Amazing Spider-Man #86

8.4

Critic Rating

9 Reviews
8.5

User Rating

41 Reviews
Writer Zeb Wells
Artist Mike Dowling
Cover Price $3.99

 This is one of those comics that you will remember for years to come.
  Ben Reilly has been shaken to the core, and you will be too.

RATED T+

Reviews (9) User Reviews (41) Rate / Write A Review

CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 9.5

    COMICON - Tony Thornley

    Jan 20, 2022

    Spider-Man Beyond takes a disturbing turn, and that's a great thing for the readers. The writing is tense, the art is stellar. This is a great example of what modern Spider-Man stories should be. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    But Why Tho? - Collier "CJ" Jennings

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

  • 8.9

    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

  • 8.5

    AIPT - David Brooke

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

  • 8.3

    Comic Watch - Jimmy Hayes

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

  • 8.0

    ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

  • 8.0

    Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez

    Jan 20, 2022

    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

  • 8.0

    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills

    Jan 22, 2022

    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

  • 7.0

    The Comicbook Dispatch - StoryBabbler

    Jan 19, 2022

    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

USER REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 10

    Marginalhero

    Jan 19, 2022

    This is issue was the type of story telling I've been waiting for during the Beyond storyline. Last issue was great and this kept the momentum and brought things to an even more exciting direction.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.5

    Criminology.

    Jan 20, 2022

    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, lookin more

  • 9.5

    cincyfan

    Jan 23, 2022

    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

  • 9.0

    Afre

    Jan 19, 2022

    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.

    + Like Comments (2)
  • 9.0

    Comicsfan1994

    Jan 19, 2022

    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.

  • 9.0

    Psycamorean

    Jan 19, 2022

    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.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    Federico Liguori

    Jan 19, 2022

    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.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    allenquanobi

    Jan 20, 2022

    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

  • 9.0

    Julhin

    Jan 20, 2022

    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 Boom more

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    Kalaoui

    Jan 22, 2022

    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.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    El Raro

    Jan 23, 2022

    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.

  • 9.0

    Hex

    Jan 26, 2022

    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?

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

    DDJamesB

    Jan 19, 2022

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

    + Like Comment
  • 8.0

    Merlyn

    Jan 19, 2022

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

    + Like Comment
  • 8.0

    Rachit Mittal

    Jan 19, 2022

    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.

  • 8.0

    Hydro-Man

    Jan 19, 2022

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

  • 8.0

    CrazyforRAMU

    Jun 03, 2022

    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!

  • 7.5

    Jeff Plaza

    Jan 20, 2022

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

  • 7.0

    UxasIs

    Jan 20, 2022

    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

  • 6.0

    Crimson Knight

    Jan 19, 2022

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

  • 10

    Batmanchuria

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 10

    tmartinez

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 10

    KittyNone

    Jan 29, 2022

  • 10

    Mkhan

    Apr 05, 2022

  • 9.0

    tonpas1989

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 9.0

    Swanktub

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 9.0

    Watchtower022

    Jan 26, 2022

  • 9.0

    wesshamu

    Feb 19, 2022

  • 8.5

    iPodwithnomusic

    Mar 03, 2022

  • 8.5

    jmprados

    Mar 21, 2022

  • 8.5

    K-23

    Apr 25, 2022

  • 8.5

    JCP

    Sep 06, 2022

  • 8.5

    matmene

    Jan 30, 2023

  • 8.0

    Bruno Mael

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 8.0

    ICC

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 8.0

    J-tastic

    Jan 19, 2022

  • 8.0

  • 8.0

    ed1138

    Apr 27, 2022

  • 7.0

  • 7.0

    Mout

    Apr 28, 2022

  • 6.0

    Adsun22

    Jun 30, 2025

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