Enjoying Marvel-Produced Spidey the Only Way I Can (For Now): A Review of The Amazing Spider-Man #27

written by Nick Spencer
penciled by Kev Walker
inked by John Dell
colored by Laura Martin

It's been a painful last few days with the news that Walt Disney Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment have failed to reach a new deal over the shared use of the Spider-Man character to replace the one reached in 2015 and that expired this year, as a result of which Spider-Man will no longer appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was in this context that I picked up the latest issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #27 basically out of habit, having been disenchanted with the title since Nick Spencer's meandering mess The Hunted concluded a few months ago. The last two issues, including the oversized #25th issue, weren't quite able to snap me out of my indifference, but there's something about this one that has inspired me to write, even if it's just a brief little snippet.

This issue is basically part two of a new storyline featuring an all-female team of supervillains led by the Beetle, and they're out to get Fred Myers aka Boomerang aka Peter's roommate, because Kingpin has put a bounty on him, and the only person around to even help the former Superior Foe of Spider-Man is, well, Spider-Man himself.

With its humor and its interesting art style courtesy of Kev Walker, this issue has piqued my interest, even though it's already the second part. I didn't realize how much The Hunted, with its bloated story and awful Humberto Ramos art, had turned me off to this book until this issue finally snapped me out of my stupor; I couldn't even enjoy the extra-sized issue #25 properly.

Anyway, the last issue felt a little slow out of the gate, as did the disjointed issue #25 which mostly teased future storylines, but this one, with its banter and action, plus some refreshingly different art from Kev Walker, really clicked with me. I am really, really glad to be rid of Ramos and I look forward to more fresh faces like Walker and upcoming regular artist Patrick Gleason. I started on this book last year because Spencer and Ryan Ottley promised a fresh take on this character, and this is the first issue in some time that really feels true to the spirit of that endeavor.

There's one issue to go before Spencer begins his "Kindred" arc in earnest, and after enjoying this issue, I feel cautiously optimistic once more, and I will stay this way for so long as Marvel keeps Humberto Ramos far, far away from this book.

8/10