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The Amazing Spider-Man: Torn
The Amazing Spider-Man: Torn
120 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
J. Michael Straczynski
1,383 books1,302 followersJoseph Michael Straczynski is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 24, 2026
I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars. There are parts of this book i really like. Peter Parker in this book seems so much more mature then to post Brand New Day version. The thing I hate about the story is how sad it makes me feel. I think that is the point of the story, so should I gave marked it up? I just can't.
Peter Parker has a lot on his plate. Balancing his studies, friend, relationships, his job and being Spider-man. Of course can't forget about the guilt. However he will have to make time for a double murder on campus, a new monster and a book that could destroy the world.
The whole monster/bad guy plot was rushed and given no real explanation. It was more on Peter's relationships. One part that i did like it was very obvious who Peter's true love is. As much as i do like this it twist the knife a little more. I think this book should gave been eight to ten issues to deal with everything in it. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.
Peter Parker has a lot on his plate. Balancing his studies, friend, relationships, his job and being Spider-man. Of course can't forget about the guilt. However he will have to make time for a double murder on campus, a new monster and a book that could destroy the world.
The whole monster/bad guy plot was rushed and given no real explanation. It was more on Peter's relationships. One part that i did like it was very obvious who Peter's true love is. As much as i do like this it twist the knife a little more. I think this book should gave been eight to ten issues to deal with everything in it. The book finishes with a variant cover gallery.
July 18, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. JMS on Spider-Man was like, formative for me, so to see him return to the character with this lacklustre story felt really disappointing.
The tale's set back during Peter's college years, and focuses on an extradimensional god trying to destroy the world through the use of a dragon-lady. Meanwhile, Peter's failing German, Harry and MJ are having crises, and Peter's sad.
There's nothing remotely noteworthy here. The main villain plot feels tacked together, and it feels hard to get invested in the character drama when Peter barely interacts with his friends. The ending digs into the whole idea of being torn between two love interests, but Peter's only had like one conversation with both Gwen and MJ across five issues, so it doesn't ring true at all.
At least the art's nice - Pere Perez has been one to watch since his Spider-Woman run with Carla Pacheco, but JMS doesn't really give him much to work with outside of an amusing two page sequence involving poking the bad guy with a stick (literally).
The tale's set back during Peter's college years, and focuses on an extradimensional god trying to destroy the world through the use of a dragon-lady. Meanwhile, Peter's failing German, Harry and MJ are having crises, and Peter's sad.
There's nothing remotely noteworthy here. The main villain plot feels tacked together, and it feels hard to get invested in the character drama when Peter barely interacts with his friends. The ending digs into the whole idea of being torn between two love interests, but Peter's only had like one conversation with both Gwen and MJ across five issues, so it doesn't ring true at all.
At least the art's nice - Pere Perez has been one to watch since his Spider-Woman run with Carla Pacheco, but JMS doesn't really give him much to work with outside of an amusing two page sequence involving poking the bad guy with a stick (literally).
July 22, 2026
3.5 stars.
The art and character vvoices are wonderful (and better than what a lot of the main line spidey series have been able to do in a while) the humor is good too.
The plot however is basic and feels a little anticlimactic. Maybe it would've hit harder if it was a little longer and we were able to sot with sone of the individual characters struggles a bit longer?
Either way a decent read and nice to revisit spideys life at an earlier stage.
The art and character vvoices are wonderful (and better than what a lot of the main line spidey series have been able to do in a while) the humor is good too.
The plot however is basic and feels a little anticlimactic. Maybe it would've hit harder if it was a little longer and we were able to sot with sone of the individual characters struggles a bit longer?
Either way a decent read and nice to revisit spideys life at an earlier stage.
Review of advance copy
I was enjoying this and int he latest issue Peter and Evangeline work together and she will take the consequences but them it does turn into a brawl regardless.
Review of advance copy
Read as single issues
Review of advance copy
A very good enjoyable Peter focused story with a Spider-Man side story that is alright. Love the focus on Peter and his relationships during this time and that really carries this.
Review of advance copy
Beautifully ended by a master of the craft.
July 11, 2026
JMS has never written a good Spider-Man story; he has no feel for the character...so this mini-series is, no surprise, pure and utter shite. One has to image it's written by someone else, someone who failed 5th grade, and JMS just threw his name on it.
Add not great art to that, and we have yet another waste of never ending Spider-Man titles...
Add not great art to that, and we have yet another waste of never ending Spider-Man titles...
Review of advance copy
Way too heavy handed with the themes and the foreshadowing of Gwen's death.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews