Amazing Spider-Man #60 Review: Main Story

 

Writers: Zeb Wells & Joe Kelly

Pencilers: John Romita Jr & Ed McGuinness

Inkers: Scott Hanna & Mark Farmer

Artists: Todd Nauck, Paolo Rivera, Patrick Gleason & Mark Buckingham

Colorists: Marcio Menyz, Rachelle Rosenberg & Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski

Cover Artists: John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna & Marcio Menyz; Adam Hughes; Stephen Platt & Dave McCaig; Alessandro Cappuccio & Mattia Iacono; Patrick Gleason & Marcio Menyz

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $7.99

Release Date: October 30, 2024

 

Spider-Man convinced Janice Lincoln to put her father in prison. So Lonnie Lincoln tried to take his daughter out of play. Things got rough in the subway. Lonnie nearly killed Janice. Spider-Man and Lonnie nearly killed each other. But in the end, Janice got away. How will Lonnie’s brutal, public clash with Spider-Man and his daughter affect his upcoming trial? Let's thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #60 and find out!

 

Main Story

Lonnie Lincoln, aka Tombstone, didn’t start the Gang War. Still, he used it to become the new underworld kingpin of New York City. Mayor Cage, Jennifer Walters, and Peter Parker fast-tracked  Lonnie Lincoln’s case through the legal system to prove that crime doesn’t pay. Yet they underestimated Lonnie’s desire to remain in power. They had the prosecutor ask the judge for permission to parade their chief witness before their client as part of the discovery process. So when Michele Le bailed Lonnie out of prison, he went after Janice. But Janice isn’t cut from the same cloth as her father. She’s an opportunist. Janice might take her father’s operation away from him while he’s in a coma, but she’s no match for him once Lonnie is back on his feet.

 

In Amazing Spider-Man #60, Peter Parker, Jennifer Walters, and Mayor Cage prove they are no match for Tombstone. Whether they like it or not, Lonnie Lincoln has devoted his life to building a criminal empire. He has worked hard and channeled his long-term vision to achieve his ambition. Lonnie understands how to motivate people to obtain the desired result. He pays a price for his success in loneliness. But considering Lonnie’s origins, it’s a safer choice than giving people the power to hurt him.

 

Like Lonnie, bullies assailed William Baker in his youth. But William lacks Lonnie's vision and can't decide who he wants to be. So, he vacillates between taking the hard, honest road and opting for the "easier" path. Thus, his short-term accomplishments yield no lasting results.

 

In Amazing Spider-Man #60, Zeb Wells reminds us who Peter Parker is. Like Flint Marko, Peter takes things a day at a time. His best-laid plans often crumble, yet he keeps fighting to protect the person on the street. While Spider-Man told Lonnie in the subway, "You have to stop," begging, psychological manipulation, and legal maneuvering cannot force someone to change their lives any more than Mary Jane's Aunt Anna could persuade William Baker to become a hero.

 

 

 

Art

John Romita Jr and Scott Hanna’s art captures the low-key vibe of Zeb Wells’ story. Yet it packs plenty of nuance, such as Lonnie’s eyepatch-harness that evokes Spider-Man's mask. As the prosecutor wears reading glasses low on her nose, the judge lowers his glasses to address his colleague. When the gavel falls, Peter rises. Jen places a hand on Peter's shoulder outside, and he leans toward her as Tombstone nears. Yellow stars on a nearby sign surround Lonnie's head amid their conversation, a reminder of the stars surrounding him amid the battle in the dark subway.

 

After brightening the courtroom with Jennifer Walter’s green skin, Marcio Menyz gives a volunteer at the FEAST Center a green blazer and Aunt May a turquoise blouse. Red and blue circles surround racing police cars, suggesting an imminent need for Spider-Man, while Peter Parker's mustard-yellow jacket pairs well with the yellow-brown sand. Flint's green shirt, Jen's green skin, and the FEAST volunteers' jacket and blouse seem reminders of the difference between temporary and lasting measures.

 

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

 

Amazing Spider-Man #60 also included several short stories from Zeb Wells, plus a preview story from incoming writer Joe Kelly. Check back tomorrow for my review for all those stories, the lettering, final thoughts and rating!