The throwdown most of us saw coming takes place in Amazing Spider-Man #41, out today, with Kingpin facing off against Spider-Man and his amazing friends. One friend is pretty new, as Tombstone has hung up his gangster duties and only wants to protect his daughter. She’s taking over for him, but Kingpin is far more interested in making sure his son, The Rose, takes over. It’s a throwdown issue if you’ve ever seen one, with She-Hulk and Typhoid Mary joining in on the phone.
In addition, this is also a bridge issue, so don’t expect many developments. Fans who enjoy John Romita Jr.’s art will love Amazing Spider-Man #41. He gets to run rampant with cool double-page layouts and plenty of punching, slashing, and even biting in this issue.
Romita Jr. hammers home the brutality of Tombstone and Kingpin, who are big bruisers who bludgeon more than precisely kick or punch. The fight scene adequately shows how Spidey and She-Hulk are pulled away, allowing Kingpin and Tombstone to go at it as viciously as possible. The way Romita Jr. has Kingpin rip Tombstone’s teeth out with his head is a sight to see.
Writer Zeb Wells throws in some fun character wrinkles, like Typhoid Mary freaking Spidey out or She-Hulk being a total badass while she holds back. Beetle’s all-women crew tussle a bit, and White Rabbit has a few cool lines. Wells also writes She-Hulk well as she’s got a chip on her shoulder but is also well aware of her power.
I like how Romita takes care to show the different sizes and shapes of these characters.
Credit: Marvel
Some developments are taking place outside of the big fight, like Madame Masque deciding on a move to make and Beetle throwing down with The Rose. These scenes add little, though, as it’s mostly about Kingpin and Tombstone’s fight. For a $4.99 comic, this issue lacks plot progression and, more importantly, high stakes. Aside from a slight scare for She-Hulk, none of these characters seem to be in that much danger. Kingpin and Tombstone are nearly invulnerable, while Spider-Man is fighting most of Kingpin’s goons, who we know he can handle easily. It makes the danger level quite low, and since most of the issue is contained in three rooms, the story takes a break from the actual war taking place in the streets.
If you’re wondering about Spider-Man, he continues to be a side character at best. There’s a glimmer of his quippy attitude, but the focus is pretty much on everyone else. Even She-Hulk has more impactful moments in this issue. Considering it’s Spider-Man’s book it’s odd he’s barely in the book, but that’s been the case with most of the “Gang War” event.
How much you like Amazing Spider-Man #41 will depend on your desire to see a different kind of fight scene. Often with superhero comics, fight scenes involve price and agile fight choreography, but here it’s two bulls going at it head to head, quite literally at one point.
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