Amazing Spider-Man #18.HU Review

Writer: Nick Spencer / Artist: Ken Lashley / Marvel Comics I was not even a little bit ready for this comic in any fashion. First, I didn’t know it was coming out after reading Amazing Spider-Man #18. I found out that Marvel is releasing these “.HU” issues in-between the main title. A move like this screams, “Those nerds are going to buy this twice a month, why not four times?” Had I not been provided with a review copy, I might not have read this, and my soul would’ve had an inexplicable lesser ape-sized whole in it. Spencer and Lashley spend this comic centered on Gibbon, a low tier occasional antagonist for Spider-Man. Previously in the “Hunted” story, Spider-Man tries to save the animal-based portion of his rogue’s gallery trapped in Kraven’s grand game. Faced with the choice, Gibbon decides to forsake Spider-Man in favor of the Vulture. The appeal to villainous camaraderie is proven misplaced as Vulture betrays Gibbon, leaving him injured at the mercy of the Kraven killbots and their entitled, thrill seeking, wealthy controllers. This comic explores the aftermath of this incident alongside Gibbon’s history. Through inner monologue Gibbon reflects on his past and the circumstances that led him to this moment. To quote Kendrick, we find “Power, poison, pain and joy” in Gibbon’s DNA. The book ends with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and our less friendly neighborhood rhino interfering with the hunters although whether they make it in time is up in the air.

A fun exer…