After the emotional gut-punch that was 8 Deaths of Spider-Man, the webhead’s new #1 kicks off a fresh run with Joe Kelly at the wheel and a stunning art team behind him. But don’t call it a reboot—it’s more like Brand New Day 2.0, with Peter back on the job hunt, grappling with past choices, and tangling with a mysterious new enemy.
Amazing Spider-Man #1 is a lively reset that juggles heartbreak, humor, and high-stakes heroics with real momentum. From the jump, Peter Parker is back in familiar territory: broke, jobless, and late to everything. The opening montage has him bouncing between job interviews while his superhero baggage keeps blowing up his resume—literally and figuratively. It’s funny, painful, and classic Parker.
Midway through the issue, the pace shifts as Spider-Man squares off with Rhino in a brutal, beautifully choreographed fight drawn by Pepe Larraz. But this isn’t your typical smash-and-web match—Rhino suddenly collapses mid-rampage, leaving Spidey scrambling to save him. Something weird is going on, and Peter knows it. As the investigation starts, an unsettling new villain enters the scene, giving Spidey a terrifying hallucination of every major foe he’s ever faced. Oh, and Hobgoblin shows up, too—because why not pile it on?
Credit: Marvel Comics
So, how does it feel reading this new #1? Like coming home—but someone rearranged the furniture. Joe Kelly leans into what makes Peter tick: that mix of bad luck, good intentions, and stubborn optimism. He also isn’t afraid to reach into Spidey’s lore bag—there are echoes of Brand New Day, references to Parker Industries, and even nods to the Superior Spider-Man era. It’s a greatest hits without feeling recycled.
The new faces are intriguing, too. Brian Nehring, Peter’s middle-school chaos buddy, adds a fresh dynamic—someone who remembers a more mischievous, pre-spider-bite Peter. And Peter’s on-again/off-again maybe-girlfriend Shay brings a grounded angle, especially with her background as a mental health nurse. She doesn’t care about capes or clones—she’s just trying to figure out if Peter is emotionally stable enough to date. (Spoiler: he’s not.)
The art? Absolute fire. Larraz makes every panel pop—especially the Rhino fight. There’s real scale and weight to it, and his Spider-Man moves. Romita Jr. handles the backup stories and brings that raw, angular edge he’s known for. And the color work from Marte Gracia and Marcio Menyz deserves a shoutout—the city is vibrant, even when things get dark.
Credit: Marvel Comics
If there’s a weak spot, the main villain—Hellgate—is more tease than substance right now. He’s creepy, sure, but we don’t know much yet. That said, the final splash page is enough to make you want issue #2 immediately.
Kelly’s Amazing Spider-Man #1 isn’t a reboot; it’s an evolution, marking a solid first step into a new era, even if it plays things a bit safe. The storytelling finds a confident rhythm, striking the right balance between superhero spectacle and everyday Peter problems. Callbacks to older arcs will resonate with longtime fans without leaving new readers feeling lost. Although Hellgate hasn’t fully stepped into the spotlight yet, the setup is strong. Ultimately, Peter’s still that guy trying to keep the plates spinning, perpetually running late, and saving people who often hate him for it. And honestly? That’s exactly the Spidey energy we need right now
‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #1 Review: Fresh Start, Famous Parker Luck
Amazing Spider-Man #1 doesn’t reinvent the web, but it spins a tight, entertaining story with heart, humor, and enough weirdness to keep things interesting. A great jumping-on point and a promising start to Joe Kelly’s run.
