REVIEW: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Issue 4

The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 4 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Joe Kelly, art by Pepe Larraz, colors by Marte Gracia, and letters by Joe Caramagna.

Spider-Man had found out who’s behind driving him, but can he survive against the Hobgoblin with his sanity on the edge of breaking?

The plot escalates all of the threads within this series to extremities.  The flashbacks and Spidey’s faltering mind all overlap right in the middle of an intense battle. Hobgoblin is the next boss up, the one who hired Itsy Bitsy. The pace is instantly rapid, throwing Spider-Man headfirst against the goblin. It’s a brutal fight even without the discombobulation. The past and the present overlap brilliantly, purposely getting in each other’s way. There aren’t any secrets left for the readers or the characters, but this arc isn’t finished.

The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 4 feels satisfying in what it concludes, however. Peter’s mental anguish and drugged demeanor could perhaps get tiresome if it were confronted further. But it reaches its peak here, pressing down on Pete with a dramatic force. It may still be present in the next chapter, but the back has been broken with a poignant and hilarious moment, with dangerous consequences.

The characters in this opening arc have been intriguing. Spider-Man himself had been quiet, battling the enemy in his bloodstream. This issue explores his thoughts and mindset when he is at his worst. All the people that Spider-Man has lost weigh on him constantly. Any bad thing that has happened around him is his fault. All the deaths, all the pain, that bear down on him continually. Except now they’re talking to him, all at once. His wit has always been a way for Spider-Man to hide that pain. And by the end of The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 4, that sense of humor starts to resurface.

Having Young Peter present a rebellious, troublesome side in this first arc didn’t feel right. It hasn’t sat right since it started, but there was always the possibility that the visions were false memories. But it has become clearer that these are actual flashbacks. It’s relatable and surprising, but Peter was a slight, well-mannered geek who hadn’t stepped out of line until he started acting out after getting bitten. The things Peter does and says in these flashbacks feel out of character.

Hobgoblin and Itsy Bitsy have been terrific villains for this first arc. They would be exciting anyway, but Spidey’s incapacitation had made them even more frightening. Hobgoblin is fearsome whilst still having a silliness to his plan. Lacing fizzy drinks with the same substances he’s poisoned Spider-Man has a comical and unobtrusive satire to the broader story. There’s a clear statement on what energy drinks and soft drinks have inside them and what they do to those who drink them, but it’s not the core aspect of the story.

The art is gorgeous and captures the ferocity of the situation. While he’s been drugged, Spider-Man’s previous battles haven’t felt as potentially fatal as this one. Hobgoblin and Itsy Bitsy both look incredible. Hobgoblin has built a monstrous costume, crafting the perfect selection to make himself as intimidating as possible. Itsy Bitsy has been built to naturally be scary and intimidating. Each encounter reveals another creepy feature that she has. The character has some unsettling aspects, including her eyes, mouth, or arms.

The sense of speed is excellent, but there is an even more incredible piece of detail. Larraz clarifies that Spider-Man’s releases aren’t as good as they should be. Hobgoblin keeps catching him and flipping him with his flaming sword or other weapons. It shows just how vulnerable the web-slinger is in this state.

The colors are rich and amazing. There is a terrific contrast between the past and present. The red of Spider-Man’s costume is stunningly vibrant and intense, as are the flames generated by Hobgoblin. Then in the flashbacks, a combination of grey and blue haunts the past. Even when they get so imposing and impossible to ignore, we can determine fact from fiction. The lettering is consistent and clear, which is to be expected by Caramagna.

The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 4 pushes everything to extremes. The story perfectly culminates every element of Kelly’s run so far. The issue feels rewarding and engrossing as the hero and villain finally get a chance to meet. The whole arc had been a slog for Spider-Man, never quite being able to show off what he can do or what he’s really like. At the end of this chapter, he starts to shake off the weights holding him back. But this arc isn’t over yet, and Spidey might get the chance to shine.

The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 4 is available where comics are sold.