Amazing Spider-Man #13 Review

 

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. 

Amazing Spider-Man #11 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly, Saladin Ahmed, Lee Gatlin, & Jason Loo

Penciler: John Romita Jr

Inker: Scott Hanna

Artists: Pepe Larraz, Pere Pérez, Lee Gatlin & Jason Loo

Colorists: Marcio Menyz, Marte Gracia & Morry Hollowell

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Lee Bermejo; Pepe Larraz & Edgar Delgado; Sanford Greene; Junggeun Yoon; Bengal; Benjamin Su; Javier Garrón & Jesus Aburtov; Felipe Massafera; Luciano Vecchio; James Kerigan

Designer: Jay Bowen

Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe, & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $7.99

Release Date: September 3, 2025

 

With Kingpin’s forces reigning chaos in the streets, Spider-Man has taken off the kid gloves. J Jonah Jameson, never soft on crime, is calling out his friend on-air after Spidey sends three Aftershocks to the hospital. Even Black Cat’s sweet reason couldn’t stop Spider-Man from breaking Shocker’s arm.

 

While Spider-Man is taking out the trash, Peter Parker is whipping everyone into shape. He dissed his freaktastic friend Brian in front of Dr Osmani-Milton. Then Peter broke poor Frankie’s nose, just because he didn’t want to take a ride on the wild side with Tombstone. Why is Spider-Man using harsher webs than Spider-Girl? And why is Peter Parker dating a secret girlfriend and ghosting everyone he loves? Let's thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #11 and see!

 

 

Broken Mirror: Story

Peter’s silence and distance weigh down Aunt May. But she can’t sleep, can’t divert her focus from her nephew’s betrayal. So, Aunt May takes comfort in memories of better times, when she believed she could help Peter choose a better path.

 

Usually, it’s Peter who reacts to others' needs. Now, the people in his web alter their behavior to accommodate Peter’s absence. Perhaps most surprising of all is Tombstone’s response. He’s used to Peter Parker being his link to his foe. Yet Spider-Man was an opponent Tombstone respected. The crime boss even checked Spider-Man into the hospital after their brutal brawl in the New York underground. In Amazing Spider-Man #11, the hero who helped Tombstone become the new Kingpin no longer serves as a mirror to gauge his actions against.

 

 

 

Broken Mirror: Art

A framed photograph prompts Black and White memories, while a childhood costume makes Aunt May wonder at her parenting decisions. The city glows yellow, highlighting Peter and Spider-Man’s faces as they confront each other beneath a blue night sky. A double-page spread unleashes a fight between two former heroes, before one dispenses with his disguise as they reenact Spider-Man and Tombstone’s fight at the Canal Street Station. Marcio Menyz unleashes a vivid palette of colors on John Romita Jr and Scott Hanna's dramatic, action-packed, and revelatory art in Amazing Spider-Man #11. 

 

 

 

Broken Man: Story

After the big reveals in “Broken Mirror,” Joe Kelly takes us on a space odyssey in “Broken Man.” Hellgate’s punch proved stronger than Hulkette’s, propelling Peter to a planetoid where he struggles to survive. After the rigors of playing Robinson Crusoe on a planet as barren as Mars, an alien extends a helping hand. Xanto may not live in Xanadu, but life on his spaceship seems ideal. With the Imperial War raging across the cosmos, Peter knows he couldn’t return home right now even if he wanted to. But he knows that Hellgate isn’t through with him. As in his battle with the scions of Cyttorak, that knowledge drives Peter’s actions in “Broken Mirror.”

 

 

 

Broken Man: Art

Marte Gracia lavishes a vibrant palette on Pepe Larraz’s extraterrestrial art. Peter crouches in darkness. Survival reduces him to barbarism. A yellow figure glows like an angel, willing him to survive. Aboard the Beacon, Peter trades his ravaged red-and-blue for a white and black suit with a partial exoskeleton. A sleek fighter sits in the hangar where Peter tests his limits. Afterward, he traverses a circular corridor with someone who shares Korg’s sense of humor, if not his looks.

 

In the station’s upper levels, a tree rises before a waterfall, while Peter enjoys a riparian picnic in the park without Shay Marken. After a workout, his gold-clad companion turns blue as he gazes down and rests his hand on Peter’s shoulder like a proud father. But when Peter stands alone amid a starry and colorful cosmos, a purple shadow points toward danger in Amazing Spider-Man #11.

 

 

 

Rapid Return: Story

Roger has a lot to be grateful for. In Lea, he has a loving helpmate. Noah is an adoring son. Roger knows that love means taking care of the people in your life. But as with Aunt May, it can be draining. Roger and his father have always been distant from each other. Now, visiting his dad in the hospital reminds him of his unhappy childhood. And he resents the time he spends with his comatose father when he could be investing it in Lea and Noah.

 

After Roger’s debut in Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man #1, Saladin Ahmed brings us a day in Roger’s life. An experimental serum that could have healed his father accidentally helped him slow time. Spider-Man helped him during his rough superhero birth as Rapid. So when Spider-Man isn’t around, Roger uses his super-speed to protect his neighborhood. Roger may not have spider-powers, but he demonstrates all that Peter could have if he realigned his priorities. 

 

 

 

Rapid Return: Art

As Roger leans against the hospital wall, his shirt heralds the energy he wishes he possessed. The motto on another visitor’s T-shirt urges him to “Be stronger.” Instead, Roger glares at his unresponsive father and strides from the room. Lea and Noah’s embraces make him feel guilty. Roger’s eyes widen when he stares at his phone. Another hug brings him peace.

 

Morry Hollowell imbues vibrant color on Pere Pérez’s heartfelt intro. Then, energy lines and smoke infuse pink, blue, and gray backgrounds as energy arcs around Rapid’s pink and black suit. Another pink bubble evokes the explosion that Spider-Man helped him control. Yet a gray cloud that hovers before a close-up shows what empowers the latest hero to hold an Avengers membership card.

 

 

 

Spider-Mayonnaise

Lee Gatlin’s two-page cartoon showcases Peter Parker’s innovative nature. He is always learning and growing. While Peter takes inspiration from science, another hero wonders if sometimes he doesn’t go too far in Amazing Spider-Man #11.

 

 

 

In The City With…Spider-Man

Jason Loo delivers another two-page story highlighting Spider-Man’s abilities. While a snapshot of what makes Spidey special, it highlights a different ability than Peter works hard to enhance in Joe Kelly’s “Broken Man.”

 

 

 

Lettering

Peter shares his thoughts in red-edged narrative boxes. Roger’s thoughts appear as white letters in pink boxes. Joe Caramagna's black uppercase letters in white balloons grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Sound effects accompany battle and betrayal, while faint lowercase black letters reveal an imposter’s thoughts. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As Shay Marken once noted, Peter’s life may be a dumpster fire. But when Peter pulls a no-show, friends and villains shine in Amazing Spider-Man #11.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

Amazing Spider-Man #5 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Artist: Pepe Larraz

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Joëlle Jones & Rachelle Rosenberg; John Romita Sr, John Romita Jr & Morry Hollowell; Mark Bagley & Edgar Delgado; Peach Momoko; Luciano Vecchio

Designer: Jay Bowen

Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 4, 2025

 

Peter’s school chum Brian Nehring got him a job at Rand Industries. But before Peter can impress his new boss, Dr Maira Osmani-Milton, Rhino has a heart attack. Then someone roofies Peter, twisting his past and fears into a bad trip. When Peter’s investigation into hallucinatory drugs takes him to the Queen’s Cola facility, he finds Hobgoblin guarding the factory.

 

Before Peter can apprehend the villain, Hobgoblin flies away while Itsy Bitsy puts him in a tizzy. Will Brian and Maira be the latest casualties of the Cola Wars? Can Peter prevent Roderick Kingsley from making his office look even more like Easter Island? Let's grab a can of Queen’s Cola, leap into Amazing Spider-Man #5, and see!

 

Story

Before Hobgoblin left, Itsy Bitsy told him that someone from Rand informed the Justice Department about his exciting new range of anxiety drinks. Hobgoblin’s drugs have made Peter fear losing the people he loves. As he leaves the Queen’s Cola plant like Bruce Banner left a bottling factory in Rio de Janeiro, Peter gives Brian a call. But Peter’s too late. Hobgoblin’s already yucking his murder yum at Rand Industries.

 

Joe Kelly's story alternates between Peter, Dr. Maira Osmani-Milton, and Brian Nehring as Hobgoblin attempts to protect his industrial secrets with extreme prejudice. Maira shines as a mother, an easy-going boss, and a caring employer. 

 

 

 

After all the people he failed at Ravencroft, Spider-Man gives his all to ensure no additional deaths weigh on his conscience. While Brian may not impress immediately, he earns his place at Rand (and reader’s hearts) in Amazing Spider-Man #5.

 

Hobgoblin’s spectacular entrance suggests an Ultron-level tragedy, but the characters work together more effectively than the Avengers on the SHIELD helicarrier. Peter demonstrates his ability to think while thwipping and quipping. Amid all the fighting, this fast-paced action thriller is about the importance of protecting the people we care about and never pushing them away. 

 

 

 

Art

Pepe Larraz begins Amazing Spider-Man #5 with Rand Enterprises in flames. Hobgoblin descends into the plant-and-tree-filled atrium, driving away workers like the angel sent to guard Eden. Brian clutches his notebook to his chest, cognizant of the secrets he guards. Although wide-eyed, Dr Maira Osmani-Milton never loses her cool, facing down Hobgoblin even as he strangles her.

 

Marte Gracia surrounds Spider-Man with yellow, orange, and red as he crashes through the skylights. After sheathing his yellow flaming sword, bluish-white energy crackles from Hobgoblin’s hands and red eyes in Amazing Spider-Man #5. Past merges with present as gray characters frame colorful scenes and yellow fire washes across Peter's Black and White memories. 

 

 

 

Amid frantic panels, splash pages, double-page spreads, and a raging contest between Black and White, limited color schemes, and loaded palettes, Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into dialogue balloons. Words grow bold for inflection, swell, change color, and rarely shrink. Texting with emojis turns narrative boxes blue amid glaring red lights. Sound effects include web-thwipping, glass shattering, and Brian bonking Hobgoblin. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Amazing Spider-Man #5 pulses with MCU-level action and drama as Peter draws a line in the sand and Hobgoblin tries to capitalize on people’s inclination to destroy their lives. Hey, if they’re going to worry about things they can’t control, why not make money off their lack of mindfulness?

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Amazing Spider-Man #4 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Artist: Pepe Larraz

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Mark Chiarello; Alex Ross; Greg Land & Rachele Rosenberg

Designer: Jay Bowen

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

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 21, 2025

 

Peter Parker wants a fresh start. But his new job at Rand Industries gets derailed when Rhino goes whacko. Randy’s observation that East Harlem is becoming Fear City prompts Spider-Man to investigate Rhino’s apartment and demolish Korean automobiles. An invite to chat with Rhino ends in a brawl with a six-eyed, six-armed, thwipping purple spider-killer who murders Shay's friends.

 

While all this is happening, Peter's history with Brian Nehring, his new (and old) bestie at Rand Industries, roars back to haunt him. Can Peter make soda safe to drink again? And can he get his life as the all-new, all-different Peter Parker back on track? Let's grab a can of Queen’s Cola, leap into Amazing Spider-Man #4, and see!

 

Story

Norman shut down Oscorp. Now, he's got time to be Peter's man in the chair. But Peter has another aid in his Psycho Soda investigation. Brian Nehring wants Peter to shape up or ship out of Rand Industries. While Peter pursues Norman's lead, the psychedelic mushroom grower tests a can of Queen’s Cola. Can Brian discover a biological agent that Norman couldn't?

 

In Amazing Spider-Man #4, Hobgoblin wants Spider-Man dead. He’s asked Itsy Bitsy twice, but each time she chickened out. When he finds Spider-Man in the Queen’s Cola factory, Hobgoblin decides to stop delegating. Avoiding Hobgoblin's attacks would be easier if Peter didn't see his past everywhere. While he fights for his life, Peter justifies his actions to the ghosts.

 

Joe Kelly’s action-packed horror story evokes Saladin Ahmed’s Spine-Tingling Spider-Man series. Peter’s inability to protect the people he loves haunts him. Joe Kelly also associates Peter's brain with Brian, as Peter fights for his sanity while remembering acting out with his childhood friend. Then there is Peter’s relationship with Itsy Bitsy. He feels responsible for who she’s become. She cannot control her feelings for him. And just like with Rhino, Shay, and May, Peter will cause Itsy Bitsy pain in Amazing Spider-Man #4.

 

 

 

Art

Terrarium globes frame Dr Osmani-Milton like glow globes surrounding Lady Jessica. Brian plucks and tastes a mushroom growing in his Mycology lab while speaking with his boss. Peter flees a fallen angel of death who wields a flaming sword. Backgrounds blur and burn as Peter hurtles toward the ceiling. While Pepe Larraz portrays Peter’s blurring flight, he showcases Peter’s fear of failure. When Peter battled imaginary foes in Rhino’s apartment and beat up Kias outside, he imagined nearby citizens shrinking. In Amazing Spider-Man #4, Peter shrinks, while the people he loves grow Giant-Size.

 

As black and gray security guards unleash a barrage of fire, Hobgoblin's flaming sword evokes a fireworks show. Marte Gracia juxtaposes Peter fighting a brown-and-blue Hobgoblin with luminous blue-gray statues. Explosions paint the air yellow, orange, and purple, while Peter's suit turns blurry green with a hint of red. Itsy Bitsy's face and suit reveal the same light blue-gray as the giants of Peter’s past in Amazing Spider-Man #4. She hangs upside down before gray metal walls textured with dots, crosshatching, streaks, and tinged yellow and brown by a flaming orange pumpkin.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into white dialogue balloons and red-bordered narrative boxes. Words grow bold for inflection, swell, change color, and shrink for lowered voices. White letters in edgy black balloons suggest Itsy Bitsy shares Peter’s struggle to turn over a new leaf, while gray dialogue balloons enliven childhood memories amid two red combatants. Sound effects include thwipping, exploding, and slamming so hard into the ground that white dust fills the air. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Peter Parker struggled with accepting love in his youth. Hopped up on Hobgoblin’s synthesized fear, Peter remembers inflicting pain on those he loved, while hurting a person who loves him in Amazing Spider-Man #4.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Amazing Spider-Man #3 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Artist: Pepe Larraz

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Alex Maleev; Ed McGuinness & Marcio Menyz; Rose Besch; Ario Anindito

Designer: Jay Bowen

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

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 7, 2025

 

Peter Parker has a new job. Thanks to Brian Nehring’s recommendation, Peter is now the Supervising Engineer of Cooperative Disciplines at Rand Industries. But his boss, Maira Osmani-Milton, ponders Peter's ability to focus on his duties. Peter’s conversation skills suffer as his mind keeps flying back to his childhood. And then there are the villains that relentlessly attack him, even if they look like Korean automobiles to everyone else.

 

Peter's mad rave started in the Rhino’s apartment. So he goes for an after-party chat. But with the Rhino staying in the Ravencroft Institute, Shay Marken wonders if she should let Spider-Man question her horned guest or give the superhero the room next to Doppelganger. Can Peter discover why Rhino went on a rampage before the perpetrators detonate his life like they did the FDA Product Safety building? Let's grab some Narcan, leap into Amazing Spider-Man #3, and see!

 

Story

Spider-Man finds Itsy Bitsy playing Dr Ashley Kafka with the Rhino. But Spidey doesn't want her to scramble Rhino's brain like Queen Goblin tried to clean up Ben Reilly’s muddled mind. So once again, Spider-Man and Itsy Bitsy come to blows. But this time, Spidey doesn’t have Deadpool backing him up.

 

Peter’s recent responsible behavior fuels Aunt May’s hopes. She has invested so much in her nephew, only to see him become the most unemployable scientist in New York. Seeing him get a position at Rand Industries, even if it came via a troublesome childhood pal, gives May a chance to think about finally relaxing that parental responsibility. Riccardo Villanueva volunteers at FEAST. In Amazing Spider-Man #3, she asks Riccardo for help at her apartment. But then Peter shows up, looking every bit the nephew in need of mothering. Again.

 

While Joe Kelly plants characters and situations that bloom with action and drama, Amazing Spider-Man #3 is rooted in guilt. Peter regrets Uncle Ben's death and the way May worries about him. He struggles to avoid recognizing that he is letting Brian Nehring and Dr Osmani-Milton down. Aleksei, aka Rhino, mourns his wife’s death. Norman wishes he hadn’t hurt people as the Green Goblin. Aiding Peter’s crime-fighting assuages his guilt. Perhaps Itsy Bitsy feels guilty over all the trouble she has caused Peter. As Spider-Man investigates how Itsy drugged Rhino, Peter doubtless wishes he could have helped her embrace a better life (and not played a hand in her death). 

 

 

 

Art

Pepe Larraz uses jarring camera angles that reveal Peter's distorted perceptions as he fights Itsy Bitsy. Despite not knowing what he can believe or where he stands with Shay, Peter's first inclination in Amazing Spider-Man #3 is a desperate lunge to save his would-be girlfriend. A meetup on a bridge spanning the Harlem River must provoke more bad memories for Peter. But seeing Peter climb the stairs to her apartment in another man's dripping wet clothes must remind Aunt May of her plea for Spider-Man to leave her nephew alone.

 

Itsy Bitsy's red, black, and blue uniform suggests a funhouse mirror reflection of Spider-Man. Her six arms wield red swords in a hypnotic rhythm like Kali's battle with Sinbad. Black and White memories overlay Marte Gracia's colorful people and places amid the living and the dead. Violet foregrounds in Ravencroft Institute emphasize that Itsy Bitsy’s swords are red for a reason. But when darkness tinges her spider-eyes, mask, and swords with magenta, Itsy forms a powerful connection with Spidey in Amazing Spider-Man #3.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Words grow bold for inflection, swell, change color, and shrink for lowered voices. White letters in edgy black balloons hail a villain's return, while gray dialogue balloons drive daggers into Peter’s heart. Sound effects shatter glass, recall a stormtrooper’s stun beam, and suggest a villain’s fiery temper as Peter’s investigations continue. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Drugs helped Itsy Bitsy cope with life. Illicit chemicals enable Peter to connect the dots in his investigation. But Peter's brainstorm worries his friend Brian, who breeds magic mushrooms for a living. And despite Peter's plea, Norman says, "No more." As Peter struggles to discern reality, the drugs twist his childhood memories into an unending nightmare in Amazing Spider-Man #3.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Amazing Spider-Man #2 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Artist: Pepe Larraz

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia; Paolo Rivera; Chris Giarrusso; Pablo Villalobos; Tony Daniel & Marcelo Maiolo

Designer: Jay Bowen

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

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: April 23, 2025

 

After fifteen interviews in nine days, Peter Parker gets a break. Thanks to an internal recommendation, Peter is now the Supervising Engineer of Cooperative Disciplines at Rand Industries. But the Rhino nearly spoils Peter's party. A rampage through the street ends with a totaled truck and Rhino's heart going Big Bada Boom.

 

While enjoying drinks with Shay Marken and wine with Brie, Randy Robertson mentions that his clients in East Harlem are frightened. Peter dislikes coincidences, so he thwips over to the Rhino’s neighborhood for a superhero snoop. Instead, he finds a villain meetup that makes The Bar With No Name resemble The Electric Company. Is Spider-Man ready for a battle with the Terrible Twelve? Let's grab a packet of Jelly Belly beans, leap into Amazing Spider-Man #2, and see!

 

Story

Like fighting a tribe of Tuskin Raiders without a lightsaber, Peter's life has become a nightmare. But then, battling a supervillain dirty dozen will test even the strongest spider-hero. Worse, the civilians seem to shrink as he fights, making them rebel soldiers struggling to avoid getting squashed by a herd of rampaging AT-AT Walkers.

 

Recently, Spider-Man saved Bailey Briggs when he lost his anchor in the Web Of Life And Destiny. In Amazing Spider-Man #2, Peter Parker gets cut adrift from time. One moment, he fights for his life. The next, he awakens amid discussions at work. Like Michael Newman in Click, Peter’s universal remote has gone out of control. Peter is fast-forwarding through his life and awakening from battles to wonder what he has missed.  

 

 

 

Others consider Norman Osborn a geek celebrity, but Peter calls him a friend. Norman may be busy shutting down Oscorp, but he's still there for Peter. He wants to understand what happened to Peter in the Rhino's apartment. Given time, Norman can concoct an antidote. But whoever sent Rhino and Peter to hallucination hell is also harming people in East Harlem. Who knows how many people in New York could get hurt or killed from this strange malaise?

 

In Amazing Spider-Man #2, Peter races for a cure. Whoever infected Rhino also attacked him. Until he discovers the culprit, it could happen again. He could die. Worse, trapped in a land of illusions, he could kill others. And like Admiral Ackbar, Peter doesn’t want to wander into another trap. 

 

 

 

Art

Marte Gracia cloaks Spider-Man’s worst enemies in red and purple. As they battle amid yellow and orange, people in the full-color world behold the Arachnobatic Demolition Man. Monocolored foreground characters keep the focus on the action, while black-and-white memories weigh down Peter with guilt.

 

Pepe Larraz wraps Peter's hands like a martial artist in Amazing Spider-Man #2. Dr Maira Osmani-Milton seems an upscale version of nurse Shay Marken as she speaks of uplifting people through dignity. Brian Nehring smiles behind his glasses like Dr Ian Malcolm, linking memories of mayhem with the chaos detonating Peter's life. And in this era of deregulation, boots tramp through blood in explosive, cinemascope scenes. 

 

 

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Words grow bold for inflection, swell and change color for volume, and rarely shrink. White letters in edgy black balloons hail a villain's return, while green laughter suggests another revivification. Sound effects enliven a spectacular battle, an astonishing rescue, and a spine-tingling yell. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As Peter Parker plays detective, the clock is ticking. Shay Marken demands his best in their relationship. His new boss, Dr Maira Osmani-Milton, demands Peter’s complete focus at work. And then there is his childhood friend. Brian Nehring claims he is looking out for Peter but also admits he breeds magic mushrooms. After frightening New Yorkers and South Korean auto workers, Peter must discover the culprit before they blow up his life in Amazing Spider-Man #2.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.