Amazing Spider-Man #16:
Worlds are about to collide. Norman Osborn has been playing hero as Spider-Man, Ben Reilly has been acting as Peter and the real Peter Parker you ask – he’s been in space getting stronger in advance of an epic showdown with Hellgate.
Hellgate destroyed Peter in their last encounter and New York City has been picking up the pieces ever since. But after last month’s issue, Peter Parker might be close to coming home.
Creative Team:
WRITER: Joe Kelly
Artist: John Romita JR
Inker: Scott Hanna
Color Artists: Marcio Menyz
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
The Art:
The Spider Legend himself John Romita JR returns and his art has never looked better. With all these characters coming into play – Tombstone, Norman, Ben and more, only an icon and especially one that pencils in the gritty, dark way JR does, can bring this book home for the fans.
The jagged lines, the character profile views, the exciting and dangerous action – all just feel heavier and more impactful with someone like Romita behind the helm.
And of course, Scott Hanna is the man who makes JR’s pencils truly come to life. They truly are an epic duo!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #15 – A SACRIFICE LEADS TO AN ALLY
The Writing:
With Kelly’s writing, you really can feel the emptiness and the missing piece that is Peter Parker and what he means to not only his friends, but to NYC.
No one has put more depth into the remorse and action that Osborn has taken to not only help his former protege, but the people of the city he loves. Kelly and truly created a new side to Norman, one we’ve really never seen before.
He’s also done that with Tombstone and Ben, two former foes of Peter’s. But those two now feel just as lost without that north star in NYC that is the real Spider-Man.
But the jealousy that Ben has carried for all these years still remains as well. Will that come into play in the near future, me thinks yes!
Overall Grade: 9.5/10
Man, Kelly has done it again. The battle between Norman and Tombstone, the relief from the latter that he is NOT really Spider-Man. And the constant internal monologue of all these characters, waiting, wondering if and when the real Peter Parker will make his return.
