THE AMAZING
SPIDER-MAN
ISSUE 001
Well with The Superior Spider-Man over and done with, The Amazing Spider-Man series has relaunched with Peter back in his old body, and quite frankly...I am REALLY excited to start reviewing this new series. Normally I would skip this part of the comic, but seeing as Dan Slott has sort of Retconed part of Amazing Fantasy 15 I thought I mas well review it. I am slightly annoyed that we are expected to believe that a Spider managed to bite two people in the space of a "Split Second". Also...I don't quite understand why Slott is writing in this character Silk. I mean in all seriousness, do we really need another Spider-Manesque character? Then again it will make the series slightly more interesting.
First Page
The issue kicks off with "The Managerie's", some sort of Animal themed gang...who seem to be mostly women. Not that hat's relevant but it's unusual for their to be a band of thieves mainly women. Anyway they have robbed some Faberge Eggs from possibly a jewellers, but luckily our Good O'l friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man shows up to save the day - and an almost squashed baby.
Fourth Page
Then a sort of Hippo Man throws a car at Spidey, and he's making jokes, and the people of New York noticed. But that's not all they noticed...Spidey seems to be 5/6th naked and only wearing his masks and Web-Shooters.
Fifth Page
We are then shown Four Hours earlier, which I assume is before Spidey lost his suit... So far I am loving this issue. It's almost as if the series ha a new leece of life. Superior Spider-Man was possibly the best thing to happen in a Spidey comic for a while.long time. Anyway Peter is giving a speech outside of a partially destroyed Parker Industries. The speech is sort of a big huge comeback, but more importantly Peter gets to finally talk with Aunt May and Jay. I love Peter's new ideas on how he now wants to live his life. I wonder if Sajini will be Peter's next Girlfriend...she seems to be a bit more friendly and clingy to him.
Seventh Page & Eighth Page
While Peter is fixing his relationship with May and Jay, and also learning how to run Parker Industries. Anna Maria has gone to Peter's Apartment...and found something I really wish she hadn't...a wedding ring... I have nothing against Anna Maria...but I just don't think that she's a good partner choice for the events to come. Sure she's smart, and will definitely save Peter's ass. But I doubt Peter is attracted to her like Octavius was...and maybe she will notice the change too.
We are then whisked away to a News Crew recapping the destruction of New York after The Avengers had managed to stop all of the Goblin's Army...but the News is not what is interesting (for once). J. Jonah. Jameson, life long hater of Spider-Man, has resigned as Mayor of New York...and he seems to be really mad. But just as he starts to feel good about himself, and go back to how things used to be when he ran the Daily, he reads an article the bugle had written about him..and he goes ballistic. I wonder if Jameson will become a future villain. I mean now he truly has nothing to live for...absolutely nought.
Tenth Page & Eleventh Page
Back at Parker Industries Peter is learning how his own company works...and he almost starts the whole "Superior Spider-Man" process all over again. That would be interesting..but boring because it's been done. Besides all of the Parker Drama/ Parker Luck. It is hilarious to see that Peter's workers are scared of him...and even funnier to see his reaction. But before he can get to know his workers, he needs to take care of his "Spider-Man Projects". This just gets funnier and funnier. Robot Butlers, a Doctorates Diploma, and his own lab. I think Peter is a bit overwhelmed by all of this. He is literally like a kid in a toy store.
Thirteenth Page & Fourteenth Page
Peter takes this as an opportunity to go for a nice not so relaxing swing..the people of New York hate him and think he's a creep. But Spidey is soon distracted by a good O'l robbery...which means we have just caught up with the start of the issue. White Rabbit, Hippo, Panda and "Gypsy Moth" (Skein) have just robbed a store.
Fifteenth Page & Sixteenth Page
As Spidey swings in to stop them...but Skein unravels his whole suit. Just before she reaches his mask he manages to kick her in the head...but as a consequence of being a bit late...he's buck naked. You're all probably not wondering why his Spider-Sense didn't go off, but I am. It normally goes off whenever there is danger...and having his identity revealed counts as dangers so it should have gone off... Just because the 21st century is so awesome everyone decides to whip out their camera phones and starts snapping pictures and filming him...and the two people Peter would never want to see him publicly embarrassed see him. Johnny Storm laughs his ass off...and MJ reacts as any girl would. She calls him an idiot.
Seventeenth Page
So Spidey makes himself a pair of Web-Underwear and carries on fighting the Menagerie...but one member "Panda-Mania" doesn't seem to know what they're doing. Anyway Spidey webs her up. But the people of New York seem to have other, more perverted, ideas. This issue is full of jokes. It's so liberating. But the city still hates him.
Spidey rushes back to his apartment to get some clothes on...only to find that Anna Maria is still there...and she wants to talk.Not only did she find Otto's ring for her..she also out of nowhere managed to piece together that Peter Parker IS Spider-Man...from three freckles on his stomach.. Most of what Slott has written into these stories have been pure gold..but even for an amateur writer like myself this is a bit too convenient.
Twentieth Page
Overall View
Well what can I say about this issue? Well for starters it had a fantastic story. It has set up a lot for the future issues. But I am a little bit disappointed that we haven't seen much more of Spider-Verse hints. Anyway Anna Maria now knows Peter is Spider-Man..so maybe they'll break up...or maybe she'll become a sort of sidekick...I don't know. Anyway I am really excited for the future issues and I can't wait to see where this series goes. I hope that Octavius is gone for good though. It's fantastic that Peter is back...and even better that he is having to take control of his life again. I rate this issue 8/10. This series is looking even more promising than The Superior Spider-Man.