Amazing Spider-Man #62 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Penciler: Ed McGuinness

Inkers: Cliff Rathburn, Mark Farmer & Wade Von Grawbadger

Colorists: Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Ed McGuinness & Marcio Menyz; Gleb Melnikov; Gleb Melnikov & Dean White; Alex Saviuk & Rachelle Rosenberg; Francesco Mobili & Frank Martin; Skottie Young

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

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: November 27, 2024

 

Everyone wants some of Peter Parker’s time. Is he Earth’s Champion or its punching bag? All Peter knows is Doctor Doom wants Spider-Man to fight his battles for him. If any of the eight children of Cyttorak defeat him, Earth will succumb to the dark god’s rule. Can the ghost of Doctor Strange help Spider-Man defeat a second ambitious godling while avoiding another painful death like Spaghettification? Let's thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #62 and find out!

 

Story

Peter's new suit helped him access the mystical universe and cast a spell when fighting Cyntros. Still, Peter knows more about science than magic. After Doctor Strange becomes his astral advisor, he helps Spider-Man and Black Cat bypass the Sanctum Sanctorum's safeguards and retrieve a magic tome. But days of coffee and cramming won’t make Peter the next sorcerer supreme.

 

As Peter studies Doctor Strange’s book, real life intrudes in Amazing Spider-Man #62. The fallout over Peter's recent actions continues, as the Green Goblin's death prompts Norman Osborn to rethink his life. Like Rick Jones, Norman knows a thing or two about death. Doctor Strange briefed Peter on his previous bouts with Cyttorak’s children, but life prevents Norman from imparting helpful advice. 

 

 

 

Joe Kelly’s story focuses on the relationships that define us. After her relationship with Amelia fizzles, Felicia reevaluates her days with Peter. But Peter is prioritizing his romance with Shay while starting a freelance photography career with Randy, training Spider-Boy, helping Aunt May at FEAST, and looking for a new job. Even his new friend Kevin, who helped Peter battle Burnout, has a better handle on his life. But then, Doctor Doom claimed Peter lacked focus, didn't he?

 

As Peter combines his limited knowledge of magic with his deep understanding of physics to fight another champion, Amazing Spider-Man #62 also contemplates the dynamics of dysfunctional families. Cyttorak does little but sit on his throne and watch his children squabble. The god arranged these periodic challenges with Doctor Strange for his amusement. Instead of training his children to succeed him, each enjoys power but feels little responsibility.

 

Are these contests a way for Cyttorak to choose his successor? Or is the god manipulating his children so he can remain in power? Perhaps that's why Doctor Doom called Cyttorak’s bargain with Doctor Strange inefficient. But then, he said the same thing about Spider-Man.

 

 

 

Art

Ed McGuinness, Cliff Rathburn, Mark Farmer, and Wade Von Grawbadger kick off Amazing Spider-Man #62 with a high-flying heist in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Like Miles Morales, Peter sports a new, armored suit that evokes the giver. Felicia enjoys the heist and clasps the book as they leave. Afterward, Black Cat's posture mirrors Peter, while her expression echoes' Doctor Strange’s concern. When Spidey raises the Reeds to show his Get Out Of Heaven Free cards, Black Cat turns away and leaves.

 

Green energy wisps off Peter and supports the leather-bound volume as he studies. The green energy dissipates when Norman expresses disbelief, surrounding the book like a green starburst as it falls on the floor. Peter and Norman look like they belong together, clad in white, black, gray, and subdued blue. Peter's gray and brown apartment looks lifeless compared with Doctor Strange's lavishly colored Sanctum Sanctorum. Nothing speaks so powerfully as Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega's red Limbo-like godlings who argue in a brown asteroid spinning through black, purple, and magenta space. But then, there are the red letters adorning Norman's coffee cup, which signify another ending in this story about death and rebirth. 

 

 

 

Joe Caramagna’s uppercase black lettering in dialogue balloons and narrative boxes grows bold for inflection, swells for increased volume, and rarely shrinks in Amazing Spider-Man #62. Sound effects help us hear Spider-Man’s magic armor burn, Doctor Strange’s book hit the floor, and Aunt May text a reminder about volunteering at FEAST. Yet Black Cat sits atop brickwork adorned with red and green graffiti, reminding readers that more gods than Cyttorak control Spider-Man’s fate. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Neither Spider-Man nor the Scions of Cyttorak conceived these contests. Yet Earth's champion and the dark god's children must play their parts in this cosmic contest. Still, one godling intends to break the cycle and use this fight to pursue a different agenda in Amazing Spider-Man #62.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

 

To refresh your memories of how this story started see my review of Amazing Spider-Man #61.