Amazing Spider-Man is new again, or at least the numbering and current creative team are! Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr. kicked off their new Spidey salvo one month ago and it offered many mysteries. Might Amazing Spider-Man #2 give us the answers we seek? If you expect answers in the second issue, you’re likely as naive as Spider-Man!
Given the cliffhanger of the first issue and the cover to Amazing Spider-Man #2, you’re likely expecting big Mary Jane answers, but alas this issue is mostly about Tombstone. He’s the main villain of this story arc, which takes place months after something huge happened that changed Spider-Man’s life. Before that story gets underway, Wells reintroduces Norman Osborn into Peter’s life at the start of this issue. He’s a bit cleaner, definitely not evil, and trying to help Peter out.
Given the up and down relationship these two have had–definitely leaning down most times–it’s tricky to get a read on this early scene. Is Norman playing Peter? Why would Peter agree to help him? The time jump doesn’t help, but if you’re a trusting person it’s compelling enough to see their relationship is in a different place now.
Peter Parker continues to be far edgier, though, which is obvious from the last issue and this one too. An interesting point is made about Peter being too smart for his own good, but it’s his temper that plays into his failures in this issue. Once again, we don’t know what he did to turn Mary Jane away and make all the heroes hate him and he’s not the happy-go-lucky Peter we’ve come to expect.
If someone speaks in red, run!
Credit: Marvel
Peter is definitely still silly when it comes to banter with villains. Wells understands this aspect of Spider-Man and it works. Spider-Man is suited up far more in this issue than the last, but don’t expect a lot of plot progression in the suit either. The massive mystery gets absolutely no development here, which is frustrating. It doesn’t help the plot is moving slowly, with each issue taking place over one day. The story goes back to basics which makes it easier to follow, but it’s also not doing quite enough to make us care about Tombstone or Peter’s dilemma. That’s due to a lack of answers.
Romita Jr. continues to impress in his classic style with a blocky look that gives everything a thick feel. Marcio Menyz aids in that with good lighting. Scott Hanna supplies inks on this issue too, capturing nice details in Peter’s hair or every line in Tombstone’s face. It may not be immediately obvious, but this story arc is darker in tone. A glance at how Spider-Man’s costume is a darker red, blue, and usually mixed in with lots of blacks helps convey that. Given the state of Peter’s attitude, it suits the book.
Amazing Spider-Man is seemingly still trying to figure out what it wants to be, so your mileage may vary. A lack of answers surrounding the big mystery paired with a slow-moving plot makes this issue feel like catch-up to something that’s still very unclear. That said, it nails the Spider-Man scenes which should entertain most.
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