After Peter Parker’s disastrous first day at Rand Industries—ending with a chemically berserk Rhino and a mysterious hallucinogenic attack—Amazing Spider-Man #2 picks up with Peter spiraling through mind games, familiar faces, and dangerous enemies. Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz keep the momentum alive with a kinetic, wild issue that digs deeper into Peter’s cursed existence.
Itsy Bitsy Blues is a chaotic ride that doesn’t waste time catching its breath. The issue opens mid-action, with Spider-Man hallucinating a mash-up of his worst enemies while civilians look on in horror as he trashes the streets fighting ghosts. We cut between Peter’s first day at work and his increasingly intense blackouts, showing just how deeply the mystery drug is screwing with him. And yes, Norman Osborn shows up (because when has that ever gone wrong?) to lend a hand, diagnosing Peter’s hallucinogenic trip and pointing him toward Ravencroft. From there, Spider-Man’s investigation leads to a nasty confrontation, and a blast-from-the-past villain reveal that ties deeper into the story’s strange web.
Credit: Marvel Comics
While reading Amazing Spider-Man #2, my brain essentially went “oh no, not again” and “okay, wait, this is actually kind of awesome” simultaneously. Watching Peter get yanked between realities—first swinging through hallucinations, then awkwardly trying to stay employed at Rand—is peak Spider-Man misery, and I’m here for it. Joe Kelly keeps Peter’s inner voice sharp, funny, and fragile all at once, and the pacing is tight enough that you’re constantly flipping pages to see what fresh hell is coming next.
The hallucinations work better than they have any right to, thanks to Pepe Larraz’s insane panel layouts and colorist Marte Gracia drenching the pages in reds and purples when reality bends. Sure, the fight scenes aren’t “real,” but it doesn’t matter — they’re emotionally real, and that’s what Spider-Man stories thrive on. I’m a little iffy about Itsy Bitsy being the big twist, mostly because she’s a super deep cut from a Spidey/Deadpool mini nobody asked for—but honestly? Joe Kelly sells it better than I expected.
The only real stumble is some convenience-driven plotting. Norman jumping to “you were poisoned by hallucinogenic gas!” after glancing at Peter’s blood felt like a speedrun diagnosis. Also, Peter somehow perfectly timing his Ravencroft break-in to catch the bad guys in the act is a little “movie logic” for me. But you know what? You forgive a few shortcuts when a comic moves this fast and has this much energy.
Credit: Marvel Comics
Wrapping it all up, Amazing Spider-Man #2 is a strong follow-up that leans into chaos but keeps Peter’s heart at the center. The good? Kelly’s writing nails Peter’s voice, Larraz’s art is outrageously good, and the hallucinatory madness feels genuinely fresh. The bad? Some of the plot conveniences are eyebrow-raising, and Itsy Bitsy is a somewhat niche villain choice. Still, the positives massively outweigh the negatives.
‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #2 Review: Hallucinations, Hobgoblins, and Parker Luck In Full Swing!
Amazing Spider-Man #2 is a dizzying, high-energy second chapter that strikes the right balance between superhero bombast and Peter Parker’s troubled personal life. It’s messy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a lot of fun.
