Amazing Spider-Man #86 is a character-focused look into the worst day of Ben Reilly's life and kicks the second half of the Beyond Saga into high gear. Given how the issue ends, I'm curious to see how Ben pulls himself out of this spiral, and whether this is what convinces Peter Parker to don his webs again. Read Full Review

Dowling delivers some great art in this issue. The tension of the story is beautifully visualized in the panel and through the emotions of the characters. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #86 adds new layers to what it means to be a clone. This further connects our experience to what Ben Reilly must be going through further, making his experience more lived in and valid. For that, this issue makes Ben Reilly more human and relatable than ever. Read Full Review

An excellent change of pace issue that slows down the action a little and gives us some great story points to propel the story forward for the next chapter. Read Full Review

Ben Reilly and the Beyond Corporation finally arrive at their breaking point and while the inevitable conflict was anticipated, its direction and consequences in The Amazing Spider-Man #86 will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #88 is easily the best issue of this series we have gotten in the Beyond Era. Zeb Wells and Michael Dowling did a great job at having Ben Reilly finally begin to deal with a past that he did not know about thanks to how the Beyond Corporation manipulated him. Now that Ben's past from the Clone Conspiracy is out in the open where things go next in the Beyond Era will be very interesting to see. Read Full Review

The drama has finally hit the fan with the current Beyond storyline, and I'm beyond excited. This issue kicks off a nice exploration of the Ben Reilly character and what he's going through, and I look forward to seeing this all through to the end. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #86 shows Ben Reilly trying to process what he's learned about Beyond from Doctor Octopus last issue. However, Ben's actions in this issue were kind of foolish given who he's dealing with. The only one who does anything sensible and interesting in this situation is Janine, while things play out as they would with a shady corporation in Marvel Comics. However, the comic's ending does leave potential for an interesting direction for Ben in the next issue. Read Full Review

I really like how zeb wells writes Spider-Man. I was really drawn into the story by the fantastic dialogue that had a lot of depth and emotions. The artwork is beautiful as well making this a fantastic all around issue

This issue was full banger. Engaging throughout, even tho it was mostly dialogue and not only something happened, but we got answers to some big questions(that I personally thought would get ignored) and those were some great answers, that make even the past issues better. Like if you thought that Beyond was bland, waste of time and dub in general, please read this. It took some time to get here, probably too much, but now it's all worth it. Not only it's good use of Ben Reilly(that's not an easy thing), but it finally delivers on the whole premise. It's just all tied together.

We all know how important the past experiences are to the character of Ben Reilly and messing with that, is a stroke of genius and it makes so much sense, looking at the previous issues. Kudos Wells.

There are still things to understand and learn, but this issue gives me so much hope in the answers that follow, plus the ending got me really curious what's gonna happen next. Also the art was really nice and pleasant.

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This isn't the direction I was hoping for but it's gut-wrenching in the best way. We knew the whole time Ben was being lied to and the extent of which is much more than I was anticipating. Ben's memories are the only thing that makes him Ben. Without those, who will we have?

This is the book I’ve been holding out for since the Beyond arc started. It’s the first time I’ve actually felt invested in Ben Reilly this entire time and genuinely forgotten about Peter Parker´s situation. Great character work from Ben and the art is fantastic - perfectly capturing the emotions and uncertainty in the main characters. Wells just knows how to write compelling dialogue without it sounding too ‘comic book´y. If this is a taste of what Wells´ continued run will feel like I am 100% on board. And to think I was about to drop this title completely.

Zeb Wells brings it every time. I remember he was one of the very few bright things during Brand New Day (along with Waid/Martin) and 13 years later he is still good. His issue with Paolo Rivera with Punisher is one of my favorite ASM post OMD.
Here Wells doesn't go crazy, he just takes normal predictable angles and lays them out in way that unfolds well. Dowling elevated this issue too. His art has morphed since the last one he did and it's even better. All the characters look distinct and have their own vibe. The last splash page of ASM history is a thing of beauty. Valenza colored it all spot on.

I've finally catched up with ASM again, took a very long break after the disappointing ending of Spencer's run, but when Zeb Wells was announced as the new writer in the next Volume along with freaking JOHN ROMITA JR, my favorite Spider-Man artist of all time, I had to start catching up, so this is basically a review of the Beyond Storyline up until this point.

I'm not a huge Ben Reilly fan(was trying to forget that he was still alive after the debacle that was Clone Conspiracy)and everything that is happening with Peter feels much more interesting and compelling to me considering that him getting out of the coma is a very great way of saying that he's getting back up after all the things that happened during Spencer's run(Harry and Boomerang death, etc) and getting ready to face whatever comes in the future. But regardless of which Spider-Man the issues are focused on, this story has been really fun. Just mindless, pure fun, which was something that this book was needing a lot after Sinister War and the Kindred Saga. It reminds me a bit of early Michelinie's run with Todd McFarlane, well written, well drawn, and just fun, the main difference being that the Michelinie run also had it's impactful moments, something that for me was missing from Beyond.

But these last issues are starting to deliver the impactful story beats that I was waiting for since issue #75, and things are looking really good for the next 7 issues. Also, Wells has probably written the best issues of this story(also a shoutout to #83 from Gleason) and if he can keep this up in the next volume, I think we are in for a very good run.



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If Wells can keep this kind of story telling when Peter comes back, his run with JRJR should be great. This entire Beyond era has done a lot for me in wanting to read Spider-Man again after Spencer's elongated run. I think I read somewhere that Ben Reilly will have his own series in Hollywood, I'd be fascinated to read that. This is the best treatment he's gotten in his entire character history I'd say

Holy freaking crap! This issue was amazing. Took them twelve issues to get to an interesting twist, but Zeb Wells knows how to do it. Will Ben snap or will Peter come back and help him? Also, genuinely surprised they mentioned Clone Conspiracy after the backlash it got from the fans.

This is impactful! This is something I've been wanting from Beyond since the start. I hope what comes in the next seven chapters lives up to the promise this issue has.

Another great issue!!! Zeb Wells proved yet again he can write Spider-Man and shows how great a choice he was to take over the title in April.

Wow. Just wow.

I've been critical of Beyond lately. It has lacked something for me. And this issue delievered. I liked everything about this. It is a bit shame it took this long for this to happen, but I'm glad we finally got some answers and Ben was the main focus of the show.

And with the news that Zeb is the new writer of ASM going forward (with JRJR, my favourite artist of Spidey besides Bagley!), I'm becoming more invested in Beyond. I've felt it's just a placeholder for the next writer. But now? It might not be just that anymore.

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Federico Liguori - Jan 19, 2022

Romita Jr. and Bagley are my favourite Spider-Man artists too!

Afre - Jan 22, 2022

I feel like Romita is very hit-and-miss for most. People either love him, or dislike heavily.

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Was probably my favorite Beyond issue. The art was also really good. It's got me wanting more so I can't complain.

The visual shift threw me for a major loop, but as the story unfolded I realized this style is *perfect* for this chapter. The prose is solid and clear, handling major plot developments in a transparent way that keeps my attention focused on their ramifications for the characters. The script has a tight structure, though, cutting quickly between short, powerful scenes. Beyond is damn sure taking a turn for the sinister!

Good issue. Stark contrast from the talking sandwiches last issue. Guess this weekly thing is not as easy as it looks.

It's good read. Nothing Special. But This do bring what I felt Beyond was lacking.

I am not sold on Wells taking over ASM. I was hoping for MacKay. But I guess Time will tell.

Very good issue with very good art, Zeb Wells has yet to disappoint on ASM so far.

Best issue of Beyond. We should've had thisnteist payout earlier to raise the stakes. Very excited fornthe future

While this was quite messy, predictable and should not have taken god knows how many issues to advance the story, there was some fun in this issue and finally some progress

I don't know what it is but I'm just sort of bored.