Comic Review: Amazing Spider-Man #4 – A Spider’s Soul in Pieces

 

It’s not often that the fourth issue of a run makes you stop and ask: “Is this the moment I’m falling in love with Spider-Man again?” After reading Amazing Spider-Man #4, the answer is: “Almost.” This issue is packed with heart, chaos, combat, flashbacks, hallucinations, nostalgia… and a few odd storytelling choices. But for the most part it works.

Kicking things off the Peter Parker way

The issue opens exactly where the last one left off Peter once again trying to save the day, his life, and the city. Classic Spidey. But what sets this issue apart is the deep emotional tone and the way Joe Kelly balances action and introspection.

Kelly clearly knows what he’s doing. He shows us a Spider-Man struggling with his past, his present, and the sheer amount of weight on his shoulders. There’s a sincerity here a desire to tell a story that means something, not just another supervillain beatdown. And finally, someone has the guts to address alcohol in Peter’s life. The scene showing his first experience drinking intercut with the current fight is brilliantly handled and hits surprisingly hard.

Pepe Larraz = pure gold

Visually? This issue is a masterclass in motion and emotion. Pepe Larraz shows why he’s among the best artists in comics today. Every movement, every pose, every little detail in Spidey’s expressions it all pops. The fight scenes are dense, chaotic, but never confusing.

The battle with Itsy Bitsy, while still involving a somewhat “meh” villain, works much better here. That’s thanks to Kelly and Larraz using her as a twisted mirror of Peter. Her obsession makes her vulnerable when Peter deep in a hallucination says “I love you,” thinking he’s speaking to Aunt May. That emotional moment throws her off completely and becomes her downfall. It’s not just a cool twist it’s a personal, layered moment that says a lot with very little.

Hallucinations, trauma, and memory

The gas Peter was exposed to isn’t just a plot device it’s a window into his psyche. The way flashbacks (first time drinking, teen rebellion, grief) blend with the current action gives us a deep look into what really haunts Peter. There’s a lot of classic Ditko-Spidey energy here, filtered through something much more modern and grounded. Kelly asks questions but doesn’t preach Peter’s still figuring things out, despite all the years behind the mask.

And yes, there’s even a One More Day reference. It doesn’t fix anything, but at least it acknowledges that losing MJ still hurts — and that’s something.

Aunt May steals the issue (literally)

In one genuinely emotional moment, Aunt May tells Peter that being afraid to love just guarantees he’ll end up alone. It’s pure gold. For too long, May has been sidelined as “supportive old lady,” but here she returns to form as Peter’s emotional anchor.

Hobgoblin is terrifying. Itsy Bitsy... still kinda mid

Hobgoblin looks absolutely lethal in this series. That armor? Fire. The wings? Dope. The presence? Menacing. He doesn’t appear much, but when he does, it’s memorable and sets up an explosive confrontation in the next issue with the Rand Corporation.

As for Itsy Bitsy… her character still doesn’t quite land. There are shades of interesting obsession-based psychology here, but she lacks depth. The fight is great, but as a villain, she still feels undercooked.

Is nostalgia enough?

The biggest risk this issue takes is relying heavily on introspection and flashbacks, rather than plot advancement. Yes, the fights, emotions, and surprises are great, but you can feel this is still a setup issue. Some flashbacks feel a bit drawn out, and the sudden appearance of a rebellious old friend we’ve never heard of before feels awkward and forced like a late addition rather than an organic character.

The Verdict: A Spider Torn in Two

"Amazing Spider-Man #4" is a bit of a mixed bag visually stunning, emotionally resonant, well-written in parts, but uneven overall. As a chapter in a larger arc, it works well. As a standalone issue? It's still building momentum. That said if you’ve missed a Spider-Man story with heart, flaws, and emotional weight, this is your jam.

Pros:

+ Fantastic artwork by Pepe Larraz – dynamic, cinematic, full of life

+ Emotional depth – flashbacks and the Aunt May scene hit hard

+ Clever use of Itsy Bitsy as Peter’s distorted mirror

+ Terrifying Hobgoblin design and presence

+ Honest references to Peter’s past (alcohol, MJ, trauma)

Cons:

– Too many flashbacks at times, pacing suffers

– Itsy Bitsy still lacks compelling development

– Plot feels like it's stalling for setup

– The mystery “friend from the past” doesn’t add much

– Occasionally bogged down by introspection

Final Score: 7/10

Not perfect, but still "Amazing". If this is just the warm-up, we’re in for something special. If not — let’s just hope Joe Kelly keeps swinging high. For now — Spider-Man finally feels like he has something to say again.