‘The Amazing Spider-Man #1’ Review
Written by Zeb Wells | Art by John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna | Published by Marvel Comics
They say if you live long enough you see everything come around full circle. Flairs, stonewashed jeans, Spider-Man first issues… I can’t even remember how many first issues of Spider-Man books I both have, and have read. Do we need another? To be fair, on this occasion, yes. The Ben Reilly storyline ended an era in a way, it’s Spidey’s 60th anniversary, and also John Romita JR. is back home where he belongs. This time, a new first issue just feels right. I’m also pleased that Zeb Wells is writing, someone I feel is consistently underrated as a writer. He usually puts more into one issue than some writers do in a dozen. Think of him as the anti-Bendis. So, all the right pieces are on the board, but can it deliver?
Firstly, love the Romita/Hanna cover. Has something very old school and classic about it. There’s a few haters out there apparently over Spidey’s body shape on it, but let’s remember it’s an artist’s interpretation and, importantly, it’s not a real person. It’s a drawing. Sorry negative fanboys, go back to worrying about who pumps up the Batmobile tyres. We open with a lovely Romita two page spread, with a clearly rattled and out of sorts Peter talking with a very concerned Aunt May. This is 6 months after the end of the Ben Reilly storyline, and as all good Spider-Man stories do, it starts with Peter in a low place. Things can only get better though, right? Not so fast. This is Peter Parker and Zeb Wells, I’m guessing this is just a pit stop on the way down. Anyway, for now, Peter’s back, even though he’s seemingly upset all his nearest and dearest in one way or another. Even MJ.
One thing Wells has always done well is finding a good hook not only with heroes but even more so with villains. He writes great villains. We sit in on a crime boss get together, with Tombstone the new guy in charge, but all the old faces in attendance. The Rose, son of the now-departed Wilson Fisk, is looking to get in on some action and he’s not taking no for an answer. Tombstone agrees rather too easily. Hands on guns time, methinks. Oh, and there’s a nice little subplot about Peter’s friend Randy asking Tombstone for his daughter’s hand in marriage, but I can’t tell you everything. Go buy the book.
Peter’s still Peter of course, though a very out of sorts one, and he’s still trying to straighten out everything. Get rid of the beard, check. Mend (partially) bridges with Johnny Storm, check. Try to stay out of trouble, but spot White Rabbit and some goons tool up and head off somewhere and get involved when you know you shouldn’t, check. Give Romita an excuse for a great full-page shot of Spidey swinging back into action, double check. Now this is a Spider-Man book. Peter arrives just as a deal is going down to sell The Rose a Goblin Glider, things of course go a little bit South. Explosions, fighting, some thwip thwip action. The Rose blowing up Tombstone’s townhome and trying to take over New York is the cherry on a very nice cake. Love it. That ending, though? Ouch. Kick a man when he’s down Zeb Wells, why don’t you?
Now THAT is how you do a first issue. Simple enough for a new reader to jump straight in and enjoy, but layered enough that longtime readers get a whole lot of stuff out of it as well. Beautifully drawn by Romita JR. and Hanna, it captures the feel of those classic Spidey stories from Romita’s first run. Some panels are gorgeous, both action panels and the more intimate close up shots. Zeb Wells’ script is pitch-perfect, both in terms of characterisation and plot. He juggles resolving some leftover threads with weaving some new ones, and it all links together beautifully. That last page will have a few people talking, that’s for sure.
Spider-Man works best when equal time is given to both Peter Parker and to Spider-Man, almost by treating them as two separate characters, and this issue nails that approach perfectly. This title looks like it will have legs.
Eight legs, obviously.
