Comic Review: Amazing Spider-Man (2018-) #4

Amazing Spider-Man (2018-) #4

Marvel Comics

Writer: Nick Spencer

Artist: Ryan Ottley

Spencer’s Spider-Man continues to be a bi-monthly enjoyment for me. The writing, plot and art remind me of a Silver Age story which is out there and wacky but also continues maintaining the core element of Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility. This issue begins to show the further ramifications of the little science experiment gone wrong as Spider-Man is going further out of control (no thanks to his new pet Tri-Sentinal) but Peter is now also being OVERLY responsible for everything and everyone to the point where it’s become a problem. It’s time to get the band back together, but some Spider’s are enjoying their new freedom.

I’ve been enjoying this plotline to start off Spencer’s run. It’s nice, fun and easy going and shows WHY Peter needs Spider-Man and why Spider-Man needs Peter. Sure it’s a trope we’ve seen and heard plenty of times, but it’s a safe start. Not to mention this is a nice new twist of Spider-Man literally arguing with his conscience and guilt in the flesh. This issue also shows the return of an old villain, and it’s a trope I love with Spencer. He has a passion for low level and forgotten villains (yes once more I will shill Superior Foes until my dying breath) and adding a bit more flesh to their fragile bones. Rather than just make them into a joke, Spencer does try and make them threatening or at least fun to read rather than the usual trope some writers have hyping up a hero by going “HA!HA! HEY GUYS REMEMBER THIS RIDICULOUS CHARACTER??? HAHA LET’S POINT OUT HOW STUPID THIS IS, TOTALLY META!” We get it; the Silver Age spawned many ridiculous things in comics, one of the big ones being villains.

Ottley’s art is still fantastic as always. This movement and the way he draws his characters helped with the inks and colours really give this bright, colourful look to Spider-Man, giving a sense of fun and adventure and very reminiscent of the old ’60s and ’70s look which is great. I’m honestly delighted with how nice this all looks and yes I do get flashbacks to Invincible, so that’s never a bad thing.

Spencer also seems to be hyping up Kraven at the start of each issue, or else he’s just screwing with us, and it’s all a red herring of this other hunter in the safari who’s going to be totally unrelated to what’s going on in Pete’s life. But if not, I’m glad we’re getting some world building from the get-go and moving it all at a steady pace. Peter’s new criminal roommate Boomerang, Prof. Lizard, the sinister demonic character lurking behind the shadows and the non-stop pre-OMD hints are just sprinkled about, and all fit nicely in the narrative, and I hope the payoff is going to be good. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: it FEELS like a Spider-Man comic, and I eagerly look forward to the next issue. I think it wraps up this whole Peter/Spider-Man arc; this does feel like the penultimate chapter so let’s see how this all concludes…..assuming he survives some happy-smashy androids and such.