Amazing Spider Man #698 Review

I have only just picked this book up today (Friday) so have had to try and escape spoilers all week, which I have been lucky enough to do successfully. After reading this issue I was very happy that I did avoid the internet for two days, so if you are not sure what happens in this issue then DO NOT read this review as it will contain some major SPOILERS.

Ok, with that out of the way lets go right into this issue, and what an issue it was! I thought the end of the last story arc was OK, however I was a little disappointed with it as I did not believe it was doing enough to build up to the milestone issue arriving on Boxing Day. However, the start of this story arc has really taken things to another level.

Throughout the issue we see a Peter Parker that we have not seem for a long long time. A confident, self assured young man who seems to be wanting to do the things that readers have been screaming at him to do for some time now. For example, he finally decides that he cant understand why he and MJ are not together any more so he tries to rectify that. It looks as though his life is finally getting back on track, but you can tell by the pace that we are being told a red herring. Everything is happening far too quick, and he has not even encountered Doctor Octopus yet....

So towards the end of this issue he finally does go to see  the Dr, and it is in this scene where this book becomes a key issue in about three panels. We learn that Doc Ock has some how switched his mind with Peter, so he is in Peters' body, while Peters' mind is in his as he lies on his death bed. WOW. The issue ends with Spider Man leaving with the Avengers, but of course it is not the Spider Man that they think he is.

What a great issue. Forget the big shock at the end of the issue for a second, this whole book was fantastic. Dan Slott is back on top form, and just in time too. This really was pretty much a flawless issue. And the art by Richard Elson?  Well that really impressed me too. I hope he is the artist in the next couple of issues too. It was a massive improvement on what we have had in the last couple of arcs. Well, that is my opinion anyway.
Literally anything can happen now in the run up to #700, and I am sure that there will be more shocks on the way. Pick this book up so you can say you were involved in this. Even if you do not pick up this title on a regular basis then jump on with this issue, it really is ideal.


Rating: 10 / 10