Tags
Cloak and Dagger, comics, Dan Slott, Marte Gracia, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matteo Buffagni, Mister Negative, Parker Industries, Peter Parker, Shanghai, Spidey, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man #6, The Dark Kingdom
The Amazing Spider-Man #6
Review by Paul Bowler
A new story-arc begins: The Dark Kingdom! Peter Parker’s company Parker Industries is brining cutting edge high-tech to the world, it also equips S.H.I.E.L.D, and the Uncle Ben Foundation offers humanitarian aid all over the world. Following the battle with Zodiac and Scorpio in the UK, The Amazing Spider-Man #6 finds Peter Parker back in Shanghai, where one of Spider-Man’s deadliest villains has returned: Mister Negative! What is Mister Negative’s plan, and how has he got two fan-favourite Marvel heroes to join forces with him?
Its another busy day at Parker Industries filled with plenty of new innovations and action-packed web-spinning for Peter Parker in Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #6, where, following a flashback to a well organised breakout of a high security prisoner on Stronghold 1: the department of justice prison transport, writer Dan Slott kicks off the story in earnest as we find Peter enjoying a brief respite from his executive role and wall crawling duties on the rooftop of the Shanghai branch of Parker Industries. After a quick Spider-Sense tingling white-knuckle ride in the Spider-Mobile, things get a little more complicated for Peter, as business and politics become awkwardly entwined, before news of the arrival of Mister Negative means its time for some Spidey action!
This issue covers a lot of ground in a short space of time, but it doesn’t feel rushed though. The opening flashback is handled really well, it’s a good way to reintroduce Mister Negative, and the surprise of having him teamed up with Cloak and Dagger is another neat twist – especially with the unexpected role reversal of their powers.
Matteo Buffagni’s art is also very good, each scene is well presented, the characters are all nicely defined, and the page layouts stylishly convey the fast-paced action. Mister Negative is also an intersting villain, its great to see him return, and his powers certainly makes him one of Spider-Man’s more unusual adversaries. I like the contrast Buffagni’s art highlights between Peter’s high-flying business life and his wall crawling adventures as Spider-Man. There’s some awesome Spider-Mobile action as well, I love that car, it always looks stunning, and that wrecking ball scene is sure to leave you with a big silly grin on your face!
I’m also really pleased to see the return of Cloak and Dagger in this issue of The Amazing Spider-Man. Dan Slott has really brought a new spin on the characters here, especially how their powers have now been drastically altered by Mister Negative. The artwork of Matteo Buffagni really captures the essence of these characters perfectly, they dominate every scene they appear in, and colorist Marte Gracia employs subtle shades and tones to great effect throughout to make this one of the most impressive looking issues of the new series so far – and let’s not forget that gorgeous cover by Alex Ross as well, this one’s a real stunner!
Amazing Spider-Man #6 gets The Dark Kingdom arc off to a great start. Dan Slott is on great form once again, his writing always seems to draw me into the story, and he has a great handle on all the characters, which together with Matteo Buffagni’s art and Marte Gracia’s colors, makes this another standout issue. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this story develops, especially after that cliff-hanger ending, and to finding out exactly how and why Cloak and Dagger are now working for Mister Negative.
Publisher: Marvel / Writer: Dan Slott / Art: Matteo Buffagni
Colorist: Marte Gracia / Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Sci-Fi Jubilee 
At first when I saw this review said it was up on January 5th, I wondered if you picked it up early, but then I remembered that some comic shops were allowed to release a few issues on New Years day instead of this Wednesday.
I’m taking a break from Spider-Man, but when I peeked into this issue, it looked pretty good.
Yes, this issue was released early on New Years Day. I’ve really been enjoying this new volume of The Amazing Spiderman, its been really good, and the art is fantastic. Well worth checking out, this is a new story arc as well, so good jumping on point as well. Cheers for commenting and have a great new comic book day!
Great review. Love this book!
I’m really enjoying this new Spider-Man series. Great to see Cloak and Dagger again as well. Cheers glad you enjoyed the review!
Looking forward to the Miles Morales Spider-Man title which I think starts next month. Great review of ASM Paul, along with Iron Man and Daredevil one of Marvel’s stand-out all new, all different relaunches.
Yes, that will be a good Spider-Man title to look out for as well. I think this new volume of The Amazing Spider-Man has been great, really enjoying this new era in Peter Parker’s life. This title is quickly becoming one of my favourite books of the all new all different Marvel rellaunches.