REVIEW: ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ Issue #43

Amazing Spider-Man #43 is published by Marvel, written by Zeb Wells, pencils by John Romita Jr, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Marcio Menyz, and letters by Joe Caramagna. This issue is part of the Gang War event. Central Park turns into a battlefield as the two largest armies collide.

This issue is within the endgame of the event. All of the smaller players and factions have been whittled down, and the two new matriarchs are in control. Madame Masque and Beetle have crafted new armies to spite their fathers and are now at loggerheads in the biggest battle yet. The fight is three-pronged, with the heroes involved. Those that have had their tie-ins, such as Miles Morales and Daredevil, are back. The action is intense and enjoyable, and the spectacle is incredible. But the key plot threads of the series remain intact and integral. They aren’t waylaid or drowned out by the action. Instead, they fuel it. The book’s final moments derail the presumed path entirely, changing the Gang War yet again.

All of the major characters of the crossover reemerge, but there are some notable exclusions. The core group that started the event stood on the same rooftop they were on at the start of the event. There are references to moments and connections made within the individual tie-ins as clusters of conflicts pop up on the battlefield. But Luke Cage’s group of vigilantes and Shang-Chi have been left out of this final clash. The tie-in stories have not yet finished, so there could be narrative reasons for their absence. And there is another issue yet to go, so they have time to make an entrance.

The villains have driven this story, and that trend continues into this penultimate chapter. Madame Masque and Beetle have used manipulation and connections to take themselves to the top, combining armies of minor and major characters. The great part about Spider-Man comics is that a whole universe of villains and supporting characters has been created over decades. The city is full of life, which is displayed in Amazing Spider-Man #43.

Beetle’s ascendancy is perhaps the most prominent character arc of the crossover. She has become a terrifying figure. Her father’s decision to try to protect her during the whole saga has led him to ignore how dangerous and evil she has been. Flaws in her personality become much clearer. She might have the costume, but that doesn’t represent true bravery or respect.

The art is fantastic. Romita Jr has set the two armies out in Central Park like a classic movie, with two big bodies of people set out in lines against each other. The ridiculous and zany designs on display are representative of not just artistic creativity but the generations of villains. On Madame Masque’s side are the old guard. Old men and gang leaders have been enslaved and forced to fight—characters like Count Nefaria, Silverman, the Owl, etc. There are newcomers, such as Rabble, who was used to arm the group with extremely powerful weapons.

On Beetle’s side are legacy villains, using iconic names and costumes, for example, Electro and Lady Ocotopus. But there are also smaller criminals, lackeys, and minions that Beetle has corralled and convinced into joining her. The variety of costumes is chaotic and celebrates how ridiculous they look.

The battle is physical and close up, brilliantly capturing the individual battles within the sea of bodies. Superpowers, high-tech weapons, and monsters present a superb variety of visuals illustrated in one style. The violence can range from slapstick to bloody and brutal, depending on who is fighting whom. She-Hulk is particularly entertaining as she plows through people like a bowling ball. This is war, and even the heroes have stopped holding back. The punches look like they hurt, and the victims crumple to the floor.

The colors are pivotal for dealing with the mass of bodies and powers. The landscape of Central Park isn’t the most detailed, but having a solid green backdrop allows the artists to focus on the sprawling chaos. The heroes and most of the villains have bright costumes, and their vibrancy is more than enough to make them stand out from the throng of violence. Rabble’s technology emits a distinctive purple light that is striking among characters based on physical attributes. The lettering has been clear throughout the carnage and huge crowds of people.

Amazing Spider-Man #43 is brilliantly balanced. It’s a comic focused on action and characters, not placing more importance on either. Where lines are given to the individual tie-ins, the book stays focused on this main spine of the crossover. And so, the characters of Beetle, Tombstone, and Madame Masque have remained integral to the core of the conflict. The heroes have taken a backseat, including Spider-Man. But Wells has harnessed the strength and personality of the villains to keep the event interesting.

Amazing Spider-Man #43 is available now wherever comics are sold.