Amazing Spider-Man #801 (2017) second print

I'm really excited about the Spencer/Ottley combination coming onto Amazing Spider-Man w/ #1/802. It needs to be said that Dan Slott goes out on his best issue, one of the best issues ever of Amazing Spider-Man. As a comic, this has everything you'd ever need for a character. It is complete, so complete, that you could make the case that you don't need another Spider-Man story after this.

It is restrained in story and dialogue, glorious in artistic style and sequential visual storytelling. It features the return of the Lee/Ditko Spider-Man and the continuation of Spidey from today. Marcos Martin makes the argument he should be paid enough to remain creatively invested in Spider-Man for as long as there is money in the world. This is a perfect comic.


Additional notes you may not need: I hated Dan Slott on this book when he came on. He was a sellout, willing to hop on and replace J. Michael Straczynski who left under frustrating creative circumstances. He was Joe Quesada's lap dog, willing to do (or write) anything to get a seat at the big boy table, as long as he followed orders. Grumble grumble grumble, internet, internet, internet.


Of course, things are never that simple. Looking back, I can still say that the early stuff is rough. He may have been on the book, but I don't think he got the book. Not yet.


By issue #600, he had his footing. We didn't know it at the time, but he had a lot more than that. Starting a multi-year plan leading to the death of Peter Parker, the Superior Spider-Man, Peter's return, Spiderverse, he continued to earn readers' trust and time. Think about the last time someone wrote for a major publisher for 10 years on one title. I can't tell you who it was either unless we're counting Bendis on USM. His commitment to long form storytelling is comparable to Robert Kirkman (and sort of Erik Larson...that book has taken a turn...) and that's just about it. How has your job performance been for the last 10 years? You've had some off months at least, right? So did he, but overall his body of work was exemplary. I'm looking forward to what he does next, and would suggest that pessimistic readers take a step back and re-evaluate what made them 'hate' someone who brought many excellent stories their way over the last 10 years. You might be pleasantly surprised. As for what's coming...here's hoping its fantastic.