Comic Review: Amazing Spider-Man (2018-) #5

Amazing Spider-Man (2018-) #5

Marvel Comics

Writer: Nick Spencer

Artist: Ryan Ottley

Well, the first arc for Spencer’s spectacular Spidey story (try saying that five times fast) has wrapped up, and I’ve got to say it has been a fresh and promising start to his new run. It feels like reading the Spider-Man we know and love again but maybe a bit more humorous than usual (and that’s not a bad thing). This issue finishes off Peter (and Spider-Man’s) conundrum of being split in half, his different sides of power and responsibility divided but will they make it up before the end of the issue and save the day?

So far Spencer’s done a bang-up job in my opinion, and this series has been very enjoyable. Leaning more towards his Superior Foes and The Fix style of writing in regards to humor and heart, it suits Spider-Man compared to some of the shlock we’ve had to deal with during the seemingly never-ending ‘Slott Saga.’ Something that’s earned him brownie points in my eyes has been how he writes Peter and MJ; a couple I’ve missed being together since that lovely event (you know the one). Spencer is driving down the point of “I love you for being you, not just Spider-Man,” which brings a tear to my eye every time, dammit.

Back to the funny side where Spencer writes in everyone’s favorite rogue and now-roommate Boomerang, even if it’s for a page, I began getting joyous flashbacks to Superior Foes, and by the looks of it, we’ll be getting a bit more antics with Fred. It was also nice to see Black Ant and Taskmaster pop up again, who (hopefully) might make a reappearance. I mean this is a Spencer book so, of course, he’s going to use his favorites. His reckless Spider-Man has also been a huge laugh, one of the best lines popped up this issue:

“Why do you keep saying the name of a delicious brand of instant rice?”

Quality.

You all know what I think about the fantastic Ryan Ottley and his art, and you all know how much I love him on this series so ‘Nuff said. However, I will make a teensy tiny complaint about the reuse of Felicia’s face for her number icon from the first issue, I mean it’s a tiny annoyance but really, Ottley? She was in the middle of an alien invasion, not posing for pictures. Plus, what an odd picture to use. But it’s a small complaint, nothing overly jarring.

I got war flashbacks from Invincible seeing Peter lying on the ground all bloody and bruised, which was also nice as I’m currently rereading Invincible. Say… Mark and Pete do look kind of similar… as do MJ and Eve… HANG ON.

The first arc is always the best to judge how things are going to go. The writer’s and artist’s style, humor and artwork are usually judged as they want to set the bar and by God did they set it high on the promising list. Amazing Spider-Man is a great and fun book that’s back to form after all these years of “okay” to “meh” stories. Spencer is already setting up future arcs with new antagonists and plot points that have me more than eager to see where he takes us next. With the release of the new PS4 game and this series, it’s safe to say it’s a good time to be a Spidey fan again. Thwip!