After two issues of escalating tension and psychological chaos, Amazing Spider-Man #4 arrives in comic shops this week. The debut issue reintroduced Peter Parker with humor and high-stakes action, while the second plunged him into a disorienting spiral of fear and hallucinations. Now, with Peter’s world unraveling, the return of the Hobgoblin threatens to push him over the edge, but not before Itsy Bitsy has her way with him!
In this issue, Peter grapples with Hobgoblin, which is made difficult to ultra-hard thanks to hallucinations that send him back to his past. These flashbacks reveal a troubling time when Peter questioned Aunt May and Uncle Ben with a rebellious streak. The flashbacks are close to the truth, though there’s a tinge of guilt that amplifies the torture he feels reliving the moments.
What makes these flashbacks extra spectacular is how Pepe Larraz intertwines Spider-Man taking hits from his enemies. As Peter runs from his parental figures, he kicks Spider-Man, for instance, or later reacts in real time to a flashback drinking session as if a beer shoved in his face is a punch to the jaw. It’s a clever way to show how his past actions hurt him in the moment while also getting literally hit all over his body.
Larraz seriously dazzles throughout, with great action with Itsy Bitsy and impressive attacks by Hobgoblin. There’s also a neat fish-eye lens effect to further make the flashbacks bizarre and off-putting.
It’d be a crime not to mention Marte Gracia’s colors, which stun from lighting to fire effects. Some of the most striking pages are thanks to the contrast of blue flashback and Spider-Man’s costume in the present.
The fire effects are…well…fire!
Credit: Marvel
As Peter’s personal and superhero lives collide, he must confront the possibility that his greatest enemy may be his own mind. Joe Kelly’s angle is exciting, as these past scenes add to the already robust catalog of Spider-Man, making for new potential to explore his personality, not to mention the exploration of underage drinking, which isn’t usually explored in squeaky-clean superheroes like Spider-Man.
Kelly is also a master at Spider-Man dialogue and internal monologuing. You’re right there with Peter and feel for him.
Outside of action and flashbacks, there’s also some plot development. Kelly entwines Peter’s day job, Hobgoblin, and a serious threat to the public in an innovative way. It makes for an economical plot progression in a mostly action-focused issue.
The Amazing Spider-Man #4 masterfully blends psychological introspection with visceral superhero action, delivering one of the most inventive and emotionally raw issues of the run so far. Joe Kelly digs deep into Peter Parker’s psyche, while Pepe Larraz’s dazzling, surreal visuals elevate every moment—especially the fusion of memory and combat. It’s a standout chapter that pushes Spider-Man into new territory while honoring the character’s emotional legacy.
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