Amazing Spider-Man #799
Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Stuart Immonen
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 04/18/18
Rating: T
Plot: Because of the deal he made last issue, Peter Parker calls in his amazing friends to fight the Red Goblin (a.k.a. Norman Osborn). Meanwhile Norman’s new target is his son, Harry, and his two grandsons, Normie and Stanley. Also this issue reveals a hidden member of the Osborn clan.
Story: This issue is a great example of Dan Slott playing the long-game with his characters. Reveals such as that Harry’s mother, Emma, is alive and she’s been the nanny to Harry’s sons for a number of issues land perfectly. Also during the Parker Industries arc, Harry legally changed his last name from Osborn to his mother’s maiden name, Lyman. This helped add more value to the reveal. Plus we get a payoff from Flash Thompson being the new Anti-Venom. Using the Anti-Venom symbiote, Flash is able to keep Spidey’s allies alive after their fight with Osborn, and he uses the last of the symbiote to heal Spider-Man’s broken leg (see last issue). Initially I wasn’t a big fan of Flash being Anti-Venom (see Spider-Man: Venom Inc.), however Flash’s actions in this issue show that this character had his purpose for this story.
This issue also shows the curse of the Osborn legacy. After Norman’s death his son Harry became the second Green Goblin, now Norman infected his grandson Normie with the Red Goblin symbiote on the issue’s final page. There are a number of Amazing Spider-Man stories that play with the idea of Normie taking up the Osborn super villain mantle but they’re either alternate realities or he’s saved at the very end. Also we’ve seen several moments where Normie’s jealous of the attention Harry gives his younger half-brother Stanley. With the emotional nature of the symbiote and insanity from the Goblin serum, this could be the final push of Normie into super-villainy.
Overall this was one of the best penultimate issues I’ve read. Usually the issue before the finale isjust filler but this issue was filled with action and suspense. It also shows how Dan Slott is trying to tell the best Amazing Spider-Man story before his run ends.
Art: This issue’s artwork is outstanding. Stuart Immonen does an impressive job with the action sequences. Each character is drawn in a dynamic pose that looks straight out of a movie. Also Immonen’s design of Normie as the Red Goblin looks super creepy. Plus Marte Gracia does an impressive job with the colors in this issue. The darker tones really help sell the seriousness of the story. The facial expressions are on point for this issue as well and the best example is Peter’s “you’re dead to me” look at Jonah when he finds out Jonah leaked his secret identity to Norman.
Verdict: This was an awesome issue. The story kept the momentum going and helped hype up the 800th issue. Also the art team created some impressive action scenes. Dan Slott is definitely ending his last Amazing Spider-Man arc in style.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5