AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 Review

Written by: Joe Kelly
Art by: John Romita Jr., Pepe Larraz, Scott Hanna
Colors by: Marcio Menyz, Marte Gracia
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia
Cover price: $7.99
Release date: September 3, 2025

Amazing Spider-Man #11, by Marvel on 9/3/25, opens with Peter Parker and Spider-Man returning after being missing for weeks, but something is off because nobody is who they say they are.

First Impressions

This comic is a confusing mess of a read from start to finish. The story is a disjointed jumble of two separate plots that don’t connect in any logical way. Nothing in the writing or the art makes any sense.

Recap

In the last issue, Amazing Spider-Man #10, Spider-Man was defeated by the villain Hellgate, who told him to “get stronger.” After being knocked out, the hero returned to New York City and became consumed by a project for his company, Rand Enterprises. This made him distant from his friends and family. With Spider-Man absent, Tombstone and the Aftershocks went on a crime spree until Spider-Man returned and brutally beat them all.

Plot Analysis

The first story begins with a brutal showdown between “Spider-Man” and “Peter Parker,” on a NYC rooftop. Through their fight, it’s quickly established that Peter is really Ben Reilly, impersonating Peter until he returns. Ben’s motivations for taking Peter’s place are not clear. Meanwhile, Hobgoblin pays Tombstone a visit at the secret hospital where Shocker is recovering.

The story then cuts to “Spider-Man” as he narrates his desire to do justice to Peter’s legacy. We learn in a twist reveal that Spider-Man is played by Norman Osborn. The first half ends with a mysterious figure targeting Norman from a distant rooftop.

The second story opens with the real Peter Parker, lost and alone in space. He has no recollection of how he got there. He wanders around a desolate world, barely surviving on collected water and eating rodents. He’s by an alien scientist and collector named Dr. Xanto Starblood. Peter and Xanto are on friendly terms, and Peter asks Xanto to help him develop a way to “get stronger” for a rematch against Hellgate. The issue ends with Peter learning that Xanto’s view of science isn’t entirely benevolent.

Detailed Review

Writing:

The writing in this issue is jarring and full of logical inconsistencies. The shift between the two stories is abrupt, and it feels like the writers had no idea how to connect them. The dialogue feels clunky and unnatural, with characters often speaking in exposition dumps rather than having organic conversations. The story of Peter in space comes out of nowhere and is never explained, leaving the reader confused. The twist at the end of the first half, revealing Norman Osborn is Spider-Man, feels unearned because the motivations for why he would impersonate Peter are never explained. This makes the twist pointless and silly. The overall plot is all over the place, jumping from one nonsensical situation to the next without any clear direction.

Art:

The art is the one saving grace of the comic. The line work is sharp and the colors are vibrant, creating a visually appealing experience despite the poor storytelling. However, the art is not consistent, as multiple artists are used, and the styles are so different it is jarring to the reader. The character designs are also inconsistent, with Peter Parker looking different from panel to panel, which is confusing. The action sequences are dynamic, but the art in the second story is a bit too abstract and chaotic, making it difficult to understand what is going on.

Characters:

The characterization in this issue is a mess. The real Peter Parker, despite being the hero, is completely devoid of agency in the second story. He is a victim of circumstances and goes along with whatever happens to him without question. The first half is even worse, as the character of Spider-Man is not Peter Parker at all. The actions of the fake Spider-Man feel brutal and out of place, making it hard to root for him.

Positives

The art is easily the best part of the comic. The colors are very bright, making the comic visually appealing despite its confusing story. The action sequences are dynamic and fun to look at, which is a good thing since there is a lot of action in this comic. The line work is also very clean, which makes the characters look great, even if they don’t always look the same from panel to panel. The designs of the villains are also well-drawn, giving them an imposing look, which is a standout aspect of the comic.

Negatives

The story is the worst part of the comic by far. It is a confusing mess that jumps from one plot to another without any explanation or reason. The second story, with Peter Parker lost in space, is the most confusing part. It comes out of nowhere and is never explained, making the entire comic feel like a fever dream. The twist in the first half is completely unearned and makes no sense, which is a big negative. The use of multiple artists with different styles also takes away from the experience, as the art feels inconsistent and jarring. The dialogue is full of exposition and feels unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters.

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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Amazing Spider-Man #11 is a confusing, overpriced mess of a read from start to finish. It’s a jumble of two separate stories that don’t connect in any logical way. The dialogue is clunky and full of exposition. The art, while pretty, is inconsistent and cannot save the comic from its incomprehensible plot. The twist at the end is unearned and makes no sense, and the second story with Peter lost in space is just plain ridiculous. The comic is a prime example of style over substance, and the beautiful art cannot make up for the bad writing. It is a confusing, nonsensical story that is a chore to read and leaves you with more questions than answers.

4/10

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