Amazing Spider-Man #14 Review

After 13 issues of spider-filled action it’s finally here… the conclusion of the Spider-Verse! Amazing Spider-Man #14 brought the Web Warriors and the Inheritors together for the final clash, but was it a satisfying finale? Read on.

Before we get into it, can we all give a silent nod and a look of approval to the event’s pencilers Camuncoli and Coipel, as well as inkers Grawbadger, Smith, and Livesay? Their art has been phenomenal up until now. The sheer fact that we can tell expressions through the masks of the spiders is telling of their skill. The details and color motif are crisp and well suited to the story, and I can’t imagine it looking any other way than it does. Just look at it!

The final issue of Spider-Verse took everything the event has been building up since the beginning, and threw it all together for one last throw down.

It certainly delivers on all that has been set up in previous issues: we learn the specifics of the ritual and exactly what the blood of the Scion, the Other, and the Bride accomplishes, the final fate of the Inheritor family is revealed, and personal vendettas are settled and character growth is achieved. The best thing about this issue and the elements I’ve just mentioned, is that everything makes sense. The blood of each of the special totems removes the possibility of generating new Spider-Totems, whether it be by genetics, magic, or chance -and having learned that the destiny of the totems is to eventually overthrow the reign of the Inheritors, the motivation of the Inheritors for enacting the ritual and hunting the Spiders is solidified.

Another thing that is exemplified through the plot and the actions of the characters is the heroism of the Spiders and what it means to be a hero. May Parker’s thirst for revenge is finally sated, and she chooses to spare Lord Solus, much to the confusion of her brother’s kidnapper and parents murderer (seemingly) Daemos, in the name of justice. This agrees with Peter’s declaration that they are heroes, and heroes don’t kill. Pete’s beliefs are more than simple words, as Dan Slott figures out a way to win the battle without turning the Spiders into a flock of savage Superior Spider-(Wo)Men, and the way he ends the threat of the Inheritors is a conclusion that was set-up in earlier issues, and manages to be believable in the context of the story. As Miles Morales puts it as they throw the Inheritors in the radioactive Earth-3415, crippling them but allowing them to live, “that’s what makes us the good guys, O’hara.”

But true to character, SpOck turns to a darker solution, and ends up killing anyway -something that didn’t really seem required given how things were going, but future repercussions remain to be seen.

All of the strands formed from the Spider-Verse tie-ins were addressed in the form of reinforcements; Miles and company teleport in to hold off the remaining Inheritors as Pete goes for Morlun, (Anya Corazon) Spider-Girl’s mission seems to have succeeded (see Spider-Verse Team Up #3) as they return with new teammate, the exiled Inheritor Karn, to turn the tides of the battle, and Spider-Man 2099 brings the resurrected Leopardon back to the playing field.

If there’s one gripe I have about the issue and the Spider-Verse as a whole, is that some of these characters didn’t really have a chance to shine; or perhaps a better phrase is the time to shine. Although they did have their side-issues, there were obviously some characters who get more spotlight than others. While this is reasonable given the constraints of such an event, I wish there was more focus on some of them. Even Miles Morales can be filed away as a side character with how little he actually does (okay his reinforcements save the day but we don’t get to see it). The solution to this problem was the Spider-Verse and Spider-Verse Team Up issues, but even those were either one shots that didn’t affect the main story much, or lacking in action.

On that note I’ll say I wish, and hope, that Spider-Verse releases two tie-ins with two stories: the hijinks of Miles Morales and the crazy cast of Spider-Characters he picked up, and a closer look at the final skirmish between the Web Warriors and the Inheritors which we shockingly don’t see much of save for quick check-ins and static, suggestive of impending action without showing it, panels. Though the panel above is dynamic and awesome.

But do not doubt, despite all of the minor things anyone can say about the Spider-Verse, it is one of the best Marvel events/Spider-Man story lines out there, and if you’re a Spider-Man fan I highly recommend it. It’s also a case of an event’s final issue getting readers excited for the epilogue and fallout. What will happen to the Superior Spider-Man knowing he’s from a 616 where he lost? Does May Parker get a happy ending? Is Peter Parker’s life force forever drained? These are the kinds of questions that linger from a story that had a well written conclusion, but still leaves us wanting more. We’ll find out soon in Amazing Spider-Man #15 and Secret Wars Spider-Verse.

Until then, know that Amazing Spider-Man #14 is a stellar conclusion to a spectacular event, and if you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you go out and buy it now -perhaps one for a Spider-friend as well, and enjoy!

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

Amazing Spider-Man #13 Recap and Review
Amazing Spider-Man #12 Recap and Review
Amazing Spider-Man #11 Recap and Review

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