Does Amazing Spider-Man #57 Break the Mold?

Spider-Man and Norman Osborn have another staring contest in Amazing Spider-Man #57 written by Nick Spencer, pencilled by Mark Bagley, inked by Andrew Hennessey and John Dell with Andy Owens, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg and Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

I’ve been talking for weeks now about how disappointing Last Remains has been. Even though the arc is technically over, it’s still continuing and it’s dragging out MAYBE an issue’s worth of plot across three issues (maybe four depending on how the next issue shapes up).

Sure the art continues to be on the upswing. Now that Bagley, Dell and Hennessey have found their footing, they’re ensuring this series had a classic Spider-Man feel. It feels like the classic Spidey soap opera. Visually that is.

However… as far as the story goes.

I mean we’ve gotten three issues straight of the same thing.

The dialogue starts kind of interesting but just drags on and on…

Spencer even gives the Spider-family an “official” team name and well it’s so dumb and nonsensical it just made me say-

I mean the Web and the Slingers are both RIGHT THERE!

Now, we’re nearly 60 issues in and we’re just spinning our wheels.

Then the issue ends without resolving anything and teasing readers with yet another “To Be Continued.”

Maybe it could be better… but something would actually have to happen to do that.

Tony Thornley is a geek dad, blogger, Spider-Man and Superman aficionado, X-Men guru, autism daddy, amateur novelist, and all around awesome guy. He’s also very humble.