REVIEW: ‘Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike’ Issue #1

Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike#1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Zeb Wells and Cody Ziglar, with art by Joey Vazquez and Julian Shaw, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Joe Caramagna. This is the start of the Gang War crossover within the Marvel Universe. The death of Tombstone has left a gap in the territories, and the treaties between the other gangs are on the verge of being torn apart.

The start of the crossover is not exactly easy to enter blindly. There are a lot of existing politics and manipulation within the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, leaving the first chapter of the extended issue with much to catch up on. Wells captures the noise and the frantic tension within the city, with uneasiness stretching from the villains to Spider-Man and even the Mayor’s Office.

Spider-Man is down on allies and friends, with even the regulars struggling to play nice with him. But it should be noted that some of the storylines are a culmination of other stories and events, not just Amazing Spider-Man. This opens up the avenues in which readers can approach the start of the crossover.

There is still the ban on superheroes in New York, and the campaign against that is what leads to much of the conflict. It is an attempted hit that is the ignition for a fireball that was always on the brink of eruption, and from their all semblance of order crumbles. The exposition at the start of the comic, used to gather all of the threads and the pieces that are clambering together, is enough that the end of the issue is a shock before throwing a hand grenade into the city.

The various pieces of the crossover begin to make themselves clear in Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1. The most important players are made clear, as well as the figures that hold all of the powers in New York. Spider-Man is disjointed and unsettled, much grouchier, and finding it difficult to reestablish himself in the city. Even those who are usually closest to him and look up to him, such as Miles Morales, are furious with him.

Then, on the other side are the villains, like Hammerhead, the head of the table when it comes to Marvel’s Manhattan Mafia. The cartoonish gangster within him creates hatred toward him and riles up anyone near him. The head can spin early in the book with so many others joining in, which only intensifies by the end of the issue. But there is a core crew that has been established within Spider-Man and other street-level rogue galleries. There are also the innocents, the victims who are used as leverage or as target practise, who are established support cast members and part of the fabric of the comic.

The art is unique and certainly interesting. The tight angles fit the rough underworld, with all of the gang members meeting up. The most noticeable feature of this issue is the line weights. These are adapted for each character. For Hammerhead, the lines are incredibly thick to impose his square jaw, furrowed brow, and massive head. But for Spider-Man, the intricacies of the costume are much thinner.

There is also a superb variety in how the fight scenes are structured. The first, a dead rubber between the Spider-Men and a very deep cut into the depths of history, is full of pace and movement. But later comes a bloody, violent fit of rage that is much more physical, with contorting bodies depicted in gruesome and painful ways. There are a lot of named characters included in this opening issue, and the art style gives them all individual qualities. Many of those fighting for a territory have a confidence that is captured beautifully by their body language.

The colors are not as vibrant as Spider-Man comics usually embody, and perhaps that is a reflection of the general tone of the issue. Spidey’s red is lighter than normal, as is Miles’ suit. And the bright daylight progressively gets darker and gains more shadows as the chaos unfolds. Caramagna is an extremely efficient letterer, creating a font that is effortless to read.

Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1 clicks off the safety. Whether as a newcomer or a longtime reader, it is clear from the start that the situation is on a knife edge, with criminals gaining confidence as the heroes lack it. The story doesn’t ease unfamiliar readers in, but everyone gets up to speed by the final page, which is the most important thing. Editor notes to suggest the important previous issue would have been helpful, but it’s not totally necessary to enjoy the comic.

There is a blend between cartoonish, comic book brilliance and some really meaningful drama, with so much pain and suffering on the eve of a war. The art has personality and a terrific sense of atmosphere, both of which will be crucial in a crossover with so many characters and a terrific tone.

Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1 is available where comics are sold.

Rating: 4/5