Amazing Spider-Man #700.1 Review

Amazing Spider-Man #700.1 Review

On December 26, 2012 Spider-Man fans everywhere lost a special person to us, Peter Parker. Marvel decided to kill one its biggest characters off in the milestone 700^th issue of Amazing Spider-Man.  In his place was Doctor Octopus, who took over Peter’s body by switching their minds just as his body died. Ever since loyal fans have been waiting for Peter to return and now almost a year later Marvel has given us something to hold us off with Amazing Spider-Man 700.1 – Amazing Spider-Man 700.5. It proves that saying, you can’t keep a Parker down!

Welcome to the life of Peter Parker: The Amazing Spider-Man. Its November and there is a storm coming a blizzard, and the coming storm and constant duties of Spider-Man have begun to weigh on Peter draining him of energy wearing him down.

After nearly a year without Peter and that poor excuse for a Peter story in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man I NEEDED a good classic Peter Parker story and Stan-ta Claus read my letter because I got it in this issue!

David Morell gives us a classic Spider-Man tale. We are given a fast one page recap of Spider-Man’s origins. Then we are thrown into the story. Peter is working at the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson is in charge of the paper and Peter is living on his own. I think when most people think about Spider-Man, this is the time frame they think of, it is sort of his sweet spot.

Morell hits every mark with the story he has the “Parker Luck,” the life of Spider-Man, "Sour Puss Jameson" going after Spider-Man, and even Aunt May being the every doting loving aunt. These are all elements that I felt lacking since Peter died in Amazing Spider-Man #700 in their place we have gotten the smug arrogance of Doc Ock. But Morell brings them all back in this issue and it feels like they were never gone. I don’t feel the need to fit this into continuity because the story is set perfect within its own continuity, and I am a continuity nut. The story hits every beat for a classic Spider-Man story right down to the looming threat of Aunt May’s health, but instead of feeling old, dull and repetitive it feels right, and comfortable. The story gets 5 stars.

Klaus Janson does a good job at complimenting Morell’s story by setting the scene visually right from this era. Janson brings you back to the classic Spidey. Normally I would point out the occasional lack of detail here and there, but even that adds to the charm and nostalgia feel of the book. Janson managed to capture these iconic yet simplistic Spidey moments that made me think back to various times in his history like him swinging from the 60’s animated show, or him from the Tobey McGuire Spider-Man movie. Normally I would give this 4 or 4 ½ stars tops but it is a case when the art just works so well that I don’t think the slight lapses in detail would have improved the experience because they never took me out of the story so I give the art 5 stars.

Overall I highly recommend this book for any true believer out there. If you have been missing Peter Parker, or just want a good Spider-Man book you don’t have to know anything about the character, even his origin is nicely recapped so if you are new to this character you can still enjoy this book. It is Christmas time so let the season of giving fall upon you when you buy this book and pick up another one for someone you love, it will make an Amazing stocking stuffer.  

That’s what I think of this issue now let us know in the comments what you think of The Amazing Spider-Man #700.1 and don't forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest Previews, Reviews, News and Interviews!