Spider-Man’s Brand New Day continues and this time, he’s bringing friends! Would a cameo from not only Doctor Strange, who’s not even a part of the New Avengers anymore, and an appearance by Wolverine be enough to save Amazing Spider-Man from the humiliation of the last couple issues? Let’s find out.

This month, Zeb Wells takes a shot at Spider-Man. His previous work, which includes Heroes for Hire, New Warriors and some of the older Peter Parker: Spider-Man comics were pretty solid which should make for a pretty good read…right? Well, they do actually. This issue is much more entertaining to read than the issues by Bob Gale. The story flowed very well and was, somewhat because of the art, fun to read. Wolverine and Spider-Man’s interaction was a welcome sight as we had yet to see the “new” Spider-Man interact with anyone else in the Marvel U which, in my opinion, was giving off the appearance that he was in his own world and completely cut off from the rest of the regular continuity. Granted, it’s a little weird seeing Doctor Strange there as he’s been off the New Avengers roster for a couple months already but, for the most part, Zeb Wells gets it right.

Chris Bachalo, on the other hand, is a little bit off target. His art isn’t the issue here. It’s his style that I had a problem with. While most of the other artists who have been on the creative team for Spider-Man since it’s “restart” in January have gone with a more realistic look, Bachalo’s zanny cartoonish style doesn’t work well in the pages of ASM. That’s not to say that he isn’t a great artist, I just think his art belongs in a different title. Although, to be honest, the comic had a much more easy-going tone to it because of the art which wasn’t really a bad thing.

While this issue is a huge improvement on the past couple issues that came before it, there’s still something that just doesn’t sit well about this Brand New Day anymore. The creative team needs to start dropping the tagline and distancing themselves from the past as soon as possible. I know I’ve been saying that for a while now but I guess I keep hoping that if I say it enough times, it’ll actually happen. On the plus side, there’s only 13 more issues to go until JRJR’s return!

Amazing Spider-Man #555

7.8/10 (How’d you get that?)

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