REVIEW: Giant Size Amazing Spider-Man King's Ransom Reunites the New Avengers for a Mixed Bag

Giant Size Amazing Spider-Man Reunites the New Avengers In a Mixed Bag

WRITER: Nick Spencer
Artist: Carlos Gomez, Roge Antonio, Zé Carlos
Letterer: VC - Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Mark Bagley
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: 5.99
Release Date: 2021-05-12
Colorist: Alex Sinclair

Nick Spencer’s tenure on Amazing Spider-Man has introduced a labyrinth of plot threads and big event stories, with a number of those storylines spinning out into miniseries and special issues. The arc culminating in Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: King’s Ransom has been hinted at in the background since the start of his time on the book. Bringing in Spider-Man’s old teammates from the New Avengers as well as calling back to past stories, this extra-sized issue is a mixed bag of exciting moments and confusing plot threads.

King’s Ransom begins with Spider-Man calling in favors from his old Avengers teammates to help save his old foe Boomerang. Spider-Man and Boomerang have been working together to find and keep pieces of the Lifeline Tablet away from Kingpin who they believe plans to use the ancient relic to resurrect his wife. With the entire New York underworld out to get Boomerang under orders from Kingpin, Spider-Man and his allies battle through the horde of criminals in an attempt to save Boomerang and thwart Kingpin’s plans.

Like much of Spencer’s tenure on Spider-Man, King’s Ransom is enjoyable in isolation but dramatically unsatisfying in the context of his larger plans, which often sacrifices resolution for new cliffhangers. Spencer excels when he focuses on Peter Parker and his relationships and this issue delivers on that front. The inclusion of the New Avengers is a welcome reminder of Peter’s interpersonal history and the trust he has built with the larger community. Spider-Man has been isolated from both his supporting cast and the larger Marvel Universe during this run but Peter’s old teammates inspire some inner reflection about his self-imposed solitude and the impact it has on those around him. It is a strong thematic moment with the potential to plant seeds for new development in the series.

Unfortunately, the issue falls under the weight of its own expectations. The choice to spin off the story’s climax into a standalone event book implies a level of importance the story itself never quite earns. The stakes, preventing Kingpin from reviving his wife, are not particularly high and the final reveal of the issue relies on an obscure character who has not appeared in a Spider-Man comic in more than a decade. Readers without significant knowledge of Marvel history may be unsure of what the reveal means long-term. The central character drama of the issue falls flat by relying on several pages of exposition that tells Spider-Man and the reader what happened rather than building to the events throughout the story.

The extra pages afforded to this issue allow Spencer to build on the banter and humor that has made the last few issues of Amazing enjoyable and the inclusion of the Avengers was a welcome surprise for a series that has largely been void of a supporting cast. Peter’s new costume is swept under the road fairly unceremoniously, which is likely to lead to more new complications and add to Jonah and Spider-Man’s rocky reconciliation, which has been a highlight of Spencer’s time on the book.

The inconsistent art does not help elevate the story in a way that feels worthy of the giant-size treatment. Art duties are split between three different artists -- Carlos Gomez, Roge Antonio and Zé Carlos -- and it gives the story a rushed feeling with sketchy lines and occasionally distorted faces. Transitions between artists lead to a few disjointed storytelling moments. Alex Sinclair’s sharp colors pull the story together. His values and shading complement the linework with a sense of depth and elevates the individual artists.

For those following and enjoying Spencer’s story, Giant-Size is a must-read issue that delivers a few laughs and a solid helping of the intricate plotting he is known for. The focus on Peter’s relationships provides a welcome change of pace and gives the issue a flourish that has been missing in the series. Those curious about the current status quo are more likely to be confused by this one-shot that neither begins nor ends on its own terms, instead building off years of storytelling and setting up new plot threads. Overall, it is an imperfect issue that should prove entertaining for those following the many moving pieces in the current Spider-Man title.

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