Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciler: Ed McGuinness
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colorist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Ed McGuinness, Cliff Rathburn & Marcio Menyz; Skottie Young; Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts; Ben Harvey; Netease (Marvel Rivals)
Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 12, 2025
It felt like nothing mattered until Peter Parker saw Randy, Shay, Aunt May, and another volunteer sprawled before the FEAST center. Peter gave up his remaining Reeds of Raggadorr to revive them. Aunt May even thanked Spider-Man! But the danger to Earth remains. Spider-Man changed the future by shrugging off his role as Earth’s Champion. Callix broke Cyttorak and Dr Strange's pact by killing his brothers and sisters. Can Peter defend Earth against the all-consuming Blight? Let's don our arcane armor, leap into Amazing Spider-Man #69, and find out!
Story
Sadly, Peter Parker lies dead before the throne of Cyttorak, slain by the scion Callix. Peter could have survived the attack by keeping the Reeds of Raggadorr in reserve. Dr Strange would have. Instead, Peter went from seeing death as an inconvenience to giving up his life for others. It’s a fitting end for Manhattan’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. But right now, Earth needs a champion.
All this began because Dr Strange craved power. In Amazing Spider-Man #69, Dr Strange returns to help people in New York. But once again, he travels there in his astral form. The former Sorcerer Supreme seems more interested in scoring points with Dr Doom than helping people. Dr Strange could have helped Peter more throughout this contest. Or he could have asked Dr Doom to let him compete in the Contest Of Scions he founded with Cyttorak.
While Dr Strange comes off badly in Joe Kelly's story, Phil Coulson shines as the Avatar Of Death. Like Dr Strange, Cyttorak plays games with people’s lives. Most parents resort to psychological games at one time or another to help their children find their way. But Cyttorak has overplayed his hand, and now Callix acts like the leader of a country the United Nations refuses to recognize. So, Callix conquers other countries, and with each conquest, he asks, "Do you see me now?" Phil Coulson pierces the web of illusion Cyttorak has spun. In Amazing Spider-Man #69, he guides Cyra toward the truth like a parent should, without manipulation or games.
Art
The monstrous Blight froze Spider-Man with terror in Cyttorak’s throne room. Now, it hovers over New York City, turning the sky orange as the X-Men fight. Cyttorak awaits acclaim while Cyra kneels over Spider-Man. As his slain siblings sprawl on a network of long, thin blades, Callix’s white face evokes a mask. But unlike Hallow's Eve's bag of tricks, his isn't easily removed.
Doom and Dr Strange share Callix's disregard for gravity in Amazing Spider-Man #69. The silver Sorcerer Supreme resembles an armored Green Goblin adorned with a red and gold cape. His yellow energy bursts deliver healing and hurt in equal measure. Yellow radiance also joins the red and blue energy that floods Cyttorak’s throne room, helping and harming those it touches.
While Marcio Menyz lavishes a loaded palette on Ed McGuinness and Mark Farmer’s art, Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The dialogue grows bold for inflection, swells and changes color for volume, and rarely shrinks in this nearly sound effect-free issue. Coulson's blue-edged narrative boxes suggest a link with Dr Strange's (and another character's) blue dialogue. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Cyttorak refused to tell his children and subjects like Juggernaut what he expected of them. Cyra misinterpreted her father's intentions. In Amazing Spider-Man #69, Cyra revises her opinion about her father and what he tried to teach her. It's a revelation that helps the godling understand why she continued to observe Spider-Man after their battle ended.
Rating 9.5/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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