Zeb Wells' Amazing Spider-Man run has been divisive, but it's hard to think of any writer who hasn't split opinions while working on the long-running series.
The Deadpool & Wolverine scribe has brought a lot of bold ideas to the table, though, and this June will see the original Sinister Six assemble once more. This was teased on the final page of Amazing Spider-Man #45 but what's brought them together - beyond their hatred of Spidey - has yet to be revealed.
That will play out in the pages of issue #51 and, in issue #52, it looks like Peter Parker will have a new Green Goblin to contend with.
In recent months, Marvel Comics has teased the possibility of Norman Osborn returning to his villainous ways and, while we still expect that to be the case, the fact the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #52 is being hidden raises a lot of questions.
So too does the brief tease accompanying it: "This issue is so shocking and troubling we can’t even show you the cover!" Marvel Comics declares. Will Norman get a new look or is another character about to suit up as the Goblin? If it's the latter, then we don't really know who could take the Oscorp CEO's place, though Spidey himself was previously possessed by the Goblin's sins.
Wells faced death threats for his decision to kill Ms. Marvel in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man last year, though her demise proved temporary (and was a good excuse for Marvel Comics to bring the teenager back as a mutant).
With legacy numbering, these issues will serve as Amazing Spider-Man #945 and Amazing Spider-Man #946. We'd assume Wells is sticking around for the title's 1000th instalment and something huge is surely being planned for that which, hopefully, won't be as divisive as the story mentioned above. Unfortunately, we don't expect it to feature the return of Peter and Mary Jane Watson's marriage!
Check out the cover art and solicitation text for Amazing Spider-Man #51 and Amazing Spider-Man #52 below.
• As if the Green Goblin weren’t enough, the Sinister Six has returned too!!!
• When it rains, it pours – and this rain is going to put Spider-Man into a world of hurt!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #51
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by ED McGUINNESS
Variant Cover by Tony Harris
• Nothing is okay.
• This issue is so shocking and troubling we can’t even show you the cover!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #52
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by ED McGUINNESS
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV