The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #65 Review: Well, That Was Dark

Not many fans are fond of the current Amazing Spider-Man run. A great part of that is due to the bad reputation that the saga gained when Zeb Wells was still in the writer's seat. However, there's also the fact that some simply don't like the idea of watching the friendly neighborhood hero die over and over again in many twisted ways. Well, if that's the case for you, then this latest issue will definitely not do any favors given its grim nature. But does that mean it's inherently bad? Or do we have a hidden gem in our hands?

Peter watches everyone he cares for die

Let's kick things off on the right foot and talk about the absolute highlight of The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #65. Carlos Alberto's art is absolutely flawless. Every little detail is immaculate—from the characters' expressions all the way to the (brief) action sequences. As if that wasn't enough, Marcio Menyz also brought on his A-game with the coloring. There's no single panel here that doesn't look gorgeous and filled with detail. So even if the story is not for you, at least you'll have some amazing art to look to.

As mentioned before, the story itself is very grim—which I suspect will only make it all the more controversial. Spider-Man has to endure the suffering of watching everyone he knows and loves die before witnessing the passing of hundreds of strangers. It's worth mentioning that if you don't enjoy the current direction of the saga, then this issue won't convince you to give it a shot at all. But I must say: I loved how everything panned out... until the end, that is.

See, Peter tries to resist the pain at first. After all, he knows he's witnessing hypothetical futures—meaning no death is set in stone yet. But given his good-hearted nature, he can't resist attempting to save the day even when there's nothing he can (currently) do to change the outcome. I like the concept of fighting against the odds to save a life, as that's totally how Spider-Man should act. Let's not forget his whole superhero journey started because of the remorse he felt when Uncle Ben died. Now, he wants no one to feel a similar pain if he can help it. It's in character. So even if the journey was very dark, it made for a compelling storyline.

Unfortunately, the ending undid all of that.

First and foremost; I didn't appreciate that Peter had already beaten Callix in his trial, and yet the villain still kills him even when it wasn't his turn to fight. That's simply unfair. See, I love a good challenge, and that's why I play Soulslike games. But there's a difference between battling a well-thought-out boss with a complicated moveset, and two bosses that share the same arena and take turns spamming random attacks. The former you enjoy, but the latter is simply unfair for the sake of being unfair. Well, this issue of Spider-Man felt exactly like that annoying double boss in that already difficult video game.

The worst part? After witnessing so many deaths, Peter gives up and decides to quit the challenge. Remember how I said it was on character for Peter to try to save every life because he knows how much they're worth after losing Uncle Ben? Well, that whole idea was completely undone in a heartbeat. And it's not like we've never seen the wall-crawler give up before across his history. But usually, he retires from the superhero life because his personal life pays a real, heavy price. Here, he was simply watching hypothetical futures unfold—meaning he could still save all those people he watched perish. Yet, he still gives up? I don't get it. Even if he's just giving buying a bit more time to live before their unavoidable deaths, I feel like Spider-Man would take a shot at saving the day.

Unfortunately, that's not how this tale ends, and it doesn't feel in character. So even if The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #65 was a fantastic issue for the most part, its ending, unfortunately, undermines the whole thing.

Verdict: A great tale with an unfitting end

The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #65 is a fantastic issue... for the most part. Carlos Alberto's art is as perfect as it gets, and the journey itself is heartbreakingly well-executed. Granted, the story could be a bit too grim—especially if you don't like the whole "Eight Deaths of Spider-Man" idea to begin with. But there's no denying it presents an interesting challenge for our friendly neighborhood hero to face. Unfortunately, the ending completely undermines everything with an unfair resolution to the trial, and an uncharacteristic decision from Peter to simply give up on saving everyone he just watched die moments ago. You'd imagine the wall-crawler would fight to change these outcomes that aren't set in stone yet, but that isn't the case. Let's see how issue #66 deals with the fallout, but right now, the ending just feels disappointing.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #66 will be released on Jan. 22, 2025.