Review: Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2018) #42 solves a new mystery
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42 brings a nice reprieve from the events of “Threat Level: Red.” Check out our review of the issue!
Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Cory Smith
Inks and finishes: Terry Pallot
Color artist: Brian Reber
Betty Brant and Spider-Man have a little team up in order to figure out an anomaly in history. Betty’s clone husband, Ned, has passed and she’s given a clue in the form of “Blood Creek” when her and Peter visit a psychic. Peter and Betty are working together again at the Daily Bugle as the science editor because he was in desperate need of a job. This leads to the two teaming up on the story.
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The art on this story isn’t my favorite, but it works well enough during the action scenes. Cory Smith seems more comfortable with Spider-Man than he is with Peter Parker. There’s a pretty noticeable difference in the quality when he draws the two. However, I’m always more interested in the story. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the art, it just isn’t the main factor in how much I enjoy a story and this one is fairly enjoyable.
The Enforcers make this feel like a bit of a throwback issue. Maybe it’s because I’m reading through the history of Spider-Man at the moment. Wilson Fisk also makes an appearance and he’s a much worse villain than the Enforcers ever were. Him being Mayor Fisk now is still weird to think about, but at the same time it isn’t all that surprising.
Photo credit: Marvel/Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42
Betty Brant and Spider-Man are able to save the day and Peter is able to call a truce with her by the end of it. It all works out and having a local problem like this was a much needed break from stories that have much larger consequences. There’s also the little reveal at the end of Ned walking away, so that could factor into a future story.
“Spider-Sense and Sensibility” is the second, shorter story in the issue. It’s written by David Hein with art by Marcus To and colors by Ian Herring. This story doesn’t have an impact on what’s going on in the current comics, so it’s easier to just have fun with it. Peter’s spider-sense is a little wacky and it heightens everything for him. The story isn’t crucial, but seeing how a surprise party is planned for Peter is a treat.
B+. . Dan Slott, Cory Smith, Terry Pallot, Brian Reber. . Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42
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There’s another little treat at the end, too. Jeff Loveness and Gustavo Duarte teamed up to bring the many costumes of Spider-Man to the final page. The drawings are fantastic and the way Loveness describes some of them is quite comical. It’s a good note to end the issue on.