Friendly interstellar Spider-Man? That appears to be the new stat quo for Peter Parker. After his encounter with Hellgate, Parker was knocked light-years into space (literally). He was rescued by Dr. Xanto Starblood. Their partnership has been strained due to Starblood’s experimentation on other lifeforms.
After freeing the captured aliens, Parker sets forth on a new path home & round two with Hellgate. That is easier said than done.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #15 by Joe Kelly, Emilio Laiso, Marte Gracia, Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega & Joe Caramagna sees Parker caught up in some dirty deals done space cheap.
Let’s take a deeper dive into what’s happening now!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #15 by Joe Kelly, Emilio Laiso, Marte Gracia, Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega & Joe Caramagna (Marvel Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Kelly puts Parker in a very uncomfortable role. Having him be the defacto leader of the ragtag group of aliens challenges him on many levels. The opening sequence reminds readers the goal is to get home. It does come with a frightening point. This transitions to one of the more surprising pairings in comics. The banter between Rocket Raccoon and Parker never misfires. It’s sharp, witty and a much needed relief from the drama.
Speaking of said drama, Spidey’s latest problems are getting out of Rocket’s debt. This results into entering a contest fitting for a certain X-villain. The result is a very straight-forward Spidey fight. Kelly does mix in a few surprises with the new Spidey suit. Readers watch as the suit reveals some deep truths. It results in a unique resolution to combat. The fallout stirs up more emotions before throwing in another curve. Where the space odyssey leads next is anyone’s true guess.
Laiso steps in for art duties this issue. The dream sequence is caped off with a terrifying full page image. This sense of worry is drowned out by an unlikely source. The dynamic between Rocket and Peter can’t be ignored. Panels present them as a dysfunctional pair. It helps to build up the oncoming problems to a nice plateau.
Readers see Spidey’s opponent in near full page glory. Their initial rounds are vintage Spidey fighting. The art goes for broke on the upkick page. Panel structure helps to push the loud combat. It does get served a break when Spidey’s new suit exposes their story. The two page splash offers readers answers to what is happening here. It results in a very fast moving fallout. Once in the epilogue, the tone is more calm. Panels still work in the emotions before leaving with more questions. It’s a steady finish for a long voyage thus far.
FINAL GRADE: 8.6
The truths of Spidey’s new suit come into light with another solid space chapter. Kelly brings out classic themes while pushing Peter in new directions. Laiso and the art team present an exciting trip with their images. Readers better buckle in for where this story is heading now.
Let me know your thoughts on Amazing Spider-Man #15 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!