Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Head Coach But Why Tho 5

    Dear EA Sports, Why Can’t I Make A Hot Coach?

    08/14/2025
    Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

    Blade Can Shut Down The Other Team In Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 If You Know How

    08/08/2025
    John Cena and Cody Rhodes during Summerslam 2025

    The SummerSlam 2025 Main Event Was A Fever Dream We All Needed

    08/08/2025
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Marvel Comics » REVIEW: ‘Spine-tingling Spider-Man’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘Spine-tingling Spider-Man’ Issue #1

William TuckerBy William Tucker10/18/20234 Mins ReadUpdated:03/17/2024
Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1 - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1 is published by Marvel, written by Saladin Ahmed, art and colors by Juan Ferrerya, and letters by Joe Caramagna. Spider-Man wakes up in a world that appears to have forgotten who he is, leaving him to walk through New York like a ghost.

This first issue introduces an interesting concept, putting a twist on the Christmas Carol story and turning it into a horror comic. The comic very swiftly moves on from a seemingly lightly connected cold open, flipping Peter’s life upside down and plummeting him into a nightmare. For much of the comic, the tone is one of confusion. The world has been changed entirely due to the lack of Spider-Man, and the pacing allows for the severity of the situation to sink in. It’s disturbing but not quite terrifying.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

That terror is kept under wraps until it is unleashed with a few pages to go. It is there that the horror of the comic really comes alive. Ahmed is still not ready to provide answers, but the questions are countless. It could be argued that the sudden escalation happens too late, but everything that happens lays crucial groundwork. It eradicates any chance of safety, eliminating all possible options to demonstrate that Peter is truly alone.

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1 leans heavily on the main character and his narration, even more so than usual. With so much changing so early in the book, Peter is left to monologue a lot. Those recognisable mainstays are very different. What starts to build the atmosphere in the comic is the oppressive tone that comes from everywhere and everyone. Ahmed doesn’t just erase the life of Peter Parker; those he loves are actively angry and malicious towards him. The tension continues to spike and increases the isolation that he feels. There is a brilliant simplicity to the captions. It describes what’s happening, with some added emphasis when needed. 

The art is fantastic, adapting and evolving as rapidly as the script. The cold open is a demonstration of the crazy carnage, but for most of the book, Ferrerya creates a New York that is steeped in normality. It’s emptier, which is used to disturb and unnerve, and the glimpses of something sinister underlying the scenes are always present. The way that Ferreyra twists the usually friendly faces into snarls and grimaces are early signs of how wrong things have gone.

This issue does not feature much of Spider-Man for reasons pertaining to the story. So even in the most energetic and action-packed moments, Peter is stuck with his costume. This results in reactions being far more palpable as the facial expressions are visible. The last part of the comic is a visceral horror story, introducing terrifying figures that emerge all of a sudden. The first appearance is a large close-up that details Ferreyra’s incredible art style. It’s a horrifying portrait that changes the course of the comic. From there, the imagery only gets more disturbing, with contorting faces and an almost entirely different look. It becomes claustrophobic and as nightmarish as a comic can get.

The colors are fascinating. The opening is overly colorful, filling the page with red. That doesn’t last long, as a more naturalistic set of shades takes over. The light is intensely bright, washing out the backgrounds and clearing New York of many details. This makes the place look inhuman and less like home to Peter. The final part of the issue flips, turning darker and shadowy. The most prominent color in the last pages is the streaks of red that appear on the new characters’ faces. The letter evolves from being the regular Spider-Man font to a scarier, more dramatic typeface.

Spine-tingling Spider-Man #1 is a terrifying start. This a comic that evolves within its own story, always adapting and taking Peter even further into an unknown version of the world he knows so well. The isolation amplifies the character’s voice, especially when so much of what fills his supporting cast and identity is stripped away. The plot is impossible to predict because of how quickly it can divert and erupt into chaos.

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1 is available where comics are sold.

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1
5

TL;DR

Spine-tingling Spider-Man #1 is a terrifying start. The isolation amplifies the character’s voice, especially when so much of what fills his supporting cast and identity is stripped away. The plot is impossible to predict because of how quickly it can divert and erupt into chaos.

  • Read Now on ComiXology with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Invasion’ Season 2 Episode 9 — “Breakthrough”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix,’ Is An Unhinged Ubisoft Commercial
William Tucker

William is a screenwriter with a love of comics and movies. Once referred to Wuthering Heights as "the one with the Rabbits."

Related Posts

Cover art for Fantastic Four Issue 2

REVIEW: ‘Fantastic Four’ Issue 2

08/13/2025
Cover art of Predator Kills The Marvel Universe Issue 1

REVIEW: ‘Predator Kills the Marvel Universe’ Issue 1

08/13/2025
Cover art of Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3

REVIEW: ‘Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion’ Issue 3

08/13/2025
cover art for Uncanny X-Men Issue 19

REVIEW: ‘Uncanny X-Men’ Issue 19

08/06/2025
Cover art for One World Under Doom Issue 6

REVIEW: ‘One World Under Doom’ Issue 6

08/06/2025
Cover art for Ultimates Issue 14

REVIEW: ‘Ultimates’ Issue 14

07/30/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

By Sarah Musnicky08/16/2025Updated:08/17/2025

It is understandable how Shin Godzilla succeeded at the box office nearly a decade ago. The strength of its story still stands today.

Botanical Bliss Update Palia But Why Tho 5 News

Palia’s New Botanical Bliss Update Brings New Flora, Decorations, And Quest Mechanic

By Matt Donahue08/18/2025Updated:08/18/2025

The Botanical Bliss update adds new event, more plushes, and a host of quality-of-life improvements and more to celebrate 2 years of Palia.

BOOTS Netflix First Look promotional images News

First Look at Coming-of-Age Story BOOTS, Coming to Netflix This October

By But Why Tho?08/17/2025

Netflix is reporting for duty this fall with the new eight-episode series BOOTS, a comedic drama starring Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga

Nuestra Magia Secret Lair Art Interviews

EXCLUSIVE: How The ‘Nuestra Magia’ Secret Lair Found Its Identity And Raised Over $1M

By Kate Sánchez08/15/2025Updated:08/15/2025

We spoke with Ovidio Cartagena about Magic: The Gathering’s Nuestra Magia Secret Lair drop, its impact, and the real treasure within.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here