Amazing Spider-Man #43: Royal Rumble!

After a slow start out of the gate, “Gang War” has, honestly, turned into a pretty solid Spidey-versus-the-mob story – up to a point. And that’s a shame now that it’s very suddenly nearing the finish line, because at the end of the day, there feels like quite a bit left on the table that never got explored.

Amazing Spider-Man #43 is a full-on melee from start to finish, pitting the Beetle’s forces against Madame Masque’s. As far as huge, all-encompassing superhero slugfests go, this issue’s ain’t half bad – the pacing is on point, the action beats mostly hit, there’s a sense of urgency, and a mostly-there sense of stakes.

So why doesn’t this comic feel like it has more gravity?

The real problem is, this story feels like it just got started, and now, readers are being rushed to the finale next issue. Considering just how widespread the events of “Gang War” are – encompassing the whole of New York City, with any number of factions duking it out at any given time for supremacy – this story could have easily gone for ten or twelve issues, with a more fully-realized narrative arc that fits into a natural three-act structure. “Gang War” doesn’t have that; it had a start, then spun its wheels with a meaningless Kingpin aside, and now is rushing to what feels like an unrealized conclusion. Inevitably, that means the story itself suffers despite its best intentions, and readers feel short-changed.

And that’s a shame, because “Gang War” has all the right ingredients – as this issue proves. If this were the bloody-knuckled finale after a hard-fought, knock-down drag-out WAR, ASM #43 would feel a heckuva lot more potent. As it stands, though, it’s basically just your favorite characters punching each other without the emotional stakes to make readers truly care.

Pleasantly surprising, though is the art from John Romita, Jr., inker Scott Hanna, and colorist Marcio Menyz. Romita Jr. gets dragged for phoning it in a lot these days – but damned if this isn’t some of his most polished work in quite some time. He works like the decades-deep pro he is to sell the action, and for the first time in a while, he truly succeeds in reminding readers why he’s considered a legend. Hanna’s smooth lines may be the cherry on top, along with Menyz’ sweeping colors, but don’t be fooled: this is the Romita show, and it’s a heckuva sight to behold.