Amazing Spider-Man is souped up on magic and armed with eight lives, but it sure is painful to die. In part 5 of “8 Deaths of Spider-Man,” writer Joe Kelly taps back in today with Amazing Spider-Man #65. Spider-Man defeated one twin but now faces a Scion of Cyttorak with a different battle plan. Fists and fighting are out, but making Peter feel sorrow and hopelessness is on the table. It’s an issue that tests Spider-Man’s greatest power, his ability to carry on fighting when all hope is lost!
Amazing Spider-Man #65 opens with Cyra, who holds out a red glass ball to Spider-Man. She’s much calmer than her twin Callix, who is clearly beaten but wants to keep duking it out. In a refreshingly casual chat, Cyra explains to Spider-Man what her challenge will entail, and it’s as simple as Spider-Man holding the ball for as long as it shows him his friends dying.
The latest trial is a nice change of pace, as Spider-Man isn’t punching his way through it but simply enduring. He first must see an older Aunt May die horribly, then MJ and the deaths keep coming from there. Kelly integrates a new character who ends up being a source for Spider-Man to face as he holds the ball. This confrontation allows Cafu to draw Spider-Man breaking down, who was mostly stoic under the mask until a pivotal sequence.
A different trial is about to start.
Credit: Marvel
The later sequence is full of panels, with many folks passing away. It adds to the tragic nature of what Spider-Man is enduring and reminds him he can take a lot of punches emotionally.
The change of pace from a fight comic to a thought-provoking battle does get repetitive, however. It’s interesting to see a possible end for characters, but knowing these deaths probably won’t happen leaves you wondering why you needed so many. Kelly gets to say something about each, more or less, through their deaths, but it leaves Spider-Man an observer rather than a character taking action.
This builds towards a cliffhanger you won’t see coming, especially for Spider-Man purists. At its root, Kelly is exploring death and how we can all see the futility in life, knowing we all die someday, so it’s relatable to see Spider-Man’s turn. It makes for an enticing follow-up issue since Kelly needs to close the argument he started about life and death in this issue.
Amazing Spider-Man #65 takes a bold narrative turn, emphasizing emotional depth and existential themes over traditional action. While the repetition of the deaths dampens the story’s momentum, the issue offers a compelling look at Spider-Man’s greatest strength: his ability to persevere in the face of despair.
You must be logged in to post a comment.