests she's no longer traumatized over dying. But the icon on her shirt signals the approaching storm.

 

Ed McGuinness, Mark Farmer, Todd Nauck, Cliff Rathburn, and Wade Von Grawbadger deliver strong visuals in the action-packed Amazing Spider-Man #51. They also imbue the characters with personality, as Electro sticks out his tongue, Sandman monsters out, Kraven expresses remorse, and Spider-Goblin can’t wipe the grin off his face. But standout honors belong to the Walking Brain. Did our Mars Attack visitors fuse Dr Johann Krauss with one of their cool cerebrums?

 

 

 

Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega & Bryan Valenza bring bright, bold characters that stand out amid the darkness of Ben Reilly’s mind, the gray-blue sewers, white-suited workers in the no-longer-clean Oscorp laboratory, and Kamala’s pale green room. But no one, not even Kraven, who wields a spear with a red gem, outshines green-skinned Spider-Goblin in his black and purple suit. “Calm your worried mind,” Spider-Goblin urges, cradling Kraven’s tanned face in his purple gloves. “Be at peace.”

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes in Amazing Spider-Man #51. The font grows bold for inflection, swells for increased volume, gets italicized for machine-speak, and shrinks for lowered voices. Immense letters help us hear Otto’s Octoids go wild, Spider-Goblin shatter a fragile person’s illusions, and his joyous, overwhelming laughter.

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

It’s Phone A Friend Day for Norman Osborn, Spider-Goblin makes Sandman shine, J. Jonah Jameson goes wild with a red pen, and two spectacular Spider-Men have broken minds in Amazing Spider-Man #51.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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