Will the real Spider-Man please set up? After Hellgate decimated the wall-crawler, things have changed. New York witnessed a vicious hero emerge after defeat. This new attitude has ventured into the world of Peter Parker. There is something very different with the beloved hero.
Matters do not get easier when Spidey confronts Peter. No, that isn’t a typo.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 (LEGACY #975) by Jason Loo, Lee Gatlin, Joe Kelly, Saladin Ahmed, Pepe Larraz, Pere Pérez, John Romita Jr. & Joe Caramagna takes readers into a celebration chapter!
Two Spider-Men deserves two reviewers for the book! Teaming up for this review are Michael (The G.E.O.) and yours truly (Ken – ODPH Podcast/N.I. Editor-In-Chief).
Let’s see where the web trails lead this time! *** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
HOW ABOUT THE STORY?
Editor’s Note: The two main stories are penned by Kelly. These are the short tales to celebrate the milestone occasion.
“Rapid Return” by Ahmed, Pérez & Hollowell dives into a hero trying to fill Spidey’s void. The writing locks in on a reluctant soul trying to do good. Readers have some great panels of action. Seeing the face-off with Boomerang gives way to a heavy burden lifted. Readers see how the art walks them through Rapid’s thoughts. It’s a nice compliment to the Web-Head’s Legacy.
Gatlin steps in for “Spider Mayonnaise”. It’s a fun story about the struggles of the perfect sandwich. The tale plays into the quirkiness Spidey is known for. Short, sweet and to the point.
“In the City..” is a fun nod to Spider-Man and NYC. Loo brings to life a normal swing through the City. It is a solid piece to end events after 975 issues.
MICHAEL: We’ve got a couple killer stories so let’s break them down!
Joe Kelly takes on the writing for “Broken Mirror” and damn if New York isn’t missing its Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. You have a surprise hero who has stepped up in Spidey’s absence, you have a Peter Parker wannabe and much more.
This story shines and while a lot is going on, it doesn’t feel like too much. That’s classic Kelly, he’s able to make everything slow down, even while the world is burning around our main characters. I’m actually glad they broke this issue into multiple storylines, so that way we can enjoy this arc from differing perspectives.
Kelly is also the scribe on “Broken Mirror,” which keeps the underlying, overall story consistent involving the real Peter and the numerous other players involved in this issue.
He really is telling two tales from opposite sides of the galaxy, but you can see the cohesion and the tension all the same.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW
KEN: As for “Broken Mirror”, Kelly throws some wild curves into the puzzling case. The flashback moment with Pete as “Young Cap” is a heartwarming one. It is much different than the current state of affairs. “Peter” and “Spider-Man” continue their face-off from last issue. After some punches thrown, the ruse begins to fall apart.
Readers see the reveal slowly unveil itself. It is a surprise that makes ironic sense. This spills into the abrupt end of their fight. Kelly brings in Felicia Hardy as another voice in the matter provides some breaks in the drama. Their experience is one that leads into the other major reveal. The monologue flowing the pages belongs to an unlikely source. How this ultimately plays out is going to be a can’t miss moment.
Kelly does answer the question of “Who is Peter Parker” in “the second story, “Broken Man”. Having him FAR away from NYC is an understatement. Space odysseys are tricky involving the Web Head. In this circumstance, the writing allows him to be rebuilt with mixed results.
Winding up on a spaceship is one thing. Working with Xanto proves to be more deceptive in nature. It gives a touch of Hollywood Horror movies. At any given moment, the shoe will drop. Kelly starts this off with a shocking moment. Xanto’s push for scientific growth turns in a dastardly manner. This leads into a predictable but still exciting fight. Once a winner is declared, the final panel leaves way more questions than answers. This gets a huge assist from the art.
LET’S TALK ART AND LETTERING!
MICHAEL: We got John Romita JR handling the art in “Broken Mirror” – two Spider-Men, two Peter Parker’s or two imposters?!?! This feels like the a throwback Spider-Man and I love it!
When it comes to dredging up old Spider-Man history with a twist, no one does it better than JR.
He’s able to draw action and gravitas while also really having a calming hand when everything feels and seems up in the air.
In “Broken Man,” Pepe Larraz brings a different take to a very confusing and heartfelt situation.
Our Peter is alive and he’s actually trying to get stronger, with the help of a new friend Dr Starblood … or so we think. Turns out, Starblood has been playing at his own game and Peter is not having it.
In a sci-fi type story like this, Larraz gives us a smoother touch, though the action is just as explosive. It’s a sharp contrast to Romita, but still feels right when reading about Marvel’s most iconic hero.
It’s two classic Spider-Man styles we’ve seen over the years and they are both appropriate for a time like the one that Peter AND Spider-Man are going through currently.
KEN: Romita Jr. & company kick events off in “Broken Mirror” with a classic throwback. It’s a strong contrast from where the present events start. The art doesn’t wait long to throw hands with the parties involved. A two page split rings the bell for the combustible fight. Pacing picks up until its time for the first reveal.
Readers watch the subtle acts leading into this stage. The close-up on the changing face leads to a more clear resolution of the fight. Its’ complimented by the Tombstone cameo. The cold expressions never stray too far away. This is very unlikely the erratic “Peter.” The art spotlights the true intentions of this character. Twisted is an understatement. Readers get their other reveal in a more calm way. Panel structure eases into the twist flawlessly. This helps to transition where the book goes next.
“Broken Man” lets Larraz tear loose on the images. Seeing a broken Peter on a near full shot makes a big statement. The use of smaller panels illustrates how much time has wore Parker down. This changes after a space rescue. A near full shot displays Parker in much better shape. This moves into his new surroundings which are anything but normal.
Readers get a near full shot of Xanto’s secrets. The eventual turn pivots into an excellent fight. It leads to some excellent action shots. Larraz completely understands how to maximize every strike thrown. It doesn’t matter of panel size. There is no wasted motion. The real “return” of Spider-Man is given a full page panel. This results in more great action shots before the startling close. Readers see more than bargained for on the final panel. It sends the issue into its’ bonus tales with much intrigue. Can’t ask for much more than that.
OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
MICHAEL 9: What’s truly special in what Kelly has done is take all the parts we love about Spider-Man and put a NEW twist on his story. After more than 60 years, this is VERY hard to do. He continues to shock and surprise us at a time when Spidey fans needed it most!
KEN: 9. After 975 issues, the world of Spider-Man still remains Amazing in its’ adventures. Kelly shakes up the status quo with his stories. Romita Jr., Larraz and their teams take readers on quite the journey. Factor in the great side tales & you have the formula for a winning anniversary issue.
Let us know your thoughts on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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