The Amazing Spider-Man #1

The Good

Peter Parker is back. This is a moment to celebrate. That isn't to say we didn't enjoy SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN. That gave us interesting story after interesting story. Just because Peter is back doesn't mean everything that happened before can be forgotten and we are back to the old status quo. There will be several repercussions that Peter will have to deal with for some time.

Before we get into the heart of the story, we get a little sneak peek at what's coming up in later issues. If you've seen the Original Sin teaser for the Spider-Man issues, or the preview for this issue, you know what big secret is about to come out, relating to the moment Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider.

Dan Slott continues the adventures of Spider-Man and doesn't skip a beat. Having Humberto Ramos' art does help bring back the old AMAZING feel. You can almost forget that we just had Doc Ock in Spidey's body not too long ago. But when the changes Otto's caused in Peter's life continue to pop in his face, there's no way you can forget the things he's accomplished, both good and bad. It's a nice mix of the old and the new. With everything that's happened, Peter can't just simply go back to how things were before and neither can this title. We will feel Octavius' tenure as Spider-Man for some time. Otto may be gone but he won't be forgotten (although there was an interesting hint at C2E2 last weekend).

For those concerned about the $5.99 price tag, you definitely get your money's worth. The main story is a regular 20-page story. You also get several stories that further set the stage for the stories to come in this series. There's a 5-page Electro story, a 5-page of a (ticked off) Black Cat story, 3 pages on how Spider-Man's "stuff" works, five pages of Spider-Man 2099, five pages on Kaine, eight pages on a new upcoming hero (possibly) and a two-page letter column. Then of course there's the special bonus of INHUMAN #1.

The Bad

This was a spectacular issue but it did feel more like a showcase of what's to come. Of course that isn't a bad thing. The short five-page stories let us know what we can expect and seeing them here takes away the need to explain the characters' motivation when they do appear next. The quick teases were almost like getting small tastes of a meal and left you wanting more.

Since this was a number one and there may have been stubborn readers that refused to read SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, there are several moments where explanations are given to what Doc Ock has done as Spider-Man. It made it fee a little redundant if you've read SUPERIOR. Now that Peter is back and it should be clear to new readers what happened before, the series should be able to soar to new (old) heights.

Including INHUMAN as a bonus was cool. It does seem a little weird since there's zero connection to this title or character. Also, I already bought and read it. It's cool for those that haven't. It just didn't seem necessary here. (This criticism has no effect on the score).

The Verdict

Spider-Man is back to be Amazing. Dan Slott's SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN run will remain as one of our favorites since it shook up Spider-Man to his core. As we witness the next chapter in Spidey's life unfold, there will be several repercussions for him to deal with. Having Humberto Ramos' art helped to usher in the feeling of the return of the AMAZING Spider-Man because of his previous work on the series. This issue is like a celebration as we are treated to several short back up stories that further set the stage for what's coming in Spider-Man's life. Peter Parker may be back but he won't have very long to celebrate. He has a big mess to clean up and several angry foes that will be gunning for him.

5.99? I don't know, seems a bit steep even for all the extra stuff.

Probably still going to pick this up though just to see the return of Peter.

As much as a i love Peter i really can't stand Ramos manga-inspired art. Peter and Johnny had faces of teenagers not much from above 15 for me it was 3/5

I wonder if the Black Cat story will lead into the issue where Felicia is on the cover (Amazing 2 or 3, can't remember). Always been a fan of hers, perhaps since MJ is gone (albeit temporarily I'm sure) and so is Carly maybe something real will happen between Peter and Felicia.

Beyond that, I can't wait to get this issue. I'm interested to see what direction Slott will take Peter and what little nuances from Superior will effect Amazing in the coming issues.

1. Did you guys get this early? because It's not on Comixology

2. 5.99!?

I agree, they need a higher caliber artist for a comic this important

@tehstranger: but if you're talking normally $3.99 for 20 pages, $5.99 isn't much more.

@captainmarvel4ever: Comicvine usually gets Marve's "important" issues early.

Yeah! Peter is back!

@granitesoldier: indeed it will. Remember her last run in with SUPERIOR Spider-Man? It won't be a happy reunion.

Can't wait to get this issue!

5.99 can be big a difference If I want a 5.99 book it means I have to cull two books on my pull list to make room.

I wish Marvel and DC would just stick to a standard model Zero Year has been guilty of this with the price changing month to month while a fantastic story I don't like having to jiggle around my pull list to fit it in.

@g_man: Yeah I agree, it's just that I'm super cheap, still its very likely I'll end up buying this.

Ugh. New writer for Spider-man. Please. Slott has been about as stale as old bread since before Superior Spider-man and has been churning out stories entirely bereft of any sort of satisfying climax for a good while now.

Most people that actually gave it a chance instead of putting their hands over there ears and shouting "oh, no! The status quo!" actually enjoyed it. I have to admit, I jumped into modern Spider-Man comics (anything later than the 90's) around 660 to 670 roundabouts and I was not enjoying most of it, but I loved Superior.

@daltonmunnal: As someone who did give it a chance, because it seemed like a decent concept, I didn't like it. I found it to be little more than an inferior version of Kraven's Last Hunt, previously intelligent characters were turned into absolute idiots, the characterization of Mary Jane was insultingly awful, Slott literally had the same "Avengers have to take Spider-man in" sub-plot three separate times, the final issue was completely average with no satisfying climax to speak of, the mystery of who was the Green Goblin was pointless and had a, frankly, stupid resolution. The entire series was entirely average at best, and the fact that it has received such critical acclaim has me believing that the comics community at large has no taste to speak of.

64pgs for $5.99 is a deal.

Isn't Inhuman#1 in here too.

I love it great issue. The Felicia story Slott is writing now thought.... it's breaking my heart.... I can NOT handle these feels.

from the preview that was on this site i think ill pass just on the fact that it looks like this whole issue is just peter finding out what has happened since hes been gone by swinging around the city and that doesn't make since because if you had your body hijacked for x amount of time wouldn't the first thing you do is find out what happened while you've been gone? by talking to the people who know your spiderman or maybe google your self too get the information and not swinging around the city like the last x months didn't happen to you

I pre-ordered this for only £2 so this price tag doesn't affect me. Excited about reading this later.

I highly agree with this sentiment.

That price is a no no.

@marcosvergara14: Have you even read it yet before you rated it?

I agree with this.

@vegandiet: So who elected you to speak on behalf of the comicbook community, and how dare you say I have no taste because my experience reading Superior was different than yours. Good day sir!!!!!

this is not so good as red lantern from DC

It was all right. I kind of wish I saved my money.

I have the connecting variant* on pre-order, but I find myself with the comiXology store page open on my iPhone, sorely tempted to get the digital version now and read it on my iPad when I get home from work...

I'm really glad Peter's back.

*Incidentally, I still can't get over how bad the standard cover is.

I really didn't like Slott's run, and Superior Spider-man got me back. I really enjoyed it, but was hesitant to continue with Amazing since I hated how he wrote Peter. I really liked this issue and am excited to continue! It feels like a bit of a revitalization and I needed it. I didn't like how it seemed like everyone had to be clowns and fight for the joke, which is why I was enjoying Superior Spider-man. However, he did an excellent job here, and if he continues this trend, then this is going to be one of my top current series. I wasn't a fan of Huberto Ramos' art for a while, but it's gotten better, and I thought it was great this issue! Great review!

@micah: I didn't. You'll notice that whenever I was talking about the run, I used "I felt" or "I found". I never pretended as if I spoke for the comics community. I spoke for myself. That's all.

People that are heaping such massive praise on a completely mediocre book, do have pretty suspect taste, in my opinion.

The InHuman bonus is a nice surprise.

@vegandiet: Thank you! I thought Superior was an interesting idea, but I was annoyed at Slott's inability to write the story around the characters. Instead he re-wrote the characters to fit the story (i.e. dumbing them down so now one could figure it out and from the issues I read Ock didn't do that great of job pulling off acting like Peter in the first place). That's why I dropped it at issue 15.

I just came back into comics a little while ago and didn't have that much exposure to pre-superior Slott so I'm hoping that's not something he does all the time, if so I'll may have to wait around for another writer. I'll just have to pick this up and see.

Am I the only one who thinks Peter should really reevaluate his reltionships with his personal friends, family and fellow super heroes? How absolutely no one (aside from Carly) helped him get his body back or figured out that someone was parading around in his flesh? How much time he spent fighting side by side and going undercover with Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Jessica Drew, Clint Barton, Logan, etc. and they all basically said "f%!k Peter, he's a jerk". I'd be livid and sad that I have such crappy allies.

@illo_29: If you'd like some actually pretty good current Spider-man series, you could pick up The Family Business graphic novel by Mark Waid that came out just a little while ago. The premise sounds a little contrived, but it's actually pulled off fairly well, and the art is just gorgeous.

You could also pick up some back issues of J Michael Stracynzki's (I know I spelled that wrong) run, which was pretty fantastic, with some of the best characterization of Mary Jane that I've ever read, and had some very interesting status quo changes.

What about Mary Jane? As a Peter/MJ shipper, I'm not reading the Spider-Man books until they're back together. Is there anything in this issue for us Peter/MJ fans?

if I have to stuck with Slott, please at least get rid of Ramos.

@alistaircrane: Well, she's in it. And it's a funny scene. Not exactly lengthy though.

Well, I liked the issue. It had some good humor in it.

I really hope it takes more for Peter's friends and fellow superheroes to realize he's back to normal and accept him than what they saw on TV in this issue.

This would actually make a great plot point. He should be offended that nobody went beyond a minor suspicion.

@vegandiet: I've been meaning to pick up Family Business. I did read a lot of JMS stuff back in day and really liked it, I had a good sense of humor and I like the way he treated the characters.

@vandersexxx:

I read the series as well and feel exactly the same.

@millennium: I'd not really sure what you saw because the preview didn't give me that impression at all, and that really wasn't what this issue was about.

@jensonb: Thanks. Sounds like more of the same, unfortunately.

@teerack: i hope not but from the previews that ive seen today to me that what it feels like like hes swinging around to city find out what has happened to his reputation

Was all right, some fun parts. But Pete seems to be adjusting waaay too well. We need confrontations with the Avengers over how they let him down, some pain over how screwed up things are with MJ, just some stuff to make Parker a three-dimensional person who's been through something awful, not just the regular Slott quipping machine.

Slott has talent, but he's far better at the froth than the substance. Ramos matches his style pretty well. That's not particularly a compliment.

I was talking about Ramos art no the book itself that´s why the 3/5. Ireally dislike his style.

the cover is horrible it looks like peter was glued to a background, the coloring is horrible, the manga styles art is horrible, the price is horrible.

While I understand the desire to deal with some of the dangling nonsense from 'Superior', personally my concern is that if they go that way the book will get entangled in wangst and quite frankly there's only so much of that I'm willing to put up with. I like that Peter is in a generally good mood. Can we keep it that way for a while please, Dan? We don't wanna be going back to the 90s here.