Amazing Spider-Man #20 Review

While Spider-Man’s life unravels over in the Clone Conspiracy event series, the main Spidey series ties into it with the return of Doctor Octopus. How is he back? What does he have to do with the Jackal? And most importantly…

…is it good?

Amazing Spider-Man #20 (Marvel Comics)

Observations

• Poor Otto. No matter how many times he cheats death, the afterlife always spits him back into reality with a horrible haircut.
• So THAT’S how his consciousness made it back. Makes sense (kind of).

• Dirty rotten grave robbers!
• Matrix Otto > Corpse Otto
• This brain fight is kind of lame, but I’m really starting to like this version of the Jackal.
• I get that it’s nice to have his body back, but maybe Otto should shed a few pounds before he’s declared “vital and in his prime.”
• Seriously, this version of the Jackal is my jam.

Is It Good?

The issue as a whole, however, is not nearly as good as I’d expected it to be.

While I love the way Dan Slott and Christos Gage are writing Miles Warren, Otto Octavius slips beyond a “classic” portrayal into one that is dangerously close to becoming a parody. I realize that there is a lot of story to be covered, but the fact that he’s actually expositing out loud (rather than narrating) makes the already far-fetched story feel even more ridiculous.

And the “brain fight” between Spidey and Doc Ock….ugh.

That being said, I do like the way Slott sets up Dr. Octopus’ return—especially since it ties in with my favorite comic event of all time (Spider-Verse).

As always, Giuseppe Camuncoli’s art is superb. Getting to see him draw a couple of classic Spider-Man villains (along with the cool Jackal redesign) is a real treat. Now that we’ve got the flashback setup out of the way, I can’t wait to see him draw Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus in the first proper battles they’ve had in years (the brain fight DOES NOT count).

Combine that with Jackal’s fantastic characterization, and Amazing Spider-Man #20 is still worth picking up—just maybe not the best candidate for cloning.