The Amazing Spider-Man #49 Review
Writer: Nick Spencer
Pencilers: Ryan Ottley, Humberto Ramos, & Mark Bagley
Inkers: Cliff Rathburn, Victor Olazaba, & John Dell
Colorists: Nathan Fairbairn, Edgar Delgado, & David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The ol’ #850. Sins Rising has been one of Spencer’s strongest stories, even if I haven’t loved the… logistics of it. Regardless, the tension has been tangible and here it comes to a head. Without spoiling anything beyond the preview, this issue has Spider-Man teaming up with the Green Goblin to take down a Juggified Sin-Eater, and it pretty much plays out how you’d expect. The action is fine but not too exciting. The real value here is in the character moments. There are great callbacks to pivotal moments between these bitter rivals. If there’s one thing I can really appreciate about Spencer’s run, it’s these beats where he reminds us that these characters are actually people.
Now I guess this is the part where I kind of have to talk about spoilers: something that really didn’t sit right with me is when Peter literally makes a decision to lose Norman. He throws him out of a vehicle to get lost in the sewers. The script suggests that Norman baits him into losing his cool, knowing that he would do that rather than kill him. I just don’t really buy that Peter would do something that stupid, though. On another note, Gwen’s presence in this story gives us one of the best scenes. Spencer is a hair away from straight-up naming Sins Past. I won’t give this story credit simply for that, but it gives me hope that Spencer seems to be continuing his path to undo the awful editorial missteps that have plagued Peter for years now.
End spoilers.
On the main story, we have Ottley, Ramos, and Bagley in that order. They all bring their A-game and what we’ve come to expect of them. I want to give a shout out to Ottley’s Green Goblin, though. It’s a treat to finally see him draw this iconic character. His style just fits the character so well. Bagley also does something really clever with his borders to help convey an unnamed element in the climax of the issue. The same general compliments can be given to colorists Fairbairn, Delgado, and Curiel. The tonal shift between artists can be a little jarring, but everybody does so well that you forget about it soon enough.
Obviously, readers won’t want to miss this issue. This is a pretty satisfying, if predictable, ending to one of Spencer’s strongest arcs on the series. There is one weird moment in particular that will probably take you out of the story, but I found the character moments and the strong artists made the overall experience a good one.
Pencilers: Ryan Ottley, Humberto Ramos, & Mark Bagley
Inkers: Cliff Rathburn, Victor Olazaba, & John Dell
Colorists: Nathan Fairbairn, Edgar Delgado, & David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The ol’ #850. Sins Rising has been one of Spencer’s strongest stories, even if I haven’t loved the… logistics of it. Regardless, the tension has been tangible and here it comes to a head. Without spoiling anything beyond the preview, this issue has Spider-Man teaming up with the Green Goblin to take down a Juggified Sin-Eater, and it pretty much plays out how you’d expect. The action is fine but not too exciting. The real value here is in the character moments. There are great callbacks to pivotal moments between these bitter rivals. If there’s one thing I can really appreciate about Spencer’s run, it’s these beats where he reminds us that these characters are actually people.
Now I guess this is the part where I kind of have to talk about spoilers: something that really didn’t sit right with me is when Peter literally makes a decision to lose Norman. He throws him out of a vehicle to get lost in the sewers. The script suggests that Norman baits him into losing his cool, knowing that he would do that rather than kill him. I just don’t really buy that Peter would do something that stupid, though. On another note, Gwen’s presence in this story gives us one of the best scenes. Spencer is a hair away from straight-up naming Sins Past. I won’t give this story credit simply for that, but it gives me hope that Spencer seems to be continuing his path to undo the awful editorial missteps that have plagued Peter for years now.
End spoilers.
On the main story, we have Ottley, Ramos, and Bagley in that order. They all bring their A-game and what we’ve come to expect of them. I want to give a shout out to Ottley’s Green Goblin, though. It’s a treat to finally see him draw this iconic character. His style just fits the character so well. Bagley also does something really clever with his borders to help convey an unnamed element in the climax of the issue. The same general compliments can be given to colorists Fairbairn, Delgado, and Curiel. The tonal shift between artists can be a little jarring, but everybody does so well that you forget about it soon enough.
Obviously, readers won’t want to miss this issue. This is a pretty satisfying, if predictable, ending to one of Spencer’s strongest arcs on the series. There is one weird moment in particular that will probably take you out of the story, but I found the character moments and the strong artists made the overall experience a good one.
A Look Inside
