The Hobgoblin has returned with a vengeance! After poisoning Queen’s Soda, The rhino nearly died of a heart attack. As Spidey investigated, he was also drugged himself. Dealing with as much daily grief as he does, Peter Parker nearly broken while high out of his mind. Nowhere near healthy to fight, Spidey has to battle through his inner demons to stop Hobgoblin once and for all!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 by Joe Kelly, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, & Joe Caramagna concludes the return arc for everyone’s favorite neighborhood wall-crawler.
This series has been on point since its’ return. An issue with this much on the line needs a joint review! Teaming up for this chapter is the GEO himself: Michael and yours truly (Ken – N.I. Editor-In-Chief).
Let’s take a closer look how this first arc wraps up! *** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
LET’S TALK STORY!
Michael: Kelly’s story gave me little heart palpatations, I’m NOT kidding. You know how hard that is to do from a comic book! And don’t worry, I’m OK for an old timer.
But jokes aside, this issue is “Amazing” in all the right ways. The dialogue between Hobgoblin and Spidey is on point, the art is second to none and this issues truly sings!
There’s also just right amount of emotion here, especially on page 16, a single frame that almost brings tears to your eye if you spot the significance of this truly iconic Spidey page.
It’s just a truly special issue with one of Spidey’s most iconic villains at the heart of the drama.
Ken: Kelly delivers a near-perfect ending for this story. Hobgoblin’s return as been filled with intrigue. Seeing the classic rogue orchestrate his plan has been extremely fun to watch. What has been even better is a return to form for ol’ web-Head. Outmatched physically and having no chance to win, Spidey still heads into action. The results remind everyone why Spidey connects with all readers on a different level.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW!
The action goes into many directions. It reflects the off-balance nature of a drugged Spider-Man. Readers do get an answer to a supporting character and their loyalties. It plays well into the big conflict ending. The writing is as classic as it gets. THIS is what the benchmark should be in telling modern Spider-Man tales. Kelly also wraps up a hanging loose thread since issue one. In dealing with the flashbacks, there has been some friction between Peter and someone he cares about. Kelly’s dialogue leave readers with a massive smile on their face when the dust settles. If this is any indication of where we are heading, all superhero fans need to jump on board now.
HOW ABOUT ART AND LETTERING?
Michael: One word on Larraz and his Spidey art – Stunning. There are notes of Dell’Otto and even Romita Jr, as well as many other influences in his amazing work. And while I compare him to some of my favorite Spider-Man artists, Larraz’s work stand on it’s own and speaks for itself 100%.
It’s like every page in this issue is a spalsh page, so much action and excitement, but so much emotion and promise for more as you “Turn a Page.” (Inside Nerd Initiative joke).
What’s truly unique that I haven’t seen anywhere else is his ability to highlight and raw out the main subject or main line of sight in a cultered action scene. Unlike other artists, Larraz adds an almost 3-D effect to his work, where your eye is drawn directly to the hero or villain he wants you to focus on. It’s subtle but so impactful.
Ken: In a short amount of time, Larraz has thrown his hat in for best Spidey artist. Even if JRJR is returning for next arc, many fans (including yours truly) will be on watch for Larraz’s return. The full image of Hobgoblin menacing Rand Industries sends an early message of what’s to come. It’s upended by a gorgeous two page splash of Spidey swinging in to make the save. From here on out, it’s off to the races with big screen combat.
Pacing is flying as Spidey races against the clock to win. Panel structure compliments this movement. Readers watch as the action is flying furiously off the pages. Hobgoblin’s menacing grin takes some moments but Spidey’s relentless attack wins out. The unlikely turning point is capped off with a terrifying full page image. Save room for one more full image and the fight comes to a show-stopping end. The fallout leaves time to tie up loose ends. This is especially impactful for the final page. One image will take president over the rest. It will leave the audience with a long wait for the next sage to start.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.8/10
Michael: 9.9 Boy oh boy, what an almost perfect issue. Kelly and Larraz make such a great team and bring vibes of 90’s Spidey, an era where if you missed even one issue, you regretted it. As Ken astutely put, Spider-Man is back and better than ever. Thank you, dynamic creative team for bringing to life our favorite superhero!!
Ken: 9.7 I have said it once and will say it more: SPIDER-MAN IS BACK, BAY-BAY! Kelly pens a chapter bursting with action and emotion. Larraz and the art time keep raising the bar with each page of art. This run has taken off and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Let us know in the comments below your thoughts on Amazing Spider-Man #5. Thanks for reading!
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