REVIEW: ‘Amazing Spider-Man,’ Issue 52

The Amazing Spider-Man #52 is written by Nick Spencer, illustrated by Patrick Gleason, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna. It is published by Marvel Comics.  Part three of “Last Remains” features Spidey and Kindred in a knock-down, drag-out battle. During the battle, Kindred taunts the web-slinger with his various failures.

This fight has literally been two years in the making and Spencer and Gleason don’t disappoint. Gleason packs his pages full of action, especially in a pair of splash pages. The first splash page features Spidey knocking Kindred into the air with a massive uppercut, sending maggots and rot flying. The next page features Kindred returning the favor, with his massive centipedes ripping into the wall-crawler. Blood flies and walls are smashed into rubble, making all 23 pages a sight to behold. Other Spider-People including Miles Morales and Jessica Drew appear in the issue, and they are the stuff of nightmares. Possessed by Kindred’s sins, they have blood-red eyes and mouthfuls of razor-sharp teeth making them a far cry from the heroes fans know and love.

Delgado also brings his considerable talents to the picture-literally. His colors give the fight plenty of weight, and once again highlights the difference between Spidey and Kindred. Spidey’s classic red-and-blue costume is vibrant and stands out against the shadows of the underground cavern where he and Kindred are fighting. Kindred remains the stuff of nightmares. Maggots crawl across his flesh, his teeth are rotting and crooked and fixed in a permanent grin, and when Spidey punches through him he leaks greenish pus. His purple hooded coat and gauze-wrapped face serve as a contrast to our hero.

Good comics combine great writing and art, and Spencer remains at the top of his game. His script not only features bombastic action but emotional heft. This is an enemy who knows how to cut Spidey to his core and can match him blow for blow. Reading this issue, I was reminded of J. Michael Straczynski’s debut run on Amazing Spider-Man which pitted him against the vampiric Morlun. Like Morlun, Kindred pushed Spidey to the emotional and physical limits. And like Straczynski, Spencer makes you feel for Peter Parker on every page. The best Spider-Man stories place his humanity on display and showcase how his superhero career affects his personal life. “Last Remains” is no different, as the villain Spidey faces has control of his friends and is hellbent on destroying his life.

The Amazing Spider-Man #52 finally brings a fight that was two years in the making to its pages, featuring non-stop action with a splash of horror. It also happens to end with a whopping cliffhanger, promising to shift the thrust of the story. Even though it’s only three issues in, this storyline is paying off years of setup and promises to cement Spencer as one of the greatest Spider-Man writers in the character’s history. Spidey fans won’t want to miss this.

The Amazing Spider-Man #52 is available wherever comics are sold.