Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: Pepe Larraz
Colorists: Marte Gracia & Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Lee Bermejo; Pere Pérez & Morry Hollowell; J Gonzo; Dave Bardin; Valerio Schiti & Frank Martin
Designer: Jay Bowen
Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe, & CB Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 1, 2025
Cursed with far-sight, Nikodemu charged her knight with a mission. He must pierce the Soul Wall and parley with the Prince of Steel Silk. Peter Parker didn’t understand what Hellgate wanted. Nor did he like how Hellgate dealt with the gunrunners in Queen’s Cola uniforms. So their war of words escalated to a thwip-and-smash across New York City. As their titanic battle waned, Hellgate mourned a lost opportunity. “You were to teach me,” he said, before punching Spider-Man across the universe.
A broken man, Peter scrambled to survive on a planetoid with limited resources. All the while, Hellgate’s imperative rang in his ears. After Dr Xanto Starblood rescued him, Peter thought the xenobiological engineer could help him accomplish Hellgate’s final demand. Then he discovered who paid the price for Xanto’s biotech enhancements. Can Peter “get stronger” now that he’s defeated his most promising instructor? And can he prevent the laboratory subjects he freed from shooting Xanto with a Hadron Enforcer? Let’s pull on our Flexisuits, thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #13, and see!
Story
When he freed them from their cages, Peter didn't find Howard the Duck. Still, he met some enormous personalities and a little Venom. While Rocket the Raccoon shines the brightest, he also met Raelith the Wretched and Nial. They form Peter’s brain trust as he works to return them to their respective homes. It’s a simple plan. But in a universe at war, people are bound to cause problems. The Gothon Conglomerate is doing a Trade Federation-style blockade over Gaileia 3. Still, Rocket has escaped from twenty-three-plus prisons. He has a plan for passing through the checkpoint in their Corpo-Death Satellite Web.
Rocket is well-versed in disappointment. The Guardian has experienced enough cruelty to know that a dead torturer can’t hurt anyone again. But as with the "Clan of the Hobgoblin," Peter seeks a gentler form of justice in Amazing Spider-Man #13.
While Joe Kelly chronicles Peter and Rocket’s assault on a Gothon space station, he keeps returning to the Beacon, the deep-space research vessel where Dr Starblood experimented on his subjects. Xanto accompanies Peter, Rocket, and the others on their mission. And despite Rocket’s threats, Xanto approves of the way his former captor treats him.
Joe Kelly weaves a dark thread of irony into Amazing Spider-Man #13. As Peter argues for life in prison versus the death penalty, he wears a Flexisuit based on Xanto’s research of Technarchs. And just as Warlock refused to follow the rules of his society and kill his father, Peter refuses to kill the alien who has helped him become 99.9999% stronger than anyone else on Earth.
Art
Pepe Larraz launches readers into an intense battle in the space station shuttle bay. While Rocket uses a rifle, Peter utilizes Xanto's version of the Iron Spider armor. Rocket seems at home in the battle. The Guardian displays his irritation, contempt, and outrage during group discussions. The park that Peter likened to his boyhood notion of Heaven becomes an amphitheater to propound his philosophy. Nial may evoke Gumby's Blockheads, but he displays wisdom and patience beyond his years. Among the aliens gathered in the park, a Humanoid named Raelith evokes Peter’s non-girlfriend. But Shay Marken doesn’t have Elven ears or red eyes.
Amid the fast-paced scenes and the intense arguments, Marte Gracia & Erick Arciniega weave a tapestry of energizing color in Amazing Spider-Man #13. As camera angles change faster than Yondu’s Yaka Arrow, Peter shines in his golden suit. Green often grounds scenes, and soothes as purple and gold battle for dominance. Xanto's purple tattoos link him with a central tree in his park. While the tree fascinates Nial, Rocket displays little interest. Yet despite his opposition to Peter's approach to life, Rocket's red-and-blue suit evokes Peter’s normal appearance as a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Joe Caramagna's black uppercase letters in white balloons and boxes grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Rocket utilizes cloudy balloons, while Symbie speaks white letters into less puffy black balloons. Sound effects demonstrate Rocket’s restraint amid battle as Peter launches his personal Infinity War, and Symbie does what he does best. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
Nikodemu watches events in our universe from her realm. And of everyone she sees, she sends Hellgate to our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Peter Parker may have dismissed Hellgate as a cosplaying costumed hero when they first met. But after glimpsing Nikodemu amid Dr Xanto Starblood’s rescue, like Luke seeing Obi-Wan on Hoth, Peter's a believer. As order in his universe descends into chaos, Hellgate’s warning haunts Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #13.
“Everything relies on your strength.”
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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