Comic Review: Amazing Spider-Man #10

 

The tenth issue of Amazing Spider-Man is an example of a comic that balances between frustrating predictability and exciting twists that make it hard to put down. While much of the issue is serviceable sometimes even bland the ending delivers revelations that ensure you’ll be eager for the next part.

Brutal Spider-Man and the fight with the AfterShocks

The issue opens by continuing Spider-Man’s battle with Shocker’s group the AfterShocks. The fight scenes have the right intensity, and the hero’s brutality is emphasized through the red lenses in his mask, symbolizing the anger and darker side that’s increasingly coming to the surface. It’s a visual detail that works perfectly, instantly setting this Spider-Man apart from the “classic” version we know.

Black Cat also makes a return, saving “Peter” at a key moment. Her presence adds a touch of levity and contrasts nicely with the protagonist’s growing ruthlessness.

Tombstone and Shocker – reheated leftovers or solid support?

Tombstone’s return inspires mixed feelings. On one hand, he still plays a key role in New York’s criminal landscape, but on the other his presence is becoming exhausting, as he’s been overused since Wells’ run. Shocker, meanwhile, is presented as more dangerous than usual, but once again ends up as a punching bag. You almost have to pity him how many times can the same villain get utterly beaten down?

Tone and dialogue

The dialogue is fine, but the overall tone feels forced. At times, the script tries to be “edgy” and darker than usual, which doesn’t always come off naturally. Spider-Man in “avenger” mode is something we’ve seen before whether tied to the symbiote or the Superior Spider-Man storyline. Here it’s reintroduced, and while it lacks complete originality, it’s intriguing enough to make you wonder where the writers will take it.

There are also lighter touches, like the joke line: “You wanna talk to Spider-Man? Slide into his DMs or shine a light in the sky” a small but effective tension-breaker.

The big twist – who is who?

The most important moment comes at the end: Peter… isn’t really Peter, and Spider-Man… isn’t who we thought he was. This opens the door to endless speculation.

Is Peter actually Ben Reilly, who somehow regained his old identity after Chasm? Or is Spider-Man in this version really Norman Osborn, whose “spider-tech” enhancements put him on par with Peter? A panel showing the special soles of the spider-suit certainly suggests this. If Norman really is walking a tightrope between being a hero and sliding back into his Goblin persona, this could become one of the more interesting storylines in recent years.

The twist doesn’t just refresh the story it forces readers to re-examine past issues. How long have we been following a “fake” Peter? Since this chapter? Or since the start of the run? These are exactly the kinds of questions a good cliffhanger should provoke.

Visuals

Visually, the issue fares better than Romita Jr.’s recent work, though it’s still not perfect. Some panels lack detail and dynamism, which dampens the impact of the action scenes. Thankfully, there are flashes of brilliance especially in how the rage-filled Spider-Man with red eyes is depicted. It’s a simple but incredibly effective artistic choice.

Final Thoughts

Amazing Spider-Man #10 has pacing issues and narrative flaws, but it also brings enough intrigue to keep readers engaged. The final twist is one of the best this series has had in a while, fully justifying the urge to pick up the next issue.

It’s not without problems particularly stiff dialogue and uneven artwork but it’s a step forward compared to the previous chapter. If this series is going to survive, it’s going to be through bold cliffhangers and risky story decisions like this.

Score: 7/10

Pros:

+Strong, surprising twist at the end

+Red lenses as an effective symbol of Spider-Man’s darker side

+Black Cat as a counterbalance to “Peter’s” brutality

+A few well-placed lighter dialogue moments

+Norman’s potential role as Spider-Man could be fascinating

Cons:

-Tombstone is becoming tiring through overuse

-Shocker once again reduced to a victim

-Dialogue sometimes feels forced and overly “edgy”

-Uneven art, some panels lacking detail

-Heavy déjà vu with past storylines (Superior, symbiote, clone arcs)