Peter Parker hasn’t acted this strangely in a while, which makes Amazing Spider-Man #10 a must-read. Not only does this issue dive deeper into Peter’s day-to-day, but it also reveals a far more brutal and violent Spider-Man on the loose. With Black Cat worried, can Spider-Man be reined in, or is he going to kill somebody?
Two things work really well in Amazing Spider-Man #10. One is the ongoing use of flashbacks to when Peter was just a kid and Aunt May was his parental figure. The other is the striking visuals and action set at night by Michael Dowling. The use of shadow amps up the dread and darker tone of the issue, while the flashback that opens the issue hints at a darkness in Peter yet to be explored.
Starting with the opening flashback, Joe Kelly continues to humanize and flesh out a young Peter. Reading this flashback reminds us Peter is an orphan, and like any orphan, he feels alone and, in his words, like a ghost. So often we forget the trauma Peter must have felt at such a young age, and Joe maximizes this reality and teases out how this could affect an adult Peter Parker.
From there, the issue smash cuts to an impressive full-page splash of Spider-Man dodging Shocker blasts. The poster-worthy splash features Spider-Man with chunky web-shooters and a lot of dynamic range. This leads to some rather brutal fighting, including Spider-Man kicking one of the perps when he’s down. Kelly loops in that teen hero with a shield again, just enough so we don’t forget he’s in the background of this series. Capping off this fight is an impressive panel showing two of the bad guys webbed up.
Something is up with Peter Parker.
Credit: Marvel
As the story unfolds, we get key scenes with Black Cat, who is worried for Peter, and key details about Spider-Man using a new, stronger web that can last much longer, and even stab people. It’s not the type of thing Spider-Man is known for. We also get a check-in with Peter at his new job at Rand Enterprises, and even here, we see Peter is a bit more callous and rude than he was just a few issues ago. Something is up, and the cliffhanger doesn’t disappoint in revealing why that might be.
That said, the cliffhanger may also bother fans who have seen this kind of thing before. Nick Spencer did it at the start of his run, and it’s also an homage to the Clone Saga. That said, I trust Kelly and where this is going.
Thrown into the mix is Tombstone, who has good reason to bring a war to Spider-Man’s head. The developments with him add a nice story arc within the story that ramps up the impending danger and stakes for Spider-Man.
A gripping chapter that balances Peter’s emotional past with an ominous present, Amazing Spider-Man #10 makes readers question just how far Spidey is willing to go. With striking art and a chilling cliffhanger, it’s a dark turn that will leave fans eager for what’s next.
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