Amazing Spider Man 78 featured Columns 

Don’t Miss This: “The Amazing Spider-Man”

By | November 10th, 2021
Posted in Columns | % Comments

There are a lot of comics out there but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we take a look at Marvel’s current flagship Spider-Man title, “The Amazing Spider-Man.” The Spider-Man ongoing series is currently exploring ‘The Beyond’ storyline which is shipping a staggering 3-times a month! The series has a huge team of creators working on the title including Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar, Zeb Wells, and Kelly Thompson. Thus far the artists in the book include Arthur Adams on covers, Travel Foreman, Patrick Gleason, and Sara Pichelli on interiors. Joe Caramagna has lettered each issue so far! We have seen a few different colorists including Marcio Menyz, Nolan Woodard, and Jim Campbell. There’s an army of creators working on this comic book series and plenty of reasons not to skip out on ‘The Beyond’ era of “The Amazing Spider-Man”!

Why can't we be friends?

Who is this by?

As mentioned earlier ‘The Beyond’ era of “The Amazing Spider-Man” is created by a large team in order to ship the comic book series on time. The creators include Saladin Ahmed who started at Marvel in 2017 working on an acclaimed “Black Bolt” mini-series. “Black Bolt” made Ahmed a creator to watch at The House of Ideas! Cody Ziglar’s writing debut occurred recently at Marvel with a special story in Ahmed’s “Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25” published in 2021! Writer Zeb Wells is a Marvel veteran whose first published Marvel work launched in 2002 with “Spider-Man’s Tangled Web” #12. Fun fact: Zeb Wells was even writing “The Amazing Spider-Man” last time it went weekly in 2008. Kelly Thompson started at Marvel in 2015 writing an issue of “Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps” #1.

According to Marvel’s website, Arthur Adams’ Marvel comic book debut is a cover on “Marvel Fanfare” #13 from 1984. Artist Travel Foreman’s first Marvel work is credited as “Supreme Powers” tie-in “Doctor Spectrum” which was published in 2004. Sara Pichelli’s first published work by Marvel was an inking job for “NYX: No Way Home” #3 back in 2008. Patrick Gleason returned to Marvel in 2019 with “Amazing Spider-Man” #25 but his first work for Marvel was all the way back in 1999 with “X-Men Unlimited” #22. Marcio Menyz is first credited as a Marvel colorist with “Rocket Raccoon” #4 in 2016. Nolan Woodard’s first Marvel is work is “Avengers Assemble” #17 from 2013. Jim Campbell’s first Marvel coloring work is credited as “Star Wars Tales” #18 from 1999. Next up we have the final entry with letterer Joe Caramagna debuting at Marvel with “Ghost Rider” #4 from 2005.

What’s it all about?

In the conclusion of Nick Spencer and Patrick Gleason’s Spider-Man run, a close friend of Peter’s has just passed away. On top of dealing with all of the grief and angst that comes with losing a loved one, the mysterious Ben Reilly has returned to New York City. The first couple of issues in the fun so far have directly explored the relationship between Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, and Spider-Man.

What makes it so great? 

“The Amazing Spider-Man” #75, 76, and 77 have contained light action with a heavy dose of characterization. My favorite part about these first couple of issues is how the creators of this series don’t force readers to draw conclusions about what they are seeing on the page. Peter Parker has a contentious dinner with Ben Reilly in ‘The Beyond’ debut chapter and readers are left to draw their own conclusions on Reilly and Parker’s behavior. Characterization this nuanced can be lacking in recent films so the comics are a great place to experience these characters. Wells turns in a great script for issue #75 that slowly pieces together the first steps of Spidey’s ‘The Beyond’ era together. It is also refreshing to see Marvel not cram too much plot in the space of one issue as well!

The creative team and sharp level of subtext returns for issue #76. Wells expands on the developments and changes the relationship dynamic with Peter and Ben. Wells uses the page here to set up Reilly’s new approach to Spider-Man with a direct reference to the ‘90s that will have comic book fans of a certain age gasping with delight. Marvel’s dedication currently to the two Spider-Men making up this title is both depressing and hilarious. I hope the team will be able to maintain the current characterization of Reilly despite the changes in writing staff.

Continued below

Artist Patrick Gleason’s work on this issue is beautiful. Gleason appears to be dedicated to drawing nimble, appealing figures that offer lots of expressions. The horror elements Gleason brought to the previous “Amazing Spider-Man” run are also back here to great effect. There’s a page in issue #75 with Uncle Ben that will stay with you after the issue is closed. Gleason has a page in issue #76 that is remarkable as well featuring both Ben and Peter. Gleason has a ton of fun contrasting the current storylines between the two heroes in a visual perspective. Gleason’s careful approach to the art allows the entire series to carry even more subtext than it would have from the script alone. Wells and Gleason have proven to be an excellent Spider-Man team that I hope Marvel will bring back for more projects!

That looks kind of sharp?

Kelly Thompson ushers in our first creative team change for issue #77. Thompson is joined by the excellent Sara Pichelli whose Marvel art is a rare treat that should not be missed! Thompson continues that level of subtlety from past issues with a story focused on the high and low points of Ben Reilly in his current incarnation. Issue #77 does a really careful job giving insight into the hero without telling readers too much about where he is headed. The end of the issue brings a level of violence that makes this Spider-Man series feel unique. Janine Godbe is a supporting cast member that also brings out the best parts of Reilly! Thompson has a good instinct to examine their relationship before bringing Peter back into the picture.

Pichelli’s artwork in this installment is stunning! Pichelli draws a slender Spider-Man that reacts to the environment with huge, beady eyes for maximum emotion. When Reilly shares an intimate moment with Janine later on in the issue, Pichelli adjusts details of the facial features and carries an emphasis on body language as well. Pichelli uses a lot of effects in her art to capture as much emotion as she can page over the page. This also makes Pichelli an incredibly competent artist for drawing stories with lots of fighting. Pichelli’s work here is versatile and the best set of art on the series to date.

How can you read it?

“The Amazing Spider-Man” will be published most Wednesdays by Marvel Comics so make sure to keep up! For trade readers, “The Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond” Vol. 1 collects issues #75-80 and #78 and has a January 19, 2022 release date.


//TAGS | Don't Miss This

Alexander Jones

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