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Amazing Spider-Man #5 Review

  • Written by: Joe Kelly
  • Art by: Pepe Larraz
  • Colors by: Marte Gracia
  • Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
  • Cover art by: Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia (cover A)
  • Cover price: $4.99
  • Release date: June 4, 2025

Amazing Spider-Man #5, by Marvel on 6/5/25, wraps up Spider-Man’s trippy adventure when the Hobgoblin’s plan to poison the city becomes clear, leading to a final battle at Rand Industries.

Is Amazing Spider-Man #5 Good?

Recap

When we last the Friendly Neighborhood Wall Crawler in Amazing Spider-Man #4, Spider-Man battled Hobgoblin at the Queen’s Cola distribution warehouse. Spidey was hobbled by hallucinations about his teenage years with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Before Hobgoblin could deliver the killing blow, Itsy Bitsy arrived and warned Hobgoblin to get to Rand to kill a pair of whistleblowers who warned the Justice Department about the tainted cola. Hobgoblin agreed and left the killing to Itsy Bitsy. Fortunately, Spidey defeated Itsy Bitsy, but not soon enough to stop Hobgoblin from getting to Rand.

Plot Synopsis

In Amazing Spider-Man #5, Hobgoblin arrives at Rand Industries to kill Brian Nehring and Dr. Osmani-Milton to ensure the compound infused into Queen’s Cola isn’t released to the Justice Department or the public. The Rand building isn’t without defenses, but blast doors and alert systems don’t hold off Hobgoblin for long. Fortunately, the defenses buy Spider-Man enough time to join the fight and stop Hobgoblin from killing anyone.

During the battle, Spider-Man taunts Hobgoblin to get him to confirm the plan Spidey already deduced. Hobgoblin would poison Queen’s Cola with a compound that induces anxiety. Then, he would sell an anti-anxiety medication to the infected, making a figurative killing in pharmaceutical profits. Spidey is now free of the hallucination, but he’s worn out from non-stop fighting over the last few days, making him an easy victim for Hobgoblin.

Suddenly, Brain Nehring steps in by throwing one of his research mushrooms with highly toxic spores in Hobgoblin’s face. Hobgoblin is overcome with frightening hallucinations and runs off. The issue ends with confirmation from Norman Osborn that the Hobgoblin’s plan has been completely dismantled by the authorities, and Peter makes amends with Aunt May.

First Impressions

“That’s it?” Yep, that’s likely the reaction you’ll have after reading Amazing Spider-Man #5. All of Joe Kelly’s build-up around a mysterious plan amounts to nothing more than a pharmaceutical scam that was executed with all the competence of an elementary school stage play.

How’s the Art?

The art is amazing (pun definitely intended) and absolutely too good for the story that’s presented. Pepe Larraz’s visually captivating style, combined with Marte Gracia’s meticulous coloring, comes off as a work of art, especially on the splash pages. Truly, this issue approaches Alex Ross’s level of quality.

What’s great about Amazing Spider-Man #5?

More to do with the art than the writing, Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz wrap up the inaugural arc on the series with a fantastic slugfest against one of Spider-Man’s greatest villains. The fight is well done, and the major threat is thwarted.

What’s not great about Amazing Spider-Man #5?

Joe Kelly stops Hobgbolin’s plan, which wasn’t a very good one, and leaves several threads open.

Thinking specifically about the plan, why not just poison the city water, as was mentioned in a prior issue? By leaning on a slow deployment through cans of cola that people may or may not drink, Hobgoblin hangs his hat on woefully unpredictable outcomes. Plus, when folks feel bad after drinking the cola, they’ll just stop buying it. How did he think this plan would work?

Next, why did Hobgoblin tap Itsy Bitsy for this plan? She’s unstable, dangerous, and wholly unnecessary for the plan to work. What happened to Itsy Bitsy when the fight ended? Is she still webbed up in the cola warehouse?

What happened to Hobgoblin? He just flew away. Is anybody going to chase him down? How is Hobgoblin so functional after receiving a face full of hallucinatory mushroom spores when Spidey could barely hold himself up from the anxiety drug?

In short, you’ve got a bad plan with bad execution, unnecessary side characters, and an unsatisfying ending. If this is what we have to look forward to, ASM fans may be better off sitting out the Joe Kelly era.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Amazing Spider-Man #5 wraps up Hobgoblin’s hair-brained plan with a visually spectacular battle at Rand Industries. Joe Kelly’s finale to the first arc is woefully underbaked and unsatisfying, offset only by Pepe Larraz’s spectacular art. Truly, if the art wasn’t as good as it is (which earns a few bonus points on the score), this arc would be a complete flop.

5/10

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