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The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) (Collected Editions)
The Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 4: Dark Web
Collects AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #15-18, DARK WEB #1 and DARK WEB FINALE #1.
Marvel's two most infamous clones are back to take what's theirs! Ben Reilly and Madelyne Pryor have had enough - and they're reigniting the Inferno! And as Chasm and the Goblin Queen spin their dark web over New York City, Spider-Man and the X-Men are not ready for what's coming! If Peter Parker is to survive this supernatural nightmare, he'll have to get through Venom, Chasm, Hallows' Eve and - when he finds himself trapped in Limbo - hordes of demons! But not your typical, run-of-the-mill demons - no, we're talking hellish versions of his rogues' gallery! Can Spidey somehow make it home to rejoin the fight, and stop Chasm and the Goblin Queen?! And how will Limbo change the landscape of NYC forever?!
Marvel's two most infamous clones are back to take what's theirs! Ben Reilly and Madelyne Pryor have had enough - and they're reigniting the Inferno! And as Chasm and the Goblin Queen spin their dark web over New York City, Spider-Man and the X-Men are not ready for what's coming! If Peter Parker is to survive this supernatural nightmare, he'll have to get through Venom, Chasm, Hallows' Eve and - when he finds himself trapped in Limbo - hordes of demons! But not your typical, run-of-the-mill demons - no, we're talking hellish versions of his rogues' gallery! Can Spidey somehow make it home to rejoin the fight, and stop Chasm and the Goblin Queen?! And how will Limbo change the landscape of NYC forever?!
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2023
27 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Zeb Wells
714 books73 followersZeb Wells is an American comic book writer known for his work at Marvel Comics, as well as his work on the animated TV series Robot Chicken.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 7, 2023
"This . . . is not a great use of my time." -- Madelyne Pryor, a.k.a. the villainous Goblin Queen, inadvertently providing some of my review via her dialogue
Boy howdy, I should not have used the phrasing 'crashed and burned' in my recent review for Vol. 3: Hobgoblin because its follow-up Vol. 4: Dark Web was sort of reminiscent of a historical event . . . . which unfortunately was the Hindenburg zeppelin disaster in May 1937. Not even some late but always-welcome superheroic guest appearances by the likes of Kamala Khan's appealing Ms. Marvel or a robust X-Men line-up can ultimately save this mess of a graphic novel. The attempts at humor (with some especially cringe-worthy jokes mouthed by dull-witted monsters or inanimate objects that have suddenly become sentient) oddly miss the mark by a country mile, Spidey is completely bereft of any of his expected quipping, and by setting a good chunk of the storyline in a purgatory-like underworld province called 'Limbo' it also makes things a virtual hell for the readers, too.
Boy howdy, I should not have used the phrasing 'crashed and burned' in my recent review for Vol. 3: Hobgoblin because its follow-up Vol. 4: Dark Web was sort of reminiscent of a historical event . . . . which unfortunately was the Hindenburg zeppelin disaster in May 1937. Not even some late but always-welcome superheroic guest appearances by the likes of Kamala Khan's appealing Ms. Marvel or a robust X-Men line-up can ultimately save this mess of a graphic novel. The attempts at humor (with some especially cringe-worthy jokes mouthed by dull-witted monsters or inanimate objects that have suddenly become sentient) oddly miss the mark by a country mile, Spidey is completely bereft of any of his expected quipping, and by setting a good chunk of the storyline in a purgatory-like underworld province called 'Limbo' it also makes things a virtual hell for the readers, too.
March 7, 2024
If you have read the "Dark Web" storyline, it pretty much covers this volume of Amazing Spider-Man, in which Peter Parker is to survive a demonic night in New York where he confronts the likes of Venom, Chasm and the Goblin Queen. If you want to know my opinions on these particular issues, you can read my Dark Web review here.
Now Zeb Wells, can you please stop putting Spidey in these event books and tell the story you set out to make, please?
Now Zeb Wells, can you please stop putting Spidey in these event books and tell the story you set out to make, please?
February 1, 2023
Mostly read this because of Kamala... I really hope she'll get her own series soon.
April 17, 2023
DNF - This is a dumb fucking event. I hate what they did to Ben. Just so silly after having a serious subject about taking someone memories and identity. I do not like this.
May 15, 2023
2.75
I liked Kubert's art..
I liked Kubert's art..
March 14, 2025
Wasn't terrible. Wasn't good either.
June 23, 2023
Weird, silly, and of little real consequence. Nice art, though.
July 3, 2023
Nah. Just nah.
Inferno redux was not a great idea to start with, that’s a given, but dealing with it in this goofy saturday cartoon way?
Nah. Just nah.
Pity, really, for the starting point was acceptable enough. The way Maddie and Ben’s shared interest had to split somewhere down the line was convincing enough too. And it could have been quite ok all things considered. The very end is even somewhat surprising and interesting (saved the book from a 1* rating btw). But this primary school way of bringing it up felt that close of being insulting.
Ed McGuiness actually fits the story. It’s actually very decent art but in this review this not a compliment. Adam Kubert (opening / finale) is better suited style-wise (or would have been if it had been less for a 10yo audience).
If you want to read this volume but not the whole event I strongly suggest you read the X-Men tie-in. It’s the only one I’ve read alongside the main series and it would have felt uncomplete without it. And it’s actually better to be honest.
Inferno redux was not a great idea to start with, that’s a given, but dealing with it in this goofy saturday cartoon way?
Nah. Just nah.
Pity, really, for the starting point was acceptable enough. The way Maddie and Ben’s shared interest had to split somewhere down the line was convincing enough too. And it could have been quite ok all things considered. The very end is even somewhat surprising and interesting (saved the book from a 1* rating btw). But this primary school way of bringing it up felt that close of being insulting.
Ed McGuiness actually fits the story. It’s actually very decent art but in this review this not a compliment. Adam Kubert (opening / finale) is better suited style-wise (or would have been if it had been less for a 10yo audience).
If you want to read this volume but not the whole event I strongly suggest you read the X-Men tie-in. It’s the only one I’ve read alongside the main series and it would have felt uncomplete without it. And it’s actually better to be honest.
April 29, 2024
More of a 3.5
August 6, 2023
I read the Dark Web trade (and didn't care much for it). Mainly this is here to mark this volume in this series.
August 11, 2023
On paper, this story should appeal to me. I love the Inferno storyline and Madelyne Pryor, and I'm a huge fan of Ben Reilly. Unfortunately, this volume is just full of contrived and nonsensical plotlines, ridiculousness and bad characterization.
Not satisfied with ruining the relationship between Peter and MJ, Wells decides to do a complete character assassination of Ben Reilly as well.
Ben Reilly is Peters clone who briefly became Spider-Man during the clone saga, and was like a brother to Peter before he died (he has since been resurrected). At the end of the Spider-Man: Beyond series, Reilly had lost a lot of his memories that he shared with Peter, and this apparently, according to Wells, is enough to make him go full on evil.
Reilly teams up with Jean Greys evil clone, and the ruler of Limbo: Madelyne Pryor and the two of them decide to unleash demons on New York. They've also got the help of Ben's girlfriend-turned-supervillain: Hallows Eve and Venom, who has been mindwiped to revert him back to his 90's persona who hates Spider-Man and wants to eat brains.
During the demons takeover of New York, Spider-Man gets transported to Limbo where he works at a twisted version of the Daily Bugle alongside a lot of silly demons. He gets attacked by a demonic Sinister Six and inspires a demon to become a hero called Rek-Rap (Parker backwards). It's ridiculous. While I'm sure Wells was wanting to make it fun, it just came off as silly, and nothing made sense.
The main reason I hated this book was because of the way Ben was treated. Peter knows enough psychics that can either repair Ben's memories or re-share Peters memories, which would solve everything. Furthermore, while the the heroes try to help Madelyne, they don't do the same for Ben. If Ben was treated the same way that the heroes treated Madelyne, again, everything would be solved. And this is obvious. It makes no sense and makes the heroes seem either purposefully vindictive against Ben or just plain stupid.
This is just a terrible volume in a terrible run. This whole run of Wells needs to be ended and forgotten. It does way more damage to the Spider-Man lore than anything good that it adds to it.
Not satisfied with ruining the relationship between Peter and MJ, Wells decides to do a complete character assassination of Ben Reilly as well.
Ben Reilly is Peters clone who briefly became Spider-Man during the clone saga, and was like a brother to Peter before he died (he has since been resurrected). At the end of the Spider-Man: Beyond series, Reilly had lost a lot of his memories that he shared with Peter, and this apparently, according to Wells, is enough to make him go full on evil.
Reilly teams up with Jean Greys evil clone, and the ruler of Limbo: Madelyne Pryor and the two of them decide to unleash demons on New York. They've also got the help of Ben's girlfriend-turned-supervillain: Hallows Eve and Venom, who has been mindwiped to revert him back to his 90's persona who hates Spider-Man and wants to eat brains.
During the demons takeover of New York, Spider-Man gets transported to Limbo where he works at a twisted version of the Daily Bugle alongside a lot of silly demons. He gets attacked by a demonic Sinister Six and inspires a demon to become a hero called Rek-Rap (Parker backwards). It's ridiculous. While I'm sure Wells was wanting to make it fun, it just came off as silly, and nothing made sense.
The main reason I hated this book was because of the way Ben was treated. Peter knows enough psychics that can either repair Ben's memories or re-share Peters memories, which would solve everything. Furthermore, while the the heroes try to help Madelyne, they don't do the same for Ben. If Ben was treated the same way that the heroes treated Madelyne, again, everything would be solved. And this is obvious. It makes no sense and makes the heroes seem either purposefully vindictive against Ben or just plain stupid.
This is just a terrible volume in a terrible run. This whole run of Wells needs to be ended and forgotten. It does way more damage to the Spider-Man lore than anything good that it adds to it.
June 17, 2023
Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen of Limbo, along with Ben Reilly, infamous Peter Parker clone, make edgy Pepe the Frog memes for the lulz and do illegal things using a VPN bring Limbo, and ensuing chaos, to New York City in Dark Web.
Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man run gets less amazing as it ties into the latest loud’n’stoopid Marvel Event, Dark Web, which was a load of boring nonsense.
Remember those great ‘80s Ghostbusters toys, like the toilet that turned into a monster? Those, along with the ghosts-invading-NYC story of the Ghostbusters movies/TV show, made me feel like Wells was doing Ghostbusters fan-fic with Marvel characters given that Limbo invading NYC means inanimate objects coming to life and demons wandering the streets.
Ben and Madelyne’s motivations felt silly and immature, the action was forced and uninteresting, and the story predictable - nothing happens for a while before, inevitably, everything resets with few consequences, none of them significant.
Hallow’s Eve isn’t a good character either - she puts on a mask and then becomes the mask and its powers (a Frankenstein’s monster, a werewolf, etc.). Very convenient that her slight bag contains so many useful masks - she must have gotten it from the same place Batman gets his utility belts!
Ed McGuinness’ art is pretty good. Ben Reilly’s Chasm character design is fine but he starts looking a bit Spawn-y once he reaches his final form. Rek-Rap is a daffy chap - he looks like a Battletoad cosplaying as Spidey! The dig at manga was amusing - Spidey sets fire to a copy of “Ramen Ninja, Vol 17”. I think manga is outselling Marvel (and DC et al.) at a crazy ratio like three to one - Marvel did it to themselves though, the quality has been dropping for years and readers have given up and moved on; who can blame them, eh?
Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 4: Dark Web is my least favourite book in Zeb Wells’ Spider-Man run and that’s because Marvel Events are nearly always terrible so tying into it was unlikely to have been good. With this forgettable trash out of the way though, hopefully the series will get better going forward.
Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man run gets less amazing as it ties into the latest loud’n’stoopid Marvel Event, Dark Web, which was a load of boring nonsense.
Remember those great ‘80s Ghostbusters toys, like the toilet that turned into a monster? Those, along with the ghosts-invading-NYC story of the Ghostbusters movies/TV show, made me feel like Wells was doing Ghostbusters fan-fic with Marvel characters given that Limbo invading NYC means inanimate objects coming to life and demons wandering the streets.
Ben and Madelyne’s motivations felt silly and immature, the action was forced and uninteresting, and the story predictable - nothing happens for a while before, inevitably, everything resets with few consequences, none of them significant.
Hallow’s Eve isn’t a good character either - she puts on a mask and then becomes the mask and its powers (a Frankenstein’s monster, a werewolf, etc.). Very convenient that her slight bag contains so many useful masks - she must have gotten it from the same place Batman gets his utility belts!
Ed McGuinness’ art is pretty good. Ben Reilly’s Chasm character design is fine but he starts looking a bit Spawn-y once he reaches his final form. Rek-Rap is a daffy chap - he looks like a Battletoad cosplaying as Spidey! The dig at manga was amusing - Spidey sets fire to a copy of “Ramen Ninja, Vol 17”. I think manga is outselling Marvel (and DC et al.) at a crazy ratio like three to one - Marvel did it to themselves though, the quality has been dropping for years and readers have given up and moved on; who can blame them, eh?
Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 4: Dark Web is my least favourite book in Zeb Wells’ Spider-Man run and that’s because Marvel Events are nearly always terrible so tying into it was unlikely to have been good. With this forgettable trash out of the way though, hopefully the series will get better going forward.
March 13, 2023
This was a weird event/book as I feel like many people won't like it and had it been its own thing, it would have fared much better. SO the big story is Ben allied with Maddie is attacking NYC, and so X-Men and Spider-man have to team up to stop them, and whats funny is Maddie doesn't even show up in the book that ofte and suddenly break ties with her, and X-Men are barely there, its like their own corner which is a flaw as both should have prominent roles in the series but then again the story being Ben wanting memories or revenge from Peter, attacks NYC and Peter's supporting cast basically with demons and there's a part where he banishes him to Limbo so how does Peter defeat Ben and save the city?
One thing I like about the story was when they were stuck in Limbo, there are demons and all like the insidious six, which is a riff on the sinister six and it was kinda funny and can come off as annoying but then again its funny if you look into it with a bit of sense of humor and then there are fun fights even with Venom and Hallows eve which I wish were longer and fleshed out their motivations a bit more, but its Ben vs Peter and there is a part where he becomes King Chasm, ruler of Limbo and it was a brutal fight and yeah there's a personal moment which fans of Peter may or may not like.
SO like I said an event with flaws but for some people it will be cool, and by the end there's a new status quo and sort of a resolution to Peter's long time foe whose been haunting him for a while now and it also leads to a ton of spin-off books which we will se if they are any good next year.
So yeah if you wanna read it, go for it as a one-time read and if you don't like this story, I understand that as well because there are a lot of flaws in it, and can seem very rushed or weird or character-destroying for some as some of their faves behave weirdly or if you're a casual fan and just want some fun, you can do that too!
One thing I like about the story was when they were stuck in Limbo, there are demons and all like the insidious six, which is a riff on the sinister six and it was kinda funny and can come off as annoying but then again its funny if you look into it with a bit of sense of humor and then there are fun fights even with Venom and Hallows eve which I wish were longer and fleshed out their motivations a bit more, but its Ben vs Peter and there is a part where he becomes King Chasm, ruler of Limbo and it was a brutal fight and yeah there's a personal moment which fans of Peter may or may not like.
SO like I said an event with flaws but for some people it will be cool, and by the end there's a new status quo and sort of a resolution to Peter's long time foe whose been haunting him for a while now and it also leads to a ton of spin-off books which we will se if they are any good next year.
So yeah if you wanna read it, go for it as a one-time read and if you don't like this story, I understand that as well because there are a lot of flaws in it, and can seem very rushed or weird or character-destroying for some as some of their faves behave weirdly or if you're a casual fan and just want some fun, you can do that too!
July 18, 2023
While most of the story is contained in this Volume, there are a few missing things (mostly dealing with Venom and the X-Men) that I really needed to complete the story for me. Overall, still great, but wish I would have read the omnibus volume instead.
Highlights:
- Chasm (Ben Reilly) and the Goblin Queen (Madelyne Pryor) seek revenge for their lives being stolen by their originals, they themselves being clones. Maddie has tried something like this before (see the amazing "Inferno" event in X-Men history) but obviously still wants something that Jean won't let her have.
- Maddie has two weapons to help her: The Scythe of Sorrows, which helps her control demons, and a warped and overridden Venom, who again desires to eat Spider-Man's brains. (The Venom stuff really doesn't get answered for me until reading the Dark Web tie-ins from the Venom book)
- The major threat is the release of devils from Limbo. They possess items, manifest, and create general havoc. This gets many of the heroes involved in saving others.
- When family and friends are threatened, Peter makes a deal to get sent to Limbo, where Chasm tries to break him down to get the missing memories back.
- Limbo is not without its humor with the Insidious Six and (good demon) Parker-Man... who turns into one of the best and funniest Spideys for a long time, Rek-Rap! (love him! So funny!)
- (Another part I need cleared up by reading the X-Men tie-ins) Maddie has made a deal with Jean and wants to end everything. Of course Chasm isn't going to stand for it and takes the Scythe, becoming King Chasm
- Maddie joins with the heroes and helps stop Chasm.... earning not only continued rulership of Limbo, but also being permitted to have an embassy in New York.
Overall good... just was missing a few things to make it amazing.
Recommend.
Highlights:
- Chasm (Ben Reilly) and the Goblin Queen (Madelyne Pryor) seek revenge for their lives being stolen by their originals, they themselves being clones. Maddie has tried something like this before (see the amazing "Inferno" event in X-Men history) but obviously still wants something that Jean won't let her have.
- Maddie has two weapons to help her: The Scythe of Sorrows, which helps her control demons, and a warped and overridden Venom, who again desires to eat Spider-Man's brains. (The Venom stuff really doesn't get answered for me until reading the Dark Web tie-ins from the Venom book)
- The major threat is the release of devils from Limbo. They possess items, manifest, and create general havoc. This gets many of the heroes involved in saving others.
- When family and friends are threatened, Peter makes a deal to get sent to Limbo, where Chasm tries to break him down to get the missing memories back.
- Limbo is not without its humor with the Insidious Six and (good demon) Parker-Man... who turns into one of the best and funniest Spideys for a long time, Rek-Rap! (love him! So funny!)
- (Another part I need cleared up by reading the X-Men tie-ins) Maddie has made a deal with Jean and wants to end everything. Of course Chasm isn't going to stand for it and takes the Scythe, becoming King Chasm
- Maddie joins with the heroes and helps stop Chasm.... earning not only continued rulership of Limbo, but also being permitted to have an embassy in New York.
Overall good... just was missing a few things to make it amazing.
Recommend.
July 21, 2023
Boy, this turd of a crossover was slapdashedly put together. Nothing connects properly. It's clear that you need to read all of the other crossovers to get a coherent story. I'm not sure why they didn't number the issues. It seems like every year Marvel tries to make it harder and harder to read their books. Now it's randomly guess how this is all put together because even the trade collection isn't correct.
The basics are this. Spidey's clone, Ben Reilly, lost most of his memories in Spider-Man Beyond and has turned evil. He meets up with Madelyne Prior, the clone of Jean Grey, the impetus behind the original Inferno which this is an extremely pale and deflated imitation of. Ben Reilly is now called Chasm and sends Spider-Man to Limbo where he has to choose to eat a poisoned apple or something. It's all explained terribly. This whole thing is complete garbage, which is a shame. Zeb Wells is a good writer. He just keeps getting sidetracked with events every other arc. This book is already crazy to begin with, being biweekly. Just let the guy write this uninterrupted and give him rope (to hang himself or see if he can jump rope with it.) At least give him a chance to make it on his own because the constant interruptions are a huge problem.
The basics are this. Spidey's clone, Ben Reilly, lost most of his memories in Spider-Man Beyond and has turned evil. He meets up with Madelyne Prior, the clone of Jean Grey, the impetus behind the original Inferno which this is an extremely pale and deflated imitation of. Ben Reilly is now called Chasm and sends Spider-Man to Limbo where he has to choose to eat a poisoned apple or something. It's all explained terribly. This whole thing is complete garbage, which is a shame. Zeb Wells is a good writer. He just keeps getting sidetracked with events every other arc. This book is already crazy to begin with, being biweekly. Just let the guy write this uninterrupted and give him rope (to hang himself or see if he can jump rope with it.) At least give him a chance to make it on his own because the constant interruptions are a huge problem.
November 5, 2023
Zeb Wells turns a demonic invasion into a farcical comedy of errors with the Amazing Spider-Man: Dark Web volume. Ben Reilly and Maddie Pryor are sick of being the clone copies of Spider-Man and Jean Grey, respectively. Looking to gain the memories of their templates, the duo launch an all-out assault on New York from Limbo. Ben’s half of the plan is to take some shots at the reformed Norman Osborn, trap J. Jonah Jameson in a hell dimension, and try to get Peter to willingly give up his soul. Even with a monstrous Insidious Six, Ben fails to trap Pete and ends up betrayed by Maddie. Now having to battle the X-Men, the newly crowned King Chasm makes a final play to make himself whole. Zeb Wells is better known for his comedic work, which does not mesh with this volume’s dark undertones and plot lines. Instead of a deep look at what makes a person human, readers are subjected to juvenile humor, villain temper tantrums, and a mess of a crossover. Ed McGuinness and Adam Kubert are artistic opposites; overly muscled energy versus thick-lined mood pencilling forms a juxtaposition that grates on the eyes. Amazing Spider-Man: Dark Web just needs to be vacuumed from the corners of bookshelves.
January 9, 2024
A mixed bag overall but a lot of fun with a positive resolution
For a while I felt like this book was getting too silly, even for me. I’m a relatively new Spidey-fan so I don’t have much at stake in this one, but I’ve been having fun reading this Zeb Wells run so far. This story took quite a turn from the regular Spider-Man universe I’ve been used to so far and actually went to the comics version of Hell, if I’m not mistaken.
I really liked the looks of Chasm and Hallows Eve, and thought they made interesting villains. The Goblin Queen is also neat, and her dynamic shifts throughout the book, and I liked her redemptive arc.
I thought the demon stories were too silly for me, but I got a kick out of how some of the characters even call out how ridiculous it all seems, so I enjoyed how the story wasn’t taking itself too seriously.
When I first saw Rek-Rap on a cover for a newer issue I haven’t gotten to yet, I thought he was the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in comics. Now that I know who he is and got his origin story in this, he became my new favorite character in this run, and I can’t wait for him to turn up again.
For a while I felt like this book was getting too silly, even for me. I’m a relatively new Spidey-fan so I don’t have much at stake in this one, but I’ve been having fun reading this Zeb Wells run so far. This story took quite a turn from the regular Spider-Man universe I’ve been used to so far and actually went to the comics version of Hell, if I’m not mistaken.
I really liked the looks of Chasm and Hallows Eve, and thought they made interesting villains. The Goblin Queen is also neat, and her dynamic shifts throughout the book, and I liked her redemptive arc.
I thought the demon stories were too silly for me, but I got a kick out of how some of the characters even call out how ridiculous it all seems, so I enjoyed how the story wasn’t taking itself too seriously.
When I first saw Rek-Rap on a cover for a newer issue I haven’t gotten to yet, I thought he was the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in comics. Now that I know who he is and got his origin story in this, he became my new favorite character in this run, and I can’t wait for him to turn up again.
May 26, 2023
I’m still on the fence about this series, even though by this book, I’m like 20 issues into it. I like Romita Jr.’s art a lot (augmented greatly by the inking of Scott Hanna), but Marvel’s preponderance of special “event” series like this one (called “Dark Web,” and involving the Spider-Clone, Ben Reilly and an X-Men villain, Madelyne Pryor), just slow down the regular Spidey series’s momentum and just generally screw things up. And when Romita Jr. isn’t drawing the book, you feel it.
I actually gave up on this about four issues in. The combination of characters I don’t care about (Venom, Ben Reilly, Madelyne Pryor), and Ed McGuiness’s overly cartoony art (not to mention the shouting word balloons that accentuate the cartoony-ness) just totally turned me off, along with the “jokey” dialogue. I’m going to give this one more TPB collection and then I fear my reading of the Zeb Wells era of Spider-Man is over.
I actually gave up on this about four issues in. The combination of characters I don’t care about (Venom, Ben Reilly, Madelyne Pryor), and Ed McGuiness’s overly cartoony art (not to mention the shouting word balloons that accentuate the cartoony-ness) just totally turned me off, along with the “jokey” dialogue. I’m going to give this one more TPB collection and then I fear my reading of the Zeb Wells era of Spider-Man is over.
September 6, 2023
There are so many moments where there is not enough context. While I've read many of the "classic" storylines of the 1980s and 1990s from which this book pulls lots of its origins, I have no idea who Eve is. I'm also at a loss as to why Ben Reilly is suddenly so angry at Peter Parker (and I was there in 1995 and remember enough of that!), and reading this book without the X-Men (and perhaps Ms. Marvel) parts where tension is resolved in other issues, outside of this book, breaks the spell a bunch. Venom on the cover was a big tease, and while I enjoyed a random read of an extra-sized Venom issue about a year ago, wherever his story has gone to get him to how he is in this book is lost on me, and I don't think I like it. In the end, I had a moment or two where I laughed at Jameson, and I'm intrigued about Normal Osborn's transformation and what's behind that. Even if I got a hold of the other Dark Web comics not collected here, I wouldn't like to read them.
March 22, 2023
Just....
NO.
This collection of ASM falls into the Dark Web miniseries, and it's worse than a Cliff Notes version. Racing through the plot, you get key points thrown at you until you reach the finish line. Is it a fun read? In parts. Did it have a promising idea to start it out? Definitely.
It's a low budget 'Inferno' sequel(?) that falls apart when one of the villains gets what they asked for, thereby nullifying the need for the miniseries. I..just...what happened?
Bonus: Rek-Rap, the Spider-Man of Limbo...is....something. (Remember, Kluh?)
Bonus Bonus: Can you wreck Ben Reilly any more? Chasm could have been something great.
NO.
This collection of ASM falls into the Dark Web miniseries, and it's worse than a Cliff Notes version. Racing through the plot, you get key points thrown at you until you reach the finish line. Is it a fun read? In parts. Did it have a promising idea to start it out? Definitely.
It's a low budget 'Inferno' sequel(?) that falls apart when one of the villains gets what they asked for, thereby nullifying the need for the miniseries. I..just...what happened?
Bonus: Rek-Rap, the Spider-Man of Limbo...is....something. (Remember, Kluh?)
Bonus Bonus: Can you wreck Ben Reilly any more? Chasm could have been something great.
April 9, 2023
What a weird event to happen in the pages of ASM. An Inferno sequel? Really? And giving Chasm of all people centre stage? Now you're really trying my patience.
Considering how much I've been loving Wells's run on this book so far I'm giving him a pass for this weird sidestep but it was for real almost a jump the shark moment for me. And I've been looking for reasons to drop titles from my pull list.
Also, why are the bookend specials infinitely better than the actual monthly series installments? That doesn't make sense to me at all.
Anyway, the next volume better be aces to keep me on board with this series.
Considering how much I've been loving Wells's run on this book so far I'm giving him a pass for this weird sidestep but it was for real almost a jump the shark moment for me. And I've been looking for reasons to drop titles from my pull list.
Also, why are the bookend specials infinitely better than the actual monthly series installments? That doesn't make sense to me at all.
Anyway, the next volume better be aces to keep me on board with this series.
December 4, 2023
Pointless waste of time and trees by Zeb Wells, who is one of the most cynical, nihilistic and shitty writers around. Wells couldn't plot his way out of paper bag with the instructions printed on the inside. Does he have nudes of CB Cebulski? Because that's the only possible explanation why Wells has a contract. God knows it's not because Wells is blackmailing CB Cebulski over his yellowface impersonation of a Japanese author named Akira Yoshida because that's now common knowledge - go ahead, Google it - and yet the Walt Disney Company still allows Cebulski to the editor in chief of Marvel. But that does explain the casual racism to go along with Well's overt misogyny in this run.
January 22, 2025
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: DARK WEB is a mess. That is putting it charitably, to be frank. The book has Ben Reilly AKA the Scarlet Spider AKA Chasm make a deal with Madelyn Pryor to go after Peter Parker by recreating the Inferno. It's an idiotic plot that suffers from the fact both Ben Reilly and Madelyn Pryor have fans that hate when their characters are abused. The writers also can't seem to remember when Madelyn Pryor wasn't just a scantily clad succubus. The entire plot could have been resolved by Spider-Man sharing his memories with Ben but then the story would be over. At least the art is good and it's always nice to look at Madelyne.
July 5, 2025
an artist other than romita junior, thank the gods!
the story itself was crap.
Ben reilly wants his memories/peters as he only remembers what has happened to him since his inception, not peters life before being created.
joins forces with Madeline prior, cant tell why she wanted to invade new York. she seems to be in a relationship with havok.
hallows eve is created who I liked before she became hallows eve, a repentant murderer, excited to see what she'd do which wasn't much.
Peter and some friends ate taken into limbo where an insidious six is created as well as Rek rap. he was fun as a demon and fun as rek rap.
the story itself was crap.
Ben reilly wants his memories/peters as he only remembers what has happened to him since his inception, not peters life before being created.
joins forces with Madeline prior, cant tell why she wanted to invade new York. she seems to be in a relationship with havok.
hallows eve is created who I liked before she became hallows eve, a repentant murderer, excited to see what she'd do which wasn't much.
Peter and some friends ate taken into limbo where an insidious six is created as well as Rek rap. he was fun as a demon and fun as rek rap.
September 12, 2023
Collects Amazing Spider-man (2022) #15-18, Dark Web (2022) #1, Dark Web Finale (2023) #1, and material from Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom
Growing up, Ben Reilly was my favorite Marvel character. The character took some dark turns a few years ago, but he was eventually redeemed, and changed back to the heroic, standard Ben Reilly. I was really excited about the potential of the (relatively) recent "Beyond" story starring Ben Reilly as Spider-Man, but the ending was extremely disappointing. This ill-conceived "event" is even worse than the end of "Beyond."
Growing up, Ben Reilly was my favorite Marvel character. The character took some dark turns a few years ago, but he was eventually redeemed, and changed back to the heroic, standard Ben Reilly. I was really excited about the potential of the (relatively) recent "Beyond" story starring Ben Reilly as Spider-Man, but the ending was extremely disappointing. This ill-conceived "event" is even worse than the end of "Beyond."
May 6, 2024
I’m giving this book three stars but in a guilty pleasure sort of way… the weird nature of this book just sort of cracks me up. There are some nice aspects, the art very nice, and is definitely a much needed change of pace for this series, and I do like how it uses the Goblin Queen. Also Rek-Rap is my favourite thing ever now. That being said, Ben feels weird here, and some of the goofiness this story has works really well in places while it doesn’t in others. I had fun, but it was dumb, and I don’t know if I’d call it good… I just feel bad giving it less than three stars.
May 9, 2023
Compared to the larger Dark Web story, this volume of Spider-Man is kind of the pared down version of the crossover. It collects the opening and closing one-shots, and the Amazing Spider-Man issues, which'll give you most of the major Spidey plot points, at least. I do think the event works better with at least the Dark Web: X-Men mini-series, but this'll do you alright if you're only really concerned with the Spider-Man and Chasm storylines.
February 26, 2023
*Read in single issues + 1-3 of Dark Web: X-Men*
I really liked this event, but Inferno is my favourite Marvel event of all time, so it was always going to be my thing. I only read the Spider-Man and X-men issues, so it didn't feel to bloated like a lot of Marvel events do. There are some great Maddie Pryor moments in here, and some call backs to Zeb's previous series Hellions too.
I really liked this event, but Inferno is my favourite Marvel event of all time, so it was always going to be my thing. I only read the Spider-Man and X-men issues, so it didn't feel to bloated like a lot of Marvel events do. There are some great Maddie Pryor moments in here, and some call backs to Zeb's previous series Hellions too.
May 27, 2023
pretty hilarious that this run takes every opportunity to put peter in a normal costume instead of the armored goblin suit he's supposed to be wearing. does anyone involved even want to tell this story? is there a single aspect of this era that will be worth remembering in ten, five, even two years?
August 13, 2023
It’s a 2 because it does nothing to advance the mystery of ASM and does not contain moments needed to understand all the action, you need to go to past and future issues of Venom a lot…and I don’t have them laying around.
Shoot even a big turn of the story happens somewhere else….maybe in X-men.
It’s just not complete.
Shoot even a big turn of the story happens somewhere else….maybe in X-men.
It’s just not complete.
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