If Spider-Man is not beaten to pulp once every six months, there should be a source of concern. Helgate had arrived in New York as of the last issue. This week’s issue is about knowing when Spider-Man should fight and when he will run away. It’s another quest for new memories from Peter’s youth, but Helgate continues to understand his points using his fist rather than words.
Amazing Spider-Man #8 is a kind of test of how much damage Spider-Man and Hellgate can do without the need for a hospital. By the end of the question, it’s very clear that Spider-Man will lose this test, but he’s giving him a significant portion of his hits at Helgate. In fact, that’s where the problem begins, and Spider-Man hits Hellgate over and over again. At one point he swings the Helgate x at him. Hellgate will bleed at some point, but his ribs are broken and perhaps even worse is Spider-Man.
The battle scenes look great thanks to John Romita Jr.’s pencil. It’s a neat trick I’ve seen other artists do, stretching things and filling the gaps in your imagination. There are a few iconic elements in the fight, such as Spider-Man holding something to prevent others from getting injured, and a neat way to show Spider-Man pushing up a lot of grass. My only complaint is the second page, featuring close-ups of mystical characters, but it’s difficult to make what’s displayed. Do you think it’s a mask? It’s strange.
It bleeds!
Credit: Marvel
A few pages of pinch hits are Todd Nauk, who can draw scenes of Mary Jane. It’s great to see MJ appear in the series. If you haven’t followed an entirely new poison, you may have lost your nod to what hero she is lately. Writer Joe Kelly reminds us that Paul and Dylan don’t get along well. This is primarily a check-in with the promise that MJ can join the fight to help Peter immediately.
Kelly continues to show high skills in writing Spider-Man’s dialogue on many unsettling lines, and his heroism becomes loud and clear. He is desperate, trying to find time while fighting seemingly space-level characters. From a writing perspective, I take the cake with Uncle Ben. This further shows that the flashback is working. It’s a healthy moment when Ben teaches Peter about combat and what it’s not about fighting all the time, and sometimes you need to know when to run. This flashback connects to actions set in the present, adding emotions to battles that are usually lacking in purpose or meaning.
As far as Glype is concerned, they are minor, but add up. This issue is the lack of progression in the plot, as it reduces things to a long battle with tips going forward. The MJ scene is welcome as it means she’s likely to appear soon, but it’s a bit suffocating and long, especially if you’re reading an entirely new poison.
Amazing Spider-Man #8 uses powerful visual techniques and smart lighting to promote knockdowns and drag out into something deeper in mind and theme, but trips over clear, wider continuity references.
“Amazing Spider-Man” #8 finds an emotional anchor in Uncle Ben
Amazing Spiderman #8
Amazing Spider-Man #8 uses powerful visual techniques and smart lighting to promote knockdowns and drag out into something deeper in mind and theme, but trips over clear, wider continuity references.
Brutal and emotionally grounded battle scenes with powerful visual storytelling.
Romita Jr.’s artwork enhances the action with clever framing and iconic Spider-Man images.
The excellent use of flashbacks, especially the meaningful moments of Uncle Ben, are thematically tied to the present.
A strong, uneasy and heroic Spider-Man dialogue from Joe Kelly.
The mysterious characters revealed near the edge are vague and visually confused.
Readers unfamiliar with the whole new poison may miss the context of MJ’s role.
A slight lack of progression in the story that goes beyond the battle.
