Gotta admit, both back-ups were much more enjoyable reads than whatever that main story was.

I still like this. I don't read any other AoR title and this still works for me.

Continuous to be so much fun.

It is just an enjoyable read.

It's fine. But for a relaunch, it doesn't really explain much. Unlike Mortal Thor, that worked as a continuation and as a soft relaunch, this doesn't work as well.

Snyder is kind of a guy whose work when being extreme, or in this case Absolute, can be an absolute banger, or a shitshow.

Thankfully, this is absolute banger. What a comic and what a story.

This arc just works for me so well. Even JRJR's art was good.

WTF am I reading. Like seriously. What is this. At least art is still good.

There is a lot of on the nose monologue and dialogue. Selina asks Bruce if he is five, and he is written as a five year old, all pouty and whiney. It’s been so long since the latest Hush issue that I forgot why they were fighting. This issue did nothing to clear up the issues. I guess Alfred never taught them to use their words.

And apparently Hush had a gun that launches scalpels. I mean were bullets not Batman 1966 enough. Hush is now all goofy villain theme and no practicality. And the issues ends with Bats running into the Joker again. Man, I wish I had the Joker’s health plan, going from death’s door to fighting trim in like three hours. It’s been months in real world, but only hours story-wise.

Don’t ask me what the Riddler is doing in this story because it seems like it’s nothing.

And, again Loeb ignores characters who have grown in importance in the last 20 years. No Cass, no Steph. Damian gets some Bruce monologue analysis telling us his problem, not showing us. Selina has a big speech that says she and Bruce know each other, and she she nails Bruce by calling him childish. She is right because Bruce actually says the Bat family started it. That is just not good writing. Because this issue makes Bruce look like a total tool. And not a cool tool like a hammer, but a useless tool like an awl.

I guess that’s the problem. Everything happens to further a plot that ignores 20 years of character action. We have seen five issues now, and the story is basically stuck in neutral. Nothing is happening, just a lot of noise surrounded by decent but not great art.

I am not thrilled. But I could be wrong. more

I used to be one of the biggest Amazing haters back in the Zeb Wells era, but honestly I don’t get the criticism this time. This arc’s really good.

This was rushed but still so damn good. Soule please come to Venom. Or ASM. Or Both.

I think this was a great start to the final arc!

I really liked this. Really really liked this. What a "succulent" issue of ASM.

Man, Gabe's bad opinions are so strong he is getting two reviews.

Generally one shouldn't give just a plain 10 for a comic based on the first story.

But this time I'll make an exception.

Something something "comics are now too political" something something "it's woke and bad!"

Holy peak, Batman. Let me get this out of the way really quickly. Harren and McClaren both did really good jobs here and I liked what they gave us here. That said, Johnson knocked it out of the park with the main story. That story, on its own, gets a 10/10 for me. Warren and McClaren's stories were just gravy. Batman hitting a One Winged Angel was just insane and I loved it so much. The story as a whole, was fantastic, with us seeing a little more of Bruce's origins as Batman. The art, of course, simply rocked throughout. Johnson is, truly, masterful. more

This felt like a classic AU Spidey comic and I liked it. Especially after USM, this felt refreshing.

Ooh that was a pleasant surprise! I definitely don't think there's 18 comics' worth of things to say about the latest low-energy rehash of Age of Apocalypse, but Kelly & Walker make a solid case for the question of "what's Spider-Man doing in the middle of this?" as being one worth exploring. And I'm surprisingly into a Cecilia Reyes/Peter Parker romance, considering that it's one I'd never in a million years considered. I love Kev Walker's art, but I can't help but wonder if something a bit more shadowy and atmospheric would better suit the postapocalyptic horror tone that Kelly is reaching for. But the shocking cliffhanger easily solidifies this comic's place in the list of AoR comics I'm going to pick up a second issue of. more

This made me tear up. It is as perfect as it could be.

This comic feels like everything one shouldn't be when making a story with set ending in mind.

And that is: it tells, it doesn't show.

I can always praise art here. I do love it. But the timeskip we got, was way too major. What is left is us being told multiple things without us actually seeing them. We are given implication that they happened and that's it.

Otto is now Spider-Man. One can think how, when, why and who taught him, how did Peter and Harry react to it but those kinds of questions are just ignored. We are told that and should just accept it. I also don't know how he got so close to the Parker family, but focusing on that would require some kind of writing for characters which is a big no in this book. Better to just tell us it happened.

Otto also suddenly has keen interest in the Maker, someone who hasn't been mentioned at all or very little during this run. Which is odd because the whole thing is Hickman's idea.

The cast seemingly survived Negative's attack (as expected) and moved to Savage Land. So of course, we can add that cliffhanger to the list of "never actually established the aftermath". They also now have alliance with the Mole Man. One could think how that happened, when and what was needed. But again, all ignored.

Oh yeah and of course Richard going full Venom last issue while Peter sees it is ignored. Why would we want to see how he reacts his former suit with an AI based on him going berserk.

Gwen is dead. One could think we would see how the main character, Harry Osborn, reacts to it and how he handles it. But we are told he didn't take it well and last pages try to give something. But again, we are mostly told that it was bad for Harry, nothing else. No funeral, no seeing the first reaction, no Peter and MJ learning about it, nothing.

This issue could and should be a masterpiece. If this was issue 40 and all these things were established and shown that I criticize, I would love it. But instead, we are left with an issue that is pretty, but just tells us bunch of stuff happened.

And that's what his book is about. It just tells "more interesting stuff happened off-screen, don't worry about it". It's like reading a recap issue every month instead of actual issues of the comic.

But hey, MJ and Pete banged in this comic, so I guess it's an automatic 10/10. more