Amazing Spider-Man #1001: The War Room

After the milestone release of The Amazing Spider-Man #1000, Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz dive headfirst into setting the stakes Peter is facing, with odds that are nothing less than insurmountable. While not as heavy on the action, this issue leans deep into the emotional conflict inside Peter as he grows to realize there is no “winning” against what Cormac has done. Unlike previous stories that showcased the potential end of his relationship with May, there doesn’t seem to be an easy way out.

I really appreciate the team taking their time with this story and not rushing into any major upsets for the sake of “shaking things up.” There’s a real thoughtfulness to how Cormac has cornered Peter, leaving him with very few options for trying to salvage what’s left of his tattered relationship with May.

Cormac’s motivations, while still messy and mysterious, make an argument for themself that places doubt in Peter’s head, as his own emotions find themselves pinned against the reality of how his life as Spider-Man has broken May’s heart time and time again. However, Cormac’s major downfall is his inability to understand May’s love for Peter from her perspective, having previously torn that perspective out of her mind in the previous issue.

Norman, Scarlet Witch, and Mary Jane all make brief but effective appearances in this book, pulling Peter’s approach to the situation in two different directions. Norman offers a perspective that mirrors Cormac’s own, taking the most nihilistic route and suggesting that Peter must take the ultimate final action and put his cousin in the ground. Mary Jane’s instant empathy for Peter offers him a respite of love that empowers him to momentarily remember what it is he’s fighting for.

Scarlet Witch fills the role that Doctor Strange did in OMIT, but as opposed to offering an instant solution, the tricky nature of magic forces Peter into a corner where his patience in the face of a rising tide of anxiety is tested. It all swirls together into this cocktail of tension that still has me unsure of where this tale is going to end.

Larraz continues to excel with his art on this book. Some of the pages in this issue are paneled with a dreamlike sensitivity that elevates the sense of unease and unpredictability throughout the issue. Not enough good things can be said about his work; I only wish we got to see it more routinely.