The certifiable big swing in Amazing Spider-Man under Joe Kelly, Hellgate, took his swing at Spider-Man in the last few issues, and won. Now, in Amazing Spider-Man #9, we witness the fallout of a Peter Parker who couldn’t defeat a godlike creature who talks like a Dungeons and Dragons party member. It’s an issue that takes a darker turn for the series as Peter’s flashbacks continue to add a darker tone all their own.
Amazing Spider-Man #9 is a big shift in tone, in part because Romita Jr. is taking a break and Michael Dowling takes over as guest artist. The tonal shift is also due to the story jumping ahead in time, as we last saw Spider-Man’s limp body getting punched, but this issue shows him in a cast and using a cane. This is a Spider-Man who got whooped and is now healing, and seems a bit afraid to jump back in.
Before we see Peter in the present, the issue opens with a flashback inside a department store. Aunt May is looking at clothes while Peter dives into the racks, playing with his Captain America action figure. It’s a moment I think many of us lived when we were young. His last words connect with the present headspace Peter is in when he says, “I’m strong enough to handle…” before looking up at some off-panel threat. It’s a touch foreboding, and it’s unclear if we’ll get to see more of this memory.
Shocker with the upgrade.
Credit: Marvel
Instead of going further with this flashback, Kelly and Dowling dive into some action with Shocker. His powers are clearly amped up, although it doesn’t matter to Peter, who he calls out in his civilian clothes. Peter simply walks away, which is a shock. We’ve seen Spider-Man in this headspace before – heck, we saw it in 8 Deaths of Spider-Man just a few months ago – though the reason for this new outlook on superhero work is left a mystery by the end of the issue.
And that, dear readers, is only the first four pages! Needless to say, Kelly packs this issue with subplots and character moments. Take, for instance, Peter and his old friend Brian, who pull off a goofy introduction to something they’ve been working on. The science nerd that is Peter Parker is alive and well.
There are also check-ins with Norman and Aunt May, but fans will be talking about Mary Jane and her interaction with Peter. Not since becoming Venom have they interacted, and the handling of this news is shocking to say the least. Something is seriously going on with Peter, and Kelly makes you die to know what is really going on. Outside of the usual mainstays, Shay included, is another appearance by the teen hero who is louder than he is skilled. All in all, a good jumping-on point, all things considered.
Dowling’s is at times stunning, like the full-page splash cliffhanger page, or the way he uses shadow in the final scene. At times, the art can be stiff, like an MJ full-page splash, or a somewhat boring page as Peter takes the train and walks to work.
Amazing Spider-Man #9 delivers a moody and introspective chapter that deepens the Hellgate fallout while pushing Peter Parker into uncharted emotional territory. Joe Kelly balances nostalgia, suspense, and character work in a way that feels both familiar and refreshingly raw, though some uneven artwork and thematic déjà vu slightly dull the impact.
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