The Amazing Spider-Man [2018] #23 - Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 23, August 2019

Whilst Nick Spencer’s narrative for this “Hunted epilogue” debatably delivers when it comes to neatly sowing up the multi-issue event’s numerous outstanding plot-threads, the overall tone of the former politician’s penmanship, as a highly agitated Spider-Man desperately rushes back to Mary Jane’s flat to supposedly save her life, probably still struck many a bibliophile as being a little disconcertingly flat. True, Peter Parker’s love interest has indeed shockingly splattered her blood across the carpet as a result of a decidedly nasty injury, but the gory wound is disappointingly revealed to be as a result of the woman accidentally tripping over the laundry rather than her being attacked by a deadly super-villain.

Equally as disinteresting is arguably the American author’s handling of “an army of costumed criminals” who have suddenly “been set free in the middle of Manhattan.” This potential wave of violence could easily have become the basis of a storyline in its own right, as the cold-hearted killers make a dash for their liberty and perhaps to have their revenge upon some of New York’s outnumbered finest. However, quite miraculously, their escape occurs just as the likes of the “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” and Fantastic Four show up to quickly wrap things up within the space of a handful of panels; “So yeah, bad guys of all shapes and sizes getting what they deserve. And hopefully that sticks this time --”

Quite possibly this publication’s saving grace therefore lies in the funeral of Kraven and his distraught son’s subsequent acceptance of his father’s name and heritage. Initially enraged by Sergei Kravinoff’s death and visibly reluctant to follow in the big game hunter’s footsteps, this intriguing emotional piece surely must have whetted the appetites of Spider-Man fans everywhere as to the pair’s future confrontations in print.

Just as frustratingly inconsistent as the writing though is Ryan Ottley’s pencilling, which despite being well-drawn in many places, such as Parker’s dynamic entrance into Mary Jane’s apartment, appears frightfully angular looking in others. Indeed, the panels portraying She-Hulk smacking Antonio Rodriguez’s alter-ego Armadillo straight in the jaw as the Avengers make a triumphant appearance, and an incarcerated Vulture re-establishing the Sinister Six, could well be mistaken for having been sketched by an entirely different artist.

Writer: Nick Spencer, Penciler: Ryan Ottley, and Inker: Cliff Rathburn