THAT'S How You Tell Stories: A Review of The Amazing Spider-Man #5 (and a look back at the first five issues)

 written by Zeb Wells

art by John Romita Jr (p) and Scott Hanna (i)

colors by Marcio Menyz

In wrapping up their first-ever collaboration on the adventures of the amazing Spider-Man, writer Zeb Wells and artist John Romita, Jr. deliver a finale that has managed to both satisfy and leave me hankering for more.

After having learned to his chagrin that he was used by crime-boss Tombstone as a bludgeon against the resurgent Rose, Spider-Man licks his wounds, grabs a coffee, and then quietly plans to hit back at Tombstone. His solution is clever, if the tiniest bit cynical, and effective, too.  Mild spoiler, though, anyone expecting the big dust-up promised by the cover art is going to walk away from this issue disappointed. Also, this issue explains where the heck Digger, the gamma-powered patchwork of dead mobsters, was while Spider-Man was busy unwittingly dismantling the Rose's crew.

While this issue may seem anticlimactic to some, I, for one, really like it when Spider-Man uses his brains rather than his brawn to hit back at his enemies.  Also, it's hard to begrudge Wells a distinct shift from the high-octane action of the past couple of issues considering how good Romita Jr.'s art looks here. If I'm perfectly honest, his art on Spider-Man hasn't looked this good since his days of working with J. Michael Straczynski.  Scott Hanna is truly one of his better collaborators, and Marcio Menyz's rich palette of colors evokes the very best of Dan Kemp back in the day.  

This issue still leaves so many unanswered questions regarding Peter's new status quo, which is fine by me because I intend to keep following this run. It is so very satisfying to get a solid five issues from one creative team, especially with one art team firing on all cylinders like this one is.  This is what many of us readers have been missing for literally years, and it's gratifying to finally see Marvel getting the hint. 

My only gripe, if you can call it that, is the misleading cover. I know it's been a staple of comic books since forever, but it's no less annoying at I can't help but feel that it cheapens the story inside just a little bit. It's like Marvel's not giving its readers enough credit. 

All that said, thank you, Nick Lowe and the rest of the Spidey brain trust, for bringing this dream team together. They have well and truly delivered. 

I know JR, Jr. is taking a break from art chores for the landmark 900th issue in a couple of weeks, but considering it's Ed McGuinness stepping up to bat I'm hardly one to complain. 

8.5/10