AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 Review

The one and only amazing, spectacular and friendly Spider-Man is back in action!  But should you care? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

The Greatest Super Hero of All Time RETURNS!

The world may have changed since Spidey’s been gone, but so has Peter Parker. This is a man with a second chance at life, and he’s not wasting a moment of it. Same Parker Luck, new Parker attitude. Putting the “friendly” back in the neighborhood, the “hero” back into “super hero,” and the “amazing” back into “Spider-Man!” Also returning: The recharged and reenergized ELECTRO!

What we get from this absolutely key release is a main story that sets the stage for upcoming arcs while dealing with the ramifications of SpOck and his Superior reign. Between those dynamics the creative team delivers a fitting start that stumbles slightly but never disappoints enough to make me doubt this volume.

Dan Slott pens a script that fits the mood of not only our main character but the devoted followers that have dealt with Peter’s absence. “Lucky to be Alive” hits its opening page with a flashback that sets up a forthcoming addition while giving seasoned comic goers the chance to re-experience a moment they know all too well. By exercising familiar muscles and playing up connections to the most recent iteration of the web-slinger, this release is a winner. But it does carry some dialogue that’s inflated with too much corn.

The visual side carries a striking display that embraces the chaotic but controlled whims of Humberto Ramos. From our protagonist to the secondary cast the talent has a keen eye for detail that gives each panel just enough personality to sell the quality of the yarn. Add in the colors by Victor Olazaba and you have a complete package that embraces the tropes that have made this property iconic since its original inception.

Following the main feature there are several quick reads that range from passable to downright mediocre. We begin with “Recapturing the Old Spark” starring a beleaguered Electro. Then we’re treated with a Black Cat re-emergence via the aptly named “Crossed Paths.” The next piece is awkward, as its team attempted to be funny when they just came off annoying in “How My Stuff Works.”

Closing out the comic are three journeys that were a clear cut above the rest. “Homecoming, Sort Of” by Peter David and illustrated by Will Sliney deals with Spider-Man 2099. Next up is “Kaine” by Chris Yost and David Baldeon which focuses in on the current Scarlet Spider. The finale belongs to “Learning to Crawl: Amazing Reality” by Dan Slott and Ramón Pérez which gives a truly modern perspective to the beginnings of our memorable hero.

Amazing Spider-Man #1 is the full package. It carries imperfections but more important is the fact that through its charisma it never ceases to entertain. Every hand that graces the page does so with care and for that reason and many more it earns a recommendation.