Amazing Spider-Man #42: Gog in The Machine

This issue is definitely a downbeat in the “True Companion” story arc. It works, though as the last issue was so action-packed and filled with story-building information. So, this issue’s slower pace lets you breathe a little bit and take some things in while giving you a really important piece of the backstory. Writer Nick Spencer again uses some Spider-Man history to his (and our) advantage as we learn what happened to a surprise returning character from the last issue, where he’s been and what happened to the Lifeline Tablet in the time since it turned up last. The majority of the story is an origin story for Gog, the great big monster that showed up last issue that’s told through the point of view of the character. Unfortunately, he talks like the Hulk, so there’s not a lot of exposition here, the story is mostly told through art which makes it a really quick read. I think that’s probably my only complaint: this issue is going to take you only about five minutes to read. Over the grand scheme of things, that’s okay, because you really need this issue to kind of catch your breath after the last issue and gearing up for what future issues have in store.

Artist Ryan Ottley has to carry the majority of the workload this issue, having to tell an almost full-length story with a three to six-word average in almost panel.  It’s just a little north of having to draw a “silent” issue. Thankfully Ottley is a very talented comic artist and totally pulls it off. He covers almost everything this issue, space, the jungle, aliens, supervillains; you name it, he draws it, and executes it beautifully. Had this been another artist, I can’t say for sure that this issue would’ve been as good.