REVIEW: ‘Amazing Fantasy,’ Issue #1000

Amazing Fantasy #1000 is an anthology one-shot published by Marvel Comics, and, surprising absolutely no one, it’s focused on Spider-Man. The web-slinger celebrates his 60th anniversary this year. So while his main series has reached its 900th issue, Marvel decided to gather together a collection of creators to craft stories celebrating everything great about Spider-Man. From his villains to his love life and the reasons he persists, there’s a phenomenal range of stories on display. Since so many wonderful people have worked on this amazing one-shot, full credits for each team are listed at the end of this review.

Amazing Fantasy #1000 contains eight stories in total. Each one of these stories has a great hook, courtesy of the creators involved. For example, “Spider-Man VS. His Sinister 60th” depicts an alternate future where an elderly Peter Parker fights a barrage of threats on his way to celebrate his wedding anniversary to Mary Jane Watson, and “The Kid’s Got A Good Eye” is a spotlight on Spidey’s photography career. But the highlights of the issue come in the latter half. “Slaves of the Witch-Queen!” features a surprising connection to Spidey’s very first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15, with Busiek delivering a Silver Age flavored tale and the Dodsons designing the Witch Queen in a way that hearkens back to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s original plans for the Green Goblin.

My three personal favorite tales are “In The Flesh,” “You Get It,” and “With Great Power,” respectively. “In The Flesh” initially comes off as a horror-tinged tale, especially as Camuncoli and Janson depict Spidey as a horrific, man-eating spider. But it soon gives way to a more somber tale courtesy of Anderson. Spidey saves a girl named Arnufula, who is suffering from the inability to sleep and is rocked by her resemblance to Gwen Stacy. It’s a gripping story that shows the human side of Spider-Man, which is one of the many things I love about the character. Similarly, “You Get It” has Hickman ruminating on Peter Parker’s everlasting perseverance and Checchetto delivering his usual stunning artwork, which Martin renders in rich red and blue. And “With Great Power…” is Gaiman’s love letter to the impact Spidey has had on the writer, with McNiven giving an accurate illustration of Gaiman through the years.

A bonus story pays tribute to Marvel’s marketing head Mike Pasciullo, who sadly passed away this year. “Along Came A Rhino” is based on a pitch for a Spidey miniseries Pasciullo wrote, with Todd Nauck providing art, Rachelle Rosenberg on colors, and Sabino on letters. It centers on a teenager who gains super strength and decides to name himself Rhino despite the fact that one of Spidey’s arch foes has the name. Nauck continues to show his skill in drawing Spider-Man, especially in a montage featuring the web-slinger’s greatest hits. In addition, Pasciullo delivers a heartfelt conversation between Spidey and the new Rhino that shows why this character continues to be an inspiration.

Amazing Fantasy #1000 is a supersized love letter to all things Spider-Man as Marvel celebrates the web-slinger’s 60th anniversary. If you pick up only one Spider-Man comic this year, this should be the one. So here’s to 60 more, Spidey!

Amazing Fantasy #1000 is available wherever comics are sold.

“Just Some Guy” is written by Anthony Falcone and Michael Cho, with Cho handling illustrations and colors. “Spider-Man VS His Sinister 60th” is written by Dan Slott, illustrated by Jim Cheung, and colored by Jay David Ramos. “Spider-Man vs. Conspiriton” is written by Armando Iannucci, penciled by Ryan Stegman, inked by JP Mayer, and colored by Sonia Oback. “The Kid’s Got A Good Eye” is written by Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Olivier Coipel, and colored by Matt Wilson. VC’s Joe Sabino lettered “Just Some Guy,” “Spider-Man VS His Sinister 60th,” and “Spider-Man VS. Conspiriton,” while VC’s Ariana Maher lettered “The Kid’s Got A Good Eye.”

“In The Flesh” is written by Ho Che Anderson, penciled by Giuseppe Camuncoli, inked by Klaus Janson, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles. “Slaves of the Witch-Queen!” is written by Kurt Busiek, illustrated by Terry Dodson, colored by Rachel Dodson, and lettered by Sabino. “You Get It” is written by Jonathan Hickman, illustrated by Marco Checchetto, colored by Frank Martin, and lettered by Sabino. Finally, “With Great Power…” is written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Steve McNiven, colored by McNiven & Richard Isanove, and lettered by Todd Klein.