Amazing Spider-Man #11 Review

Peter Parker, or Peter Parker? Amazing Spider-man #11 answers the question on who should lead the Spiders in battle. This issue brings to us part three of the Spider-Verse: Higher Ground.I’ll start by pointing out that Oliver Coipel’s art is just as sharp as ever, and it must be arduous work to keep penciling group shots of the many different Spider-Totems, but he accomplishes the task admirably. I keep pointing this out, but some of his face work just seems a little messy. Particularly a shot of the SpOck which has him looking a tad ape-like.

This issue is separated into two major events: A brief battle between Spider-Man and the Superior Spider-Man for team leading supremacy, and an unexpected all out assault of the Inheritors upon the (not so safe) safe-zone. For the former event, I have to say that while it was nice to see Peter Parker finally get in a solid punch to the face of the person who stole his body, life, and identity, the entire scene ended up being quite… underwhelming. The Superior Spider-Man didn’t even get one shot in, and the fight took up two pages in its entirety. And the way SpOck goes down and then agrees to have Peter lead seemed inconsistent with his character thus far.

Let’s take a step back and recount how it happened. Pete sucker-punches (kicks) SpOck after tricking him into thinking he’s the earlier version of them (knocking the Superior Spider-Man out), helps him up when he regains consciousness, tells him he needs his advice, to which Doc Ock suddenly accepts and acquiesces to Peter. Was knocking him out in a trickster fashion really what convinced the cocky, haughty, prideful Superior Spider-Man to follow Pete’s lead? I don’t buy it, but it did wrap up that plot point succinctly.

The issue does cut away to check in what’s happening with the other teams, which is helpful, but really seems intended to showcase the side-issues you need to read if you want the whole story; overall though, these aren’t intrusive at all.

Now for the second event. Having Lord Solus and the Inheritors crash the safe zone and start rampaging through the Spiders was a highly effective way of moving the plot forward, eliminating any deus ex machina, and giving readers an example of Lord Solus’ strength. Cosmic Spider-Man was obviously a bit overpowered, and the sense of urgency was gone with the Enigma Force to fall back on. It also revealed who the Scion was, so we’re getting closer to solving the mystery!

All in all, the best part about the Spider-Verse is the little interactions between the different Spider-Men and Women. It’s the little things, the way they retain their idiosyncrasies from their universes that make this event fun. The Superior Spider-Man joking around with Spider-UK, the TV show’s Ultimate Spider-Man still having dream cutaways that the others can see; it all makes for a great sharing of Spider-Differences that doesn’t constrict all the Spideys as the same character. Hopefully the climax of the Spider-Verse will continue and finish strong.

Check out Whatever a Spider Can’s other Spider-Verse comic book recaps and reviews

Amazing Spider-Man #10 Recap and Review
Amazing Spider-Man #9 Recap and Review
Amazing Spider-Man #8 Recap and Review

If you enjoy what you’ve read here at Whatever a Spider Can, we’ve got some exciting news for you — you can be part of the team here too! We’re looking for enthusiastic Spider-Fans to write for us on anything Spider-Man related. just fill in the form you’ll find here and tell us why you want to write for Whatever a Spider Can. We look forward to hearing from you!