Weekly Comic Book Review

By Marc Guggenheim (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Chris Chuckry (Colors)

At last, we’re finally done with the “Brand New Day” banner! This issue sees the start of “Kraven’s First Hunt” and the beginning of the first post-One More Day arc that I am (presumably) going to thoroughly enjoy. Within the pages of #565, we are introduced to the new Kraven as she (that’s right she), tracks down Spider-Man, and eventually learns his identity through observation. Finally, we can get rid of this “not one single person knows his identity” crap that came with BND. Of course, I still don’t know how people like Daredevil (who can tell people apart by their heartbeat) and Wolverine (tells apart by smell) don’t know his identity, but seeing as Daredevil appears in this arc, we may learn that.

Throughout the rest of the issue, Kraven attacks every facet of Peter’s life, as well as the lives of Vin and Harry. And let me tell you, she does a pretty thorough job. While the whole “attack them at their heart” concept isn’t very new, it is presented here in a fresh way. Perhaps one thing that pleased me so much about this issue was the fact that it felt very much like an episode from the 90’s Spider-Man: The Animated Series cartoon (one of my favorite shows as a kid).

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this issue saw the return of Phil Jimenez, my favorite BND penciler (with the exception of Steve McNiven, my favorite comic book artist). In my eyes, Phil Jimenez is the Spider-Man artist, and his artwork here maintains his usual level of greatness. Whether it’s the way he conveys Spider-Man’s fluid motions, the lifelike and distinct look of every character including background extras, the awesome design of the new Kraven, or just the cool way that he draws Spidey’s costume, there is no doubt that Jimenez is among the best of the best.

However, this issue isn’t perfect. There are two big goofs that were overlooked. The method that Kraven uses to find out who Spider-Man is has an unexplained hole. Essentially, she follows him home to his apartment complex, and when his Spider-Sense warns him not to go into his apartment, he leaves. But she is able to tell from the multiple finger and hand prints on the outside wall which is his apartment. She then looks up who owns the lease. Yet there should have been two names on the lease, that of Peter and Vin’s. How did she know which was Spider-Man?

Secondly, when Peter gets a job at a comic book shop, an employee gives Peter a hard time for not reading comics. But it has been established several times in Spider-Man history that Peter does read comics. One could argue that this was yet another thing retconned away with OMD, except for the fact that when Peter was moving into his new apartment a few issues back, there was a box clearly marked “comics”. Don’t tell me those are Mary Jane’s comics!

While this issue itself may not have been faultless, it still sets up what looks to be the most exciting new Spidey story yet (until next month’s New Ways to Die). I’m willing to overlook a few flaws and for once, I’m eagerly awaiting the next issue. (Grade: B)

-M. Staples

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Amazing Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man #565, Comic Book Reviews, comic books, Kraven's First Hunt, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Spider-Man, Spider-Man