From writer Joe Kelly (Deadpool, Uncanny X-Men) and artist Pepe Larraz (Thor, Wolverine and the X-Men) comes a bright new beginning for Marvel’s leading man in The Amazing Spider-Man #1. Featuring colors by Marte Garcia, lettering from Joe Caramagna, and a backup sequence drawn by the legendary John Romita Jr., this opening chapter manages to blend that familiar Peter Parker Spider-Man feeling with the new direction that Marvel has been taking the character in recent years. With a funny, sharp, and compelling script combined with Larraz’s phenomenal visual work, this opening issue is something new and returning Spider-Man readers can enjoy.
“ALIVE & THWIPPING! The next era of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN has arrived! Peter is, shockingly, without a job and looking for gainful employment, but his job search is interrupted by a RAMPAGING RHINO who is but the tip of a sinister iceberg. What major Spider-Villain is working behind the scenes weaponizing other Spider-Villains including one we haven’t seen in OVER SEVEN YEARS?! Also, what is that Goblin-free Norman Osborn up to anyway?”
Writing & Plot
Joe Kelly starts readers off with a familiar scene in The Amazing Spider-Man #1. Peter is out of a job and desperately searching for a new means of gainful employment. Right off the bat, Kelly greets readers with the slick and humorous writing we come to expect from great Spidey-books. This sequence also function as a great recap while setting the mood of the story. This is the sort of move that will no doubt reel in skeptical long-time Spider-Man readers while charming those new to the Webslinger in his original medium. Most of the staple familiar faces are here – Aunt May and Norman Osborn, to name a couple – while some are notably missing (if you’re expecting the classic Peter & MJ romance, you may want to recap the last couple years). Regardless of the cast, Kelly does a wonderful job of catching readers up while introducing a new plot point that *feels* like a Spider-Man book. Old villains return in new ways, and the schemes in the background all feel like classic Superhero-comic storytelling. Kelly’s script is loaded with dialogue, but the book never feels slow. Quite the contrary, as the staccato-delivery of the quips and quotes (with the help of Larraz’s focused sequential direction) carry the book along at a speedy pace. It can feel a little messy at points with so many word balloons (there’s a dinner scene that took me a couple passes to make sure I caught everything in the right order), but it’s not egregious enough to derail the conversation. Another note here is that this comic is effectively divvied up into 3 chapters. While the first 2 are very much relevant Spidey-stuff, the third feels a bit out of place – but it will surely make sense as the series continues. While the plot with the supervillains and Pete’s “Parker luck” troubles all come off as a bit safe thus far, it’s still a lot of fun to read. Joe Kelly’s introduction to this new era of Amazing Spider-Man is off to a solid start that many Spidey fans will be happy to jump into.
Art Direction
Pepe Larraz is one of the most talented artists currently over at Marvel Comics, so him being involved with The Amazing Spider-Man #1 seems like a no-brainer. His sharp linework and detail-rich inks and hatching make his work a stellar site to behold in every book he draws, and the same can be said about his work in this new chapter of Spider-Man. Larraz draws a spectacular (ahem) Spider-Man to be sure, but his Peter may be the highlight of this comic. Pete’s presented with a ton of charm and character here thanks to Larraz’s animations and direction, making the jumps from Spidey-action to jobless genius worth looking forward to. As they should be – a Spider-Man book is only as good as its Peter Parker, after all. Peter isn’t the only highlight here though, as every cast members personality is telegraphed perfectly. Larraz’s action sequences hit hard with momentum and great pacing due to his stellar sequential direction. The way he utilizes panels in this comic really carries the book along at a quick but deliberate stride. One of my favorite moments in the book is the previously mentioned dinner scene. There’s a moment where the panels tighten up around Pete and Shay’s faces, giving the two of them a moment right in the middle of the larger sequence. Larraz’s work here is completed by Marte Garcia’s dense colors that work great with the shading provided by the inks and hatching. While the comic is a little more on the dim side for a Marvel superhero book, it still works well. This main story very much fits into the house visual style Marvel has been aiming for over the last several years, but Larraz and Garcia make it fit into the upper tier of that aesthetic.
John Romita Jr.’s work in here fits with the characters and story he’s drawing – but it still feels like a strange offset compared to Larraz in the lead chapter. JRJR is a legend, no doubt, but his art style sticks out in a way that may be off-putting to modern comic readers. Finally, Joe Caramagna’s lettering seals the deal on the reading experience with stellar dialogue work and some fitting Marvel-feeling SFX letters. Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #1 is a great looking superhero comic with excellent character work and sequential direction.
Verdict
The Amazing Spider-Man #1 is a familiar but satisfying start to this new beginning for Marvel’s flagship character. Joe Kelly’s script sets up a familiar but still compelling story with classic villains and that that old Parker luck, full of the exact sort of charm you’d want from a good Spidey comic. The visuals from Pepe Larraz in the main story are stellar, with fantastic character detail and sharp sequential direction. The portions drawn by JRJR are solid as well, but it almost feels like the veteran artist’s style loses something with the modern inking and coloring techniques. Be sure to pick up this great debut issue when it hits shelves April 9th!
