Amazing Spider-Man #14 Review

 

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. 

Doctor Who: The Prison Paradox #1 Preview

 

COVER A: JAY ANACLETO

Even when the Earth couldn't support them anymore, some Humans refused to leave their home planet. A shopping mall provided refuge until a malignant entity arrived to prey on them. After battling the Scream Sommelier and Cybermen, what foes will the Fifteenth Doctor face next? 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

DOCTOR WHO: THE PRISON PARADOX #1 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Dan Watters  

(A) Sami Kivelä

Publisher: Titan Comics

FC • 32pp • $4.99 • On Sale November 5, 2025

 

Experience a Doctor Who adventure like no other as the Doctor, Belinda, and an unlikely team of allies infiltrate a prison holding monsters and villains from across the cosmos.

 

With new friends and old foes, and some old foes who might just be new friends, it’s an adventure that will take you across the Whoniverse...and beyond! 

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

COVER B: PHOTO

 

 

COVER C: SAMI KIVELÄ HOMAGE COVER

 

COVER D: NIPUNI

 

 

COVER E: FLOPS

COVER G: FLOPS COLOR YOUR OWN COVER ($5.99)

COVER H: JAY ANACLETO VIRGIN VARIANT

Not Pictured:

COVER F: JAY ANACLETO VIRGIN FOIL ($14.99)

 

Issue #1 is available to pre-order from your local comic shop. For UK/Europe fans, visit Forbidden Planet. 

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

To revisit the previous volume, see my review for Doctor Who: Everyone Must Go TP. 

Doctor Who: The Prison Paradox #1 Cover Preview

 

COVER A: JAY ANACLETO

Writer Dan Watters brought us a terrific story in Doctor Who: The Fifteenth Doctor: Everyone Must Go. Now, he returns for another timey-wimey adventure. But instead of investigating a mall, the Doctor is breaking into a prison. Will Missy be involved? Might River Song make a return? I can't wait to find out!

Here's all the info: 

DOCTOR WHO: THE PRISON PARADOX #1 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Dan Watters

(A) Sami Kivelä

FC • 32pp • $4.99 • On Sale November 5, 2025

 

Experience a Doctor Who adventure like no other as the Doctor, Belinda, and an unlikely team of allies infiltrate a prison holding monsters and villains from across the cosmos.

 

With new friends and old foes, and some old foes who might just be new friends, it’s an adventure that will take you across the Whoniverse...and beyond!

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

COVER B: PHOTO

 

 

COVER C: SAMI KIVELÄ HOMAGE COVER

COVER D: NIPUNI

COVER E: FLOPS

COVER G: FLOPS COLOR YOUR OWN COVER ($5.99)

Also available:

COVER F: JAY ANACLETO VIRGIN FOIL ($14.99)

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this cover preview with us. 

To revisit Dan Watters' earlier story, see my review for Doctor Who: The Fifteenth Doctor: Everyone Must Go TP 

Heat Seeker: Combustion #2 Review

 

Writer: Charles Ardai

Penciller: Ace Continuado

Inker: Juan Castro

Colorist: Asifur Rahman

Letterer: David Leach

Cover Artist: Derrick Chew, Jay Anacleto, Ace Continuado, Cosplay, Thaddeus Robeck, Brao, Kyuyong Eom, Cedric Poulat, Tiago de Silva & Miki Okazaki

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: 3.99

Release Date: December 11, 2024

 

Rosaline Preiss should have been safe at the convent in Montefiacco. But when “Lady Godiva” and her photographer tried to abduct her after their brochure shoot, Dahlia and Cesar charged to her rescue. After stealing her away on the model's horse, Dahlia rides to the exclusive mountaintop health spa and hides Rosaline in the nurse’s station. But when Dahlia leaves to find an escape route, Lady Godiva breaks into the nurse’s station to attend to the bullet wound in her shoulder. Is Lady Godiva a model, a mercenary, or a Mandalorian who doesn’t believe in wearing armor? And what will she do when she finds Rosaline hiding among the bandages? Let’s burn into Heat Seeker: Combustion #2 and find out!

 

Story

Mercenaries tried to prevent Dahlia and Cesar from taking Rosaline out of Venice. Now, the model has taken the twelve-year-old under her wounded wing. After shooting her “photographer,” the woman speeds off with Dr Bessemer Preiss’ daughter on a snowmobile. But this leaves Rosaline’s would-be rescuer trying to pursue the girl while evading more mercenaries patrolling the exclusive health club in Italy’s Dolomite mountains.

 

As Dahlia searches for the researcher's daughter, the mercenaries pursuing her in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2 force her to draw on her experience. While Dahlia might have trouble justifying her unconventional career path to some people, Charles Ardai reveals experiences that shaped her. These skills help her evade pursuers while racing after the girl she vowed to protect. Thankfully, Dahlia has a friend in Cesar, who admires her concern for Rosaline and leaves the convent to help her.

 

While some might suspect Rosaline of Stockholm Syndrome, Lady Godiva is returning the girl’s kindness. The mercenary never felt right about her orders. The way Rosaline aided her, knowing she wanted to abduct her, clinched the deal. The mercenary knows her boss’ intentions for Rosaline are ignoble. So, the woman risks her life and future to protect Rosaline in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. If only someone could help them disappear!

 

 

 

Art

The Quietus Spa & Sauna may not be as exclusive as Piz Gloria, but its remote location limits the routes down the mountain. Amid the falling snow, Dahlia slips past gunmen in her green coverall that doesn't cover her front. Like James Bond, she opts for a high-wire act and skiing, pursued by mercenaries on snowmobiles. Dahlia meets a man evoking Nick Fury more than Eric Kriegler, backed by BA Baracus and a team of mercenaries. Later, Dahlia joins a sister act heading down the mountain in a yellow bus but leaves the singing to Whoopi Goldberg.

 

Asifur Rahman lavishes deep and nuanced color on Ace Continuado and Juan Castro’s art in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. Although Dahlia begins her journey amid gray and white, yellow and pink seep into the sky as the sun rises. A mercenary falls to his death amid flaming yellow and orange. White clouds emulate a bird taking flight as men in black block Dahlia’s path. Lady Godiva’s green pants link her with Dahlia, although the escape artist’s one-piece radiates vitality. But the flesh that fills panels inside a beige stone building trimmed with orange and brown wood is for your eyes only.

 

David Leach launches black uppercase words into white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes, while giant letters come before a fall in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. Sound effects help us hear a cable snap, gunfire in an alpine forest, and Dr Preiss’ hurried gait. A familiar logo adorns a brown box near a green helmet, while black letters beneath images on Dahlia's phone cast light on Dr Preiss' angels of death. Thanks to Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

When Rosaline’s would-be kidnapper risks her boss’ wrath to help her escape, the biological researcher’s daughter learns she is not as unique as she believed but more special than she imagined. Dahlia Racers and Cesar must play catchup across Europe, hoping Dr Preiss' employers don't find his daughter first in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

For more covers and a look inside see my preview of Heat Seeker: Combustion #2.