WHAT DID PETER DO?!
We opened this series with a question.
The centerpiece of the answer is a flat-out fight.
Rated T
Peter Parker casually runs into issues with half of the Fantastic Four and Captain America. Theres a sense of desperation as Parker rushes to try to do what he needs to do. Wells and company put together a remarkably sharp issue that doesnt require a whole lot of familiarity with Spideys recent past. A general familiarity with the Marvel Universe is all thats absolutely necessary. Issue #23 is a perfect example of how a long-running series can keep going indefinitely: keep established readers entertained while steering clear of the kind of muddled plot that would be boring to new readers. Read Full Review
Just as each issue of this long-awaited story has altered its form, The Amazing Spider-Man #23 promises a new spin on this strange saga as it nears its climax. Read Full Review
We know that the big moments are yet to come, leading up to greater revelations in issue 25, but we can see the bigger picture coming together. Read Full Review
Amazing Spider-Man #23 spends an entire issue with Peter running around NYC looking for help. The overall plot doesn't progress much, and there aren't any big reveals or wow moments. If you don't mind a transition issue in an arc that took over a year to prepare, this is as good as it gets. Read Full Review
Peter Parker is freaking out, and this issue shows us to what lengths he'll go to save Mary Jane as fast as possible. Is it the smartest method to save her? Probably not, which feels off for a character who is also very smart. The art looks great throughout, however, and it's undeniable that the plot is at least moving forward. Read Full Review
When we've been waiting for months for an explanation, the decision to have Amazing Spider-Man #23 dole out only a tiny bit of missing detail is a bothersome one, especially when a clearly traumatized Peter spends the whole issue in fight-or-flight mode making bad decisions, but good art and some interesting details bring things together . Read Full Review
This issue is boring, poorly thought out, and beyond contrived. Even in Spidey's worst publication periods, at least something exciting, whether it be grand reveals or true storytelling was at least happening. Maybe the stories were offensively bad at times, but at least they were stories. Here, you're paying 3.99 for a bag of air that contains everything you already knew. Read Full Review
I think that regardless of what is printed between the front and back covers of this title, it will be maligned and hated by a very devout minority of the readership, mostly concentrated online.
For me though, I liked this issue. I was lukewarm on the start of the arc because I didn't really care about what happened in the time jump, and I more or less already figured out what happened by paying attention to the run. This issue does what this run does best, which is ratchet up the tension. That's what made that initial Tombstone arc so much fun. The tension here is undeniable, and I find it totally believable that Peter would fight his allies over this. He's done it for far less in the past. He even recognizes that he shouldn't, more
I've got to be honest...I liked it; the art (love Romita Jr!), the pace, the suspense of what's coming, all of it...but I'm also acutely aware of the poor writer's handcuffs.
I'm an older (much) reader and I can't get on board with 'further character development' of a character who in real terms should be in a retirement home...Marvel, has had a problem for years now and decided to go the 'Charlie Brown' route, having their characters ignore the rule of time. The heroes we have now have been sinned against (story-wise) so many times that I don't really regard them as the same heroes I grew up reading the adventures of. DC, with their 'Crisis' events at least acknowledge the problem and attempt to solve the conundrum...Marvel though th more
This definitely benefited from diminished expectations — I didn't love the first two parts of this story, and I had seen the reviews were iffy — but honestly, it was pretty solid. The worst things I can say about it is that it didn't give us much new info on the gap (though the last page was a nice detail to fill in) and that JRJR's art is as inconsistent as usual. Otherwise, a perfectly good "hero struggles alone with the whole world against him and the clock ticking" issue; satisfyingly propulsive and energetic. Apparently not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it.
This actually was good after the previous 2 not making me care. Zeb wells nails the urgency with Peter and MJ and actually does a classic setup up here that works. I know the bar is low but here we are. John Romita Jr. is his usual self and does well enough to make it good. No kids yet so we're in the clear ;)
This was paced very well. You feel the urgency and desperation that Peter is going through. His interactions with all of his friends and family are tense and the one person he turns to is Norman. That's pretty heavy. I'm not a fan of how JRJR depicts someone with bruises though. Sure he went through the ringer but his head was already a weird blob.
A solid step-up in quality from the previous issues of this arc. We now get an understanding of why Peter was pretty much "on the outs" with a lot of people at the beginning of this series, as he gets aggressive with Norman in front of May, runs from Johnny & Ben, and absolutely BONKS Steve in the face with his shield (I wasn't expecting that whatsoever, but it was one of my favorite parts of this issue). The ending was a solid setup for the next issue, as well.
A much better issue than the last two, but is it enough to really make me care? It's starting to, even though it's not blowing me away. The plot is decent, but some of the character work is lacking.
What is exactly the problem here? It answered some of the questions the run posed at the #1 in a good way, and Peter is DESPERED over Mary Jane's safety, the time factor messed with his head, he went over the line with the FF and Cap and he knows it, Marvel's been doing this since the 60's, fights over misunderstandings happens all the time, get over it.
The script and the art do an excellent job keeping the pace red-lined, and this issue's strongest asset is a driving sense of urgency.
We dip inside Pete's head just far enough to know he's panicking and to understand why. And that's another strength.
Things happen so fast that I'm tempted to ignore how rock-stupid Peter is being--because the pace and the author's plans need him to be. But no, Pete has to burn all these bridges and turn to Norman Osborn for help, ASAP, because that's what Zeb Wells plotted out over a year ago.
And that realization does take some of the shine off my reading experience.
It's fine. Like completely fine. It's not the worst issue ever.
At the very least, at the absolute minimum, it’s starting to make sense… I guess.
I liked the pace of this issue. I really did. But that's about it.
So, we have:
- Peter freaking out and acting out of character just to keep this story going. If he stopped for 5 seconds, the F4 would have helped him. Captain America was punched in the face for asking what the problem was. Does it sound like something Peter Parker would do?
- Things happening way too fast. Two explosions in Pennsylvania and a buried Spider-Man costume in the middle of a desert. Two hours later, THE FREAKING FBI is hunting Peter. For what? What's the accusation?
- People treating Norman Osborn too well. Aunt May wouldn't accept him in her house, especially considering she has no clue about the Sin Eater situation.
I just want this more
If you want to see Peter Parker act like a complete jerk throughout this issue, pick this up. Instead of taking a little time to straighten things out with his friends, he refuses to cooperate and attacks them all because he "doesn't have time." Yeah, I get that he's desperate to get back and help MJ but c'mon man, grow up. This is not the Peter Parker I remember. Zeb Wells seems to really enjoy writing him like this.
One more thing. I got a BIG surprise in the Letters Page. Nick Lowe actually printed a slightly critical letter for the first time in I don't know how long. Maybe he saw that recent Fantastic Four letter page.
This issue makes no sense. Okay so the time works differently in the world where the Ceremony took place but why are Peter's friends acting like he a stranger. But now we know why he's been trusting Norman.
What a mess.
lol Imma be honest with you guys. I didnt like this issue at all. I get that Peter Parker is super tense up and emotional because he is worried that Mary Jane is stuck with Paul, but it doesnt mean I have to like how Peter Parker's a jerk in a bad way. He picks a fight with Captain America, he's super angry and mean, I get that early Peter Parker had a chip on his shoulder, but he wasnt this shor-tempered.
I sure wished Spider-Man had better writers who actually cared for Peter Parker, and editors that let spider-man grow up. We probably know why Mary Jane has these kids, because Peter Parker is trying to free her, and in the dimension Mary Jane and Paul fall in love and bang each other. Which kinda is a slap in the face for Spid more
What's with all these bots spamming a 10 rating? This was trash.
Wells continues to ruin the character of Peter Parker. I hope at the end of this run, it uses the terrible cliche of it all being a dream. That would actually improve the story telling.
Romitas art is pretty good. Not amazing but pretty good.
Ah yes, Johnny Storm, one of Peter Parker’s best friends, would love to run tests on him instead of help him get Mary Jane back. Totally in character 👍
I was hoping for a decently reasonable answer for "what did Peter do?", but if he and everyone else keep acting out of character, my expectations will have to be no higher than "shock for the sake of shock".
Cap believes Peter but he wouldn't understand the urgency of his problem? Would Captain America not be able to listen and realize that he can't wait for one or two days to settle things? Is he such a boy scout that he would risk someone who's traped in a world where time passes faster just to put things in order?
This plot is held together with bubblegum and spit.
Also: No. Peter doesn't fight the fantastic four. Only Johnny and the Thing appear. And he just leaves before anyone even throws a punch.
I don't usually rate comics badly. When I don't like something most of the time I just ignore it, but with this run it has been very difficult to me because a Char with the importance and greatness as Spider-Man getting this as a run is just so sad.
Peter Parker has been making circles with his life as the writers in the past 20 years with this char. I can't believe we still have the same old Spider-Man in the worst way possible.
The way Wells writes Cap and Spidey's relation is disrespectful to the fans, not to mention how he traits FF.
That we are now experiencing the height of torment, when will this torment end?
(Cover Date: June, 2023)
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