Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciler: Ed McGuinness & Todd Nauck
Inkers: Mark Farmer, Wade Von Grawbadger, Ed McGuinness,
& Todd Nauck
Colorists: Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Patrick Gleason & Marcio Menyz; Lee
Bermejo (Amazing Visions); Cory Smith & Edgar Delgado; Jay Anacleto &
Romulo Fajardo Jr; Joshua Cassara & Matthew Wilson (The Muppets)
Designer: Jay Bowen
Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe, &
CB Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 15, 2025
Hermes Crenshaw believes that Manhattan's new Take No
Prisoners Spider-Man hails from a parallel universe. Instead, while Ben Reilly impersonates
Peter Parker at Rand, Norman Osborn thwips the streets as Peter’s alter ego.
But Norman doesn’t practice Peter’s restraint. And he hates losing.
When Miles Morales, Spider-Boy, Silk, Araña, and Spider-Gwen
invade his web after losing his “cowardly” lawsuit against Roderick Kingsley, Norman
lashes out. Can Spider-Norman placate New York's Spider-Society? And will the
Sic Semper Monstrum club teach Roderick Kingsley their secret handshake? Let's thwip
into Amazing Spider-Man #14 and see!
Story
Although Silk assured Norman that Peter still lives, he left
their encounter feeling like a failure. So Norman seeks out someone else who
has tried and failed to be Spider-Man. But Ben Reilly doesn’t want to share the
same universe, let alone the same airspace, with Norman Osborn. And he’s far
from alone in that sentiment.
While Ben impersonates Peter in Amazing Spider-Man #14, his
growing closeness to Dr Maira Osmani-Milton drives his girlfriend crazy. Janine
Godbe enjoys life in the shadows with Ben. Now he is chasing Peter's life
again, and that's beyond frustrating.
While endangering his future with Janine, Ben shuts out the
people who care about Peter. Aunt May feels cut off from the successful working
nephew who hung photos in her living room when he was bombing interviews. And
at work, Brian Nehring isn't feeling freaktastic as his childhood chum’s
science outshines his mycoteria.
While Joe Kelly’s story urges us to understand what drives
us, it also contrasts life in the shadows with exposing our actions to the
light of day. Night patrols gave Norman the anonymity to act out his
aggressions. Imitating Peter solely at Rand allows Ben to hurt everyone close
to him. But people who exercise power responsibly inspire others. That's
something a would-be hero learns in Amazing Spider-Man #14.
Art
Ed McGuinness & Todd Nauck, Mark Farmer, and Wade Von
Grawbadger contrast memories of the Spider-Society on a rooftop with Norman
sitting alone in his exclusive penthouse. Janine’s masks feed her desire for
easy victories but provide no lasting contentment. As Maira sits before an
image of sunflowers, she makes a more understanding and accepting comparison
with Peter’s not-girlfriend. Yet despite her words, Maira’s disdain for Norman struggles
to dominate her face, suggesting a familiar jousting tournament with a business
rival.

Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega make Chasm and Hallows Eve
look good together in purple, orange, red, and green. Maira and Ben’s blue
attire emphasizes the growing connection between them. Norman’s dark gray suit seems
a reminder that his self-esteem, if not his body, is trapped in the dark web of
Limbo. An attacker's light gray and blue emphasize a cold, clinical approach to
curing a disease. While the yellow and orange coursing across his body evoke
Hellgate's inner fire, Kintsugi's gleaming suit recalls another cosmic hero.
Joe Caramagna fills white dialogue balloons with black
uppercase dialogue. Words grow bold for inflection, enlarge for raised voices,
and shrink for lowered voices. Faint lowercase handprinted letters reveal
Norman's thoughts in irregular white rectangles, while Aunt May writes in tiny
cursive. Sound effects hail a pleasant outing, a responsible use of power, and
defiant dry-thwipping in Amazing Spider-Man #14. Thanks to Marvel for providing
a review copy.
Final Thoughts
While Norman Osborn struggles to overcome his past, Roderick
Kingsley makes new friends, Brian Nehring gets desperate, and Astrid reveals a
fondness for Battlestar Galactica in Amazing Spider-Man #14.
Rating 9/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.