Written by: Zeb Wells
Art by: John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna
Colors by: Marcio Menyz
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Marcio Menyz
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: October 26, 2022
Amazing Spider-Man #12 puts Peter Parker on the trail of the Hobgoblin after Norman Osborn and Roderick Kingsley, aka the first Hobgoblin, are ambushed during a secret meeting. Will the real Hobgoblin please stand up?
Is It Good?
Amazing Spider-Man #12 is a solid issue filled with plenty of Spidey vs. Hobgoblin action, twists, turns, and a personal moment between Peter and Norman that just might convince you Norman’s on the path to redemption… maybe.
Issue #11 ended with the Hobgoblin showing up to crash Norman’s secret meeting with Kingsley to pay restitution for past wrongs. We return to the aftermath where most of Kingsley’s men are dead, and both Norman and Kingsley are badly hurt.
Peter pays a visit to Norman in the hospital where he confronts Norman over his lie about the meeting and warns him about his plans to track down the Hobgoblin.
The pacing is very good, the dialog (especially between Peter and Norman) is excellent, and the Hobgoblin action is hard-hitting when Peter tracks down Ned Leeds. We’ll not spoil it here, but to say “Ned Leeds is Hobgoblin again” isn’t entirely accurate.
Overall, this was a solid, fun issue with a twist ending that reveals the Hobgoblin’s identity, and you’d never guess who it is.
Romits Jr.’s pencils and Hanna’s inks are excellent in this issue. I’ve been hot and cold on Romita Jr.’s art due to the inconsistent anatomies, but the characters and action look great in this issue.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there’s no information here about the incident in Pennsylvania, Peter’s 6-month disappearance, or how MJ acquired her new relationship status. Apathy over those mysteries has well and truly set in. If Wells intended to play coy with the mysteries, hoping that an absence of information would build anticipation, that plan failed miserably.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts:
Amazing Spider-Man #12 is a solid issue focusing on the emergence of a new Hobgoblin that may or may not be a new Hobgoblin. The personal character moments are very good, and the Spidey action is excellent.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 
This is one of the better Spidey issues from Wells’ run. Good dialogue, some great action and a twist or two. I’m not sure how I feel about Spidey on a glider or his weird souped up costume. But maybe I’m being picky. I enjoyed your review and always appreciate your input on the Comics Aficionados show.
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