- Written by: Joe Kelly
- Art by: Ed McGuinness, Cliff Rathburn
- Colors by: Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega
- Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
- Cover art by: Ed McGuinness, Marte Gracia
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: September 17, 2025
Amazing Spider-Man #12, by Marvel on 9/17/25, sees Ben Reilly pretending to be Peter Parker, while Norman Osborn acts as a new Spider-Man to protect his secret.
First Impressions
This comic is a confusing jumble of plot threads that go nowhere. It feels less like an actual story and more like a series of disjointed scenes with no real connection. Honestly, it was a chore to get through and left me wanting more.
Recap
In Amazing Spider-Man #11, 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 new project for his company, Rand Enterprises, which made him distant from his friends and family. With Spider-Man absent, Tombstone and the Aftershocks went on a crime spree until a new Spider-Man appeared, brutally beating them all. A showdown between this new Spider-Man and the real Peter Parker revealed that this “Peter” was actually Ben Reilly, and the new Spider-Man was a disguised Norman Osborn. Meanwhile, the real Peter Parker, lost and alone in space, was found by an alien scientist, Dr. Xanto Starblood, who agreed to help him become “stronger.”
Plot Analysis
The issue opens with J. Jonah interviewing an “expert” to determine why Spider-Men has suddenly turned more aggressive. The “expert” believes Hellgate punched Spider-Man so hard that he switched bodies with a meaner version of himself from an alternate dimension. J. Jonah tells the “expert” to pound sand.
Meanwhile, Roderick Kingsley is seen leaving the courthouse after he was acquitted on all charges as the Hobgoblin from the previous arc. Norman Osborn confronts him, quietly conceding defeat, but he learns from Roderick’s quiet taunts that he did not send an assassin after Norman.
Later, Norman swings around town as Spider-Man, and he’s confronted by the Spider Squad (Miles Morales, Spider-Boy, Arana, Ghost Spider, and Silk). They want to know his identity, and what happened to Peter. After a brief fight, the sight of Ghost Spider (Gwen Stacy) causes Norman to call a truce and unmask.
The issue ends with the group who sent the assassin after Norman recruiting Roderick.
Detailed Review
Writing
The writing in this issue is frustratingly slow. The dialogue, while sometimes witty, mostly serves as a means of stalling the plot. The story barely moves forward, spending most of its pages on exposition and pointless action that rehashes what we already know. There is an absolute lack of attention to the most pressing question—what is going on with the real Peter Parker? The comic feels like a filler episode meant to kill time before the next major development.
Art
The line work is competent and the colors are vibrant, but the art style changes multiple times throughout the issue, specifically during the masked character scenes and the talking human scenes. This inconsistency is jarring and breaks the visual flow of the story. While some panels are dynamic and well-rendered, the constant shifts in style are a significant distraction.
Characters
The characterization is a major weakness. Ben Reilly’s inner turmoil is handled well, but his role is purely reactive, a victim of circumstance with no real agency. The biggest letdown is the almost complete absence of the main character, Peter Parker. His predicament, which should be the central focus, is treated as a minor B-plot. This robs the comic of its emotional core and makes it hard to care about what is happening.
Positives
The standout element of this comic is the exploration of Norman Osborn’s character. His internal monologue reveals a genuine struggle as he grapples with the morality of his deception. The art is also a highlight. Despite the stylistic inconsistencies, the colors are rich, and the line work is well done. The facial expressions are particularly noteworthy, as they effectively convey the characters’ emotions, from Ben’s grimness to Norman’s strained uncertainty.
Negatives
The biggest negative is the lack of plot progression. This issue spends too much time on tidbits and foreshadowing that go nowhere, and it feels like a deliberate attempt to pad the story. The absolute worst aspect is the handling of Peter Parker. The fact that the main hero’s dire situation is almost entirely ignored is a massive misstep. It undercuts the tension and makes the overall narrative feel directionless. The comic completely fails to address the central crisis it established in the previous issue.
Final Thoughts
Amazing Spider-Man #12 is a disappointment. It fails to live up to the setup of the previous installment, instead opting for a series of meandering conversations and an introduction of a new, seemingly random villain. The plot is thin, the characters are sidelined, and the central conflict is almost completely ignored. Ultimately, it feels like a waste of time, a filler issue that squanders its potential and leaves the reader wondering when the real story will start again.
4/10
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 