The Amazing Spider-Man [2018] #21 - Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 21, July 2019

Misleadingly described by “Marvel Worldwide” as “the climactic conclusion” to Nick Spencer’s “Hunted” storyline and featuring a disconcertingly dismissal battle against a herd of Vermin duplicates, Issue Twenty-One of “The Amazing Spider-Man” surely frustrated many a fan of Peter Parker’s alter-ego. True, the former politician does initially depict Web-head bravely battling against an army of Edward Whelan clones in an incredibly dynamic bout of pugilism. But once this contest’s tide turns in favour of the numerous hungry, sharp-toothed rat-men, the lead protagonist both readily gives up the will to live and then begs Kraven for mercy when he believes the Russian immigrant is about to shoot him in the face.

Such uncharacteristic moments of vulnerability arguably haunt the rest of this twenty-three-page periodical, as the American author’s subsequent depiction of Steve Ditko’s co-creation seemingly shows him lacking any real stomach for a fight, even when Felicia Hardy’s life is clearly in danger. Indeed, rather than take a chance to have the Lizard save his former lover from the Last Son of Kraven, Spidey instead wastes valuable time adopting the moral high ground and starts waxing lyrical about “I have a code that I live by --”

Far more convincing is Spencer’s sadly short-lived spotlight upon the Vulture and his criminal force’s no-holds barred conflict with the cold-hearted Hunterbots in Central Park. Evidently able to sacrifice some of his villainous comrades-in-arms without any qualms whatsoever in order to achieve his own ends, Adrian Toomes proves as mesmerising an antagonist as he is utterly merciless, and many a bibliophile will doubtless feel somewhat robbed that this publication spends so much of its focus upon Parker’s disagreeable self-doubts, as opposed to the machinations of the founding member of the Sinister Six.

Sadly suggesting that this particular script didn’t encompass enough elements to completely fill out its page count are Gerardo Sandoval’s layouts, which, whilst prodigiously pencilled, seem to contain an awful lot of splash pages and voids throughout their storytelling. In particular, the Mexican illustrator fills many a panel with just a close-up of Spider-Man’s head depicting the Web-spinner’s increasingly defeatist attitude to the situation he faces – albeit considering just how dialogue-driven the majority of this book is it’s debatably difficult to imagine what else the artist could do.

Writer: Nick Spencer, Penciler: Gerardo Sandoval & Inkers: Gerardo Sandoval & Victor Nava