Amazing Spider-Man #635 – Review

The Grim Hunt, Part II by: Joe Kelly (writer), Michael Lark, Stefano Gaudiano & Matt Southworth (art), Matt Hollingsworth (colors) & Joe Caramanga (letters)

Hunting the Hunter back-up story by: J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Max Fiumara (art), Fabio D’Auria (colors) & Caramanga (letters) and additional untitled back-up by Stan Lee and Marcos Martin

The Story: The Kravinoff’s continue their quest to catch Spiders, believing that sacrificing them on the altar of Kraven the Hunter will bring their patriarch back to life.

What’s Good: I’ll ask that you please run out and read this issue before reading this review.   This is the type of issue that deserves to be unspoiled for true fans.

That warning out of the way…  Holy crap!  I didn’t see that coming!  This issue kept me off balance from start to finish!  The Grim Hunt has really evolved at a break-neck pace since getting started in the last issue and I give a lot of credit to Joe Kelly for covering a lot of ground efficiently.  This issue had it all…  Fights, big-time villains, damsels in distress, a major bit of plot misdirection and a very shocking ending that builds for about 3-4 brutal pages.  As comic book fans, we’re trained to see our heroes get into dire circumstances but escape in the nick of time.  In a way, those miraculous escapes make us understand what it must be like to be a superhero: You can just wade into danger and somehow, someway…the good guys will escape.  But, this issue ramps that danger up just a little beyond the comfort zone and leaves us with a big payoff.

There…. Hopefully I’ve extolled this issue enough without spoiling it. Go read it twice!

Of course, you cannot have a spectacular issue without some really sharp art.  The overall style is a bit on the muddy side (which isn’t my favorite), but you cannot beat the storytelling and the expressive faces and body language.

WCBR’s Picks Of The Week

Ray’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Sweet Tooth #1 – Jeff Lemire new monthly series is off to a good start. With this debut issue, he introduces us to a character worth caring and thinking about. Sweet Tooth is off to become one of the best new books of the year.

Most Anticipated: Kick-Ass #7 – It’s been way too long. It’s hard to believe that the last time I read this book was in April.

Other Top Picks: Wednesday Comics #10, Unwritten #5, Blackest Night Batman #2, Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men Exodus, Dark Reign List Avengers, Green Lantern Corps #40, Ultimate Comics Avengers #2, Red Robin #4

Kyle’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Deadpool #15 – While I really liked seeing Tony Stark trip up in a big way, Deadpool going all existential scores Wade the win.

Most Anticipated: Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus – I’m picking this not because I’m looking forward to reading it, but because it means that Dark Avengers can finally return to being one of my favorite titles.

Other Top Picks: Wednesday Comics #10, Unwritten #5, The List: New Avengers, Dark Reign: Young Avengers #4, Kick-Ass #7, Thunderbolts #135, Witchblade #130

Rob’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Invincible Iron Man#17 – Man this book is just great. I’m thinking more and more that Fraction’s Iron Man will be alongside Brubaker’s Captain America and Bendis’ Daredevil. Obviously, Fraction learned from Brubaker the benefit of a sloe burn, character-driven story. I really love this; it’s like the super hero Flowers For Algernon. That being said, the art isn’t quite there as it was for those runs, but there is still time.

Most Anticipated: War of Kings Who Will Rule One-Shot – This title just beats Unwritten for my most anticipated read.  The end of War of Kings left me needing more. Cosmic Marvel is for sure the best thing in Marvel U right now.

Other Top Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #604, Blackest Night Batman #2, Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men Exodus, Dark Reign List Avengers one shot, Green Lantern Corps #40 (blackest night), Kick-Ass #7, Ultimate Comics Avengers #2, Unwritten #5, War of Kings who will rule one-shot

Alex’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Sweet Tooth #1 – A haunting issue that makes for a very solid debut.  Particularly as it’s only $1, there’s no reason not to give this one a try and I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

Most Anticipated For The Week: The Unwritten #5 – I loved last month’s issue, which saw a really intriguing ending. After every issue, my reaction is the same: give me more!Tony’s Top Picks

Most Anticipated For The Week: Dark Reign: The List – Avengers One Shot – “The List” is my point of no return in terms of whether or not “Dark Reign” can stop sucking and become something worth reading, and it begins here with this issue. I will be paying close attention to this one.

DS’ Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Immortal Weapons #2 – Great art evokes the continuing spooky, weird, different and original stories in the world surrounding the Iron Fist.

Most Anticipated: Red Robin #4- Solid, solid story telling, month after month….

Other Top Picks: Adventure Comics #2, Secret Six #13, Titans #17