Spider-Man is more complicated than ever, with not one, or even two, but three Spider-Men running around. No, this isn’t a clone saga redux, but a complicated situation where Peter Parker is off-world and Norman and Ben Reilly are filling in for him. Last issue gave us a better sense of why Norman has taken on the mantle of Spider-Man, but in Amazing Spider-Man #13, we’re entirely focused on Peter…in… space!
Amazing Spider-Man #13 feels like an opening issue to a new story arc. We’ve seen Spider-Man in space since the milestone issue got Peter from point A to point B, but now point B is completely changed after he released trapped “experiments,” and the alien who helped him is now at the mercy of his victims. Spider-Man is seemingly in charge of a ragtag group of mostly new characters, save for Rocket Raccoon. Why Spider-Man is the leader is tackled in the narrative; however, the issue opens with the crew mid-attack on a checkpoint of fascist jerks. This gives the start ample action before things cut to a few days earlier.
“A few days earlier” is pretty much where we left off as Spider-Man kicked Dr. Xanto Starblood’s butt after discovering a bunch of aliens in cages. Spider-Man doesn’t want anything to happen to Xanto, even if the prisoners disagree. Joe Kelly uses these two scenes to amp up expectations and play against them. Take, for instance, Raelith of the Wretched, who gleefully agrees that the prisoners should kill Xanto. This scene, set days earlier, crosscuts nicely with her kicking butt with her sci-fi staff in the now.
I love how Spider-Man is on the top edge of the bottom panel.
Credit: Marve
Your expectations are gleefully challenged over and over, making for interesting interactions and even more interesting aliens you’ll want to get to know as the series goes on. Additionally, Kelly gets to deliver a rousing speech to Spider-Man about saving others and striving for improvement, reminding us of Peter’s inherent goodness.
Artist Pepe Larraz will blow you away, especially with Spider-Man’s new gold space suit. It’s the best of both worlds since it mimics symbiote moves like tendrils, but has a techno look that suits space and Spider-Man’s science side. A couple of visual jokes work splendidly too, mostly using Rocket, and you’ll feel the force of these characters by Spider-Man’s side. Honestly, watch out, Guardians of the Galaxy, Larraz makes you feel this little ragtag team could give them a run for their money.
This issue also features a major supervillain appearance, which is a nice surprise. Larraz makes him look foreboding and actually questions if Spidey and his crew can beat him, with a fun introduction of Symbie’s powers to boot. Symbie is a symbiote goo-ball of joy, similar to the vibe Jeff the Land Shark gives.
With all that, you’d think there couldn’t be more, but there is. The cliffhanger ups Spider-Man’s game, putting him in a position that’s not very common. Kelly doesn’t let us forget there’s a seriousness to Spider-Man not wanting to go back to Earth just yet.
Amazing Spider-Man #13 successfully launches us into Spider-Man’s space era, and it leans into cosmic adventure without losing Peter Parker’s trademark heart. With dazzling art, memorable new characters, and a mix of humor and high stakes, the issue proves Spider-Man can lead a spacefaring team as compellingly as he swings through New York.
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