Joe Kelly is no stranger to Spider-Man, including his work on The Amazing Spider-Man back in 2022. Now, Kelly gets a chance to return to the world of Peter Parker with an all-new Amazing Spider-Man #1, launching on April 9.
Speaking recently with AIPT, Kelly’s enthusiasm was practically palpable.
“Oh, my God, yeah. I’m very pumped,” Kelly said. “Spider-Man has always been my favorite superhero, period. And I’ve had the chance to work on ’em before, but certainly not to kick off a series again and relaunch it at #1.”
Joining him on the book are superstar artists Pepe Larraz and John Romita Jr., ensuring that the visual storytelling will be just as dynamic as the writing. Kelly comes to the book fresh off Eight Deaths of Spider-Man, a bridge story leading into this relaunch that’s been heaps of fun.
But the question begs: What are his plans for his takeover, and what can we expect for Spider-Man under Kelly’s guardianship?
(Editor’s Note: Stay tuned to the AIPT Comics podcast this Sunday, featuring an unedited version of this interview.)
Courtesy of Joe Kelly.
The Challenges of Writing Spider-Man
With Amazing Spider-Man being a biweekly book, the workload is no small feat. Kelly was warned about the rapid pace but has embraced the challenge.
“The speed is a challenge,” Kelly said. “And then, obviously, like you just said, it’s the flagship guy. Besides being my personal favorite, who I just always want to do right by… he’s the superhero. He’s the best.”
Despite the daunting responsibility, Kelly trusts his instincts and prioritizes fun, a core element of Spider-Man’s DNA.
“Even when it’s dark or it’s scary or intense or whatever, am I giving what I think is the most compelling story to the reader,” Kelly said.
Ryan Stegman’s issue #1 variant cover. Courtesy of Marvel.
Digging into Peter Parker’s Past
One of the most intriguing aspects of Kelly’s run is his focus on Peter Parker’s past, specifically his pre-high school years. While Spider-Man’s origin story has been told countless times, Kelly is fascinated by an earlier, largely unexplored period of Peter’s life.
“I’m sort of fascinated with Peter as a young person, like pre-high school,” Kelly said. “Because we haven’t really spent any time with him at that time period. And I feel like we get a lot of our hard wiring at that age.”
Kelly believes this period was pivotal in shaping Peter’s worldview.
“You hit that age where you’re like 13, 14, and you start processing things differently,” Kelly said. “He lost his parents when he was younger, but what does that really mean to him as an adolescent? Does he act out? Is he more reserved? We always see him as the nerdy kid, but was he angry? Because when I go back and read those early books, Peter was mad a lot.”
This emotional exploration will play a key role in Kelly’s Amazing Spider-Man, shaping not just Peter’s past but how he handles challenges in the present.
Courtesy of Marvel.
Balancing Humor and High Stakes
One of the first things readers noticed when Kelly came onto the book was the humor, a return to the quip-heavy Peter Parker.
“I got to come in and just be like, ‘Yeah, hey, here’s a crazy, totally bizarre thing — Doom and Sorcerer Supreme. Like, let’s go!,” Kelly said.
But Kelly is also interested in exploring Peter Parker’s emotional depths. His examination of Peter’s past feeds directly into his current struggles, making for a more layered and complex take on the character.
Courtesy of Marvel.
Evolving Storytelling with Larraz and Romita Jr.
Working with two powerhouse artists like Pepe Larraz and John Romita Jr. has pushed Kelly to evolve his storytelling. He spoke about how each artist’s strengths have influenced his approach to writing.
“With Pepe, even though I knew he was incredibly talented, I hadn’t really gone on a deep dive into his work,” Kelly said. “Now that I have a few issues under my belt with him, I know what he likes and what he’s into, and that absolutely influences what I write for him. He can destroy an emotional scene in the same way that he’ll do a killer action scene. He’s really, really amazing.”
With Romita Jr., Kelly had a different kind of learning curve.
“I probably made a bunch of assumptions as a fan, like, ‘Oh, this is what he’s gonna like.’ And then he surprised me,” Kelly said. “There was an issue where I thought I was giving him room with a big splashy image, and he came back suggesting more panels, adding layers to the story. That was a great eye-opener for me.”
These collaborations have allowed Kelly to fine-tune how he structures his scripts, making the most of each artist’s unique storytelling style.
New Villains and Legacy Challenges
Kelly teased a new villain named Hellgate, who promises to shake up Peter Parker’s world in unexpected ways.
“Hellgate, I think, is gonna be a really fun character,” Kelly said. “He’s gonna be pretty mysterious, but he’s got a lot going on, and he’s very strong.”
Creating new villains for a hero with one of the greatest rogues’ galleries in comics isn’t easy.
“Some of these characters I really love, like the villains,” Kelly said. “And then some of them, I feel like, well, I’ve seen them a bunch of times.” As such, he wants to strike the right balance between revisiting classic foes and introducing fresh threats that challenge Peter both physically and mentally.
John Romita Jr.’s design of Hellgate. Courtesy of Marvel
The Weight of Legacy
A long run on Amazing Spider-Man is never guaranteed, but Kelly hopes to leave his mark.
“I’m hoping to have a couple of years,” Kelly said. “That’s certainly the plan. If people are happy, then, you know, I’ll keep chugging along.”
But Kelly isn’t overly focused on legacy and wants to tell good stories.
“It’s not even a longevity thing to me,” Kelly said. “It’s a potency effect. Did this story hit you? Cool. And hopefully, you get a bunch of those in a row. And that makes a run.”
The Soundtrack of Spider-Man
When asked if there’s a song that encapsulates his first story arc, Kelly mentioned Seatbelts’ “Tank” from Cowboy Bebop.
“It’s a crazy jazz bebop with trumpets, and it’s very explosive,” Kelly said. “So you really get a sense of, oh yeah, there’s action and excitement. It drifts a little into melancholy, but it’s mostly hidden in all these crazy rhythms.”
It’s clearly an apt choice, capturing both the energy and underlying emotional complexity of Spider-Man.
Looking Ahead
With a promising romance, a career shake-up, and ample villains, Kelly’s Amazing Spider-Man run is poised to be both thrilling and introspective. Fans can expect big moments, high-stakes action, and a deep dive into what makes Peter Parker tick.
Or, as Kelly himself puts it, “It’s a big, fun, excellent job to do, and I just make sure I do it well.”
Be sure to listen to the AIPT Comics podcast this Sunday for the entire unedited interview!
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