The now twice monthly Amazing Spider-Man arrives with a major shocker. What happens in this issue will blow you away.
The Good
This issue has everything I could want in a Spider-Man comic. Lots of Spidey action, some crazy stuff with Hobgoblin, Black Cat, more Phil Urich and a tease with Mac Gargan. The action explodes from the very first page. There are indeed BIG things happening that justify the BIG TIME title. There is almost an epic feel to the story as we witness what you can definitely call the next phase in Spider-Man's life. He has a new job, a new girlfriend and is facing a new danger.
With all the hoopla over this new direction for Spider-Man, it's easy to wonder how much of a payout we'll actually get. I was pleased with the first issue and Dan Slott shows that he is most definitely not holding back. There is something so utterly surprising that happens that made me say "Holy $#!%" out loud. I might be in denial over what happened. I think Slott is a very brave man for doing what he did. I'm sure readers will be in an uproar over it. I'm willing to wait and see where this goes.
The Bad
I'm not crazy about Peter's new job. I do see the potential he now has and that it allows him to do what he should have and would have been doing for years if it hadn't been for his Spider-Man activities. I feel like it could make things a little too easy for him as he now has access to money and resources that will aid in his crime-fighting career. It is an evolution in Peter's character. I'll see how this plays out as I have a feeling his Parker Luck will eventually kick in and cause him to lose his job. Perhaps we're seeing a little of that in this issue?
The Verdict
The huge shocker is not something I'm happy with. When you read it, you'll know that I'm holding back some. The big change that happens affects one of my all-time favorite characters. The reason I'm okay with it is it made the story so freaking amazing. It caught me off my guard and I'm thankful I read it before I saw any spoilers. Things are heating up for Spider-Man. This is the beginning of a change in his life. While I have been enjoying the stories since Brand New Day, I can't recall the last time I was so excited about Spider-Man's adventures and left on the edge of my seat as I await the next issue.
