Amazing Spider-Man #18

By Nick Spencer, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazba, Edgar Delgado and Erick Arciniega

There is a tone that each Spider-Man writer takes when he gets on a Spider-Man book. Some are serious, some are light hearted and fun, and some are simply action packed. Nick Spencer has had a tone that feels like a more classic style of Spider-Man storytelling. He’s focused on supporting characters like J. Jonah Jameson, and he has been making good use of the Spidey’s Rogue gallery. This most recent story arc, Hunted, has focused on Kraven, who is always an interesting foe. What makes this storyline more interesting is that Kraven isn’t doing any of the hunting; it’s all fed up people. If you’re not sure how Spider-Man will get out of this, join the club.

Nick Spencer has been very creative with his stories on his run for Amazing Spider-Man. Hunted is a really fresh take, and it calls back to the literary classic, The Most Dangerous Game. What Spencer gets right, is that we like Kraven, even though he’s a villain. He’s a complex character that acts on instinct most of the time, but this is different. Capturing every hero and villain who is named after an animal is pretty genius, and it’s been fun to see all of these characters interact. Spencer shows how great of a person Peter is as he continues to help out others who have tried to kill him repeatedly. We see this when he attempts to save Gibbon. Spencer also showcases the nastiest villains in the comic as well. Characters like the Vulture continue to be the selfish players that they have always been as he’s willing to look out for only himself. There is excitement over who will make it out and how all of this will be resolved. Spencer has given us a fulfilling second issue on this arc, and the anticipation builds as we wait to see what happens next.

The pencils this issue are handled by Humberto Ramos with inks by Victor Olazaba and colors by Edgar Delgado and Erick Arciniega. Ramos has a style that you love or hate. His pencils in this issue are fine, and he does have some very good panels. One of Ramos’ greatest strengths is the details he gives on close up panels. This can be seen as the Iguana attacks a man. Ramos, helped by smooth inks and some good shading, shows the scales and crevices on the body of the Iguana. A potential drawback with the pencils, is that is similar to a Manga style of art. This is just how Ramos operates and this is the style you’re going to get with him. His pencils fit many different books, and Spider-Man titles work well with him. It’s not as clean as say, Mike Deodoto jr, but what Ramos does this week works. The colors by Edgar Delgado and Erick Arciniega are a boost to What Ramos lays down. They capture a moody tone with their color palette. The panels with Taskmaster and Black Ant are a testament to their work. It’s perfectly shaded, There is a distinct difference between the darkness and the black on the costumes, and Taskmaster’s white sticks out. The colors are very good this issue and allow the pencils to shine a little.

Amazing Spider-Man #18 is another explosive issue in the Hunted storyline. Nick Spencer is really making this an exciting book with twists and turns that readers won’t see coming. The pencils and colors are good and fit the story that Spencer is telling. Amazing Spider-Man is back in the business of kicking butt.