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