Amalgam: Spider-Boy #1

Amalgam Comics #5

by Karl Kesel (Writer), Mike Wieringo (Illustrator), Gary Martin (Illustrator)

"Big Trouble!" Story by Karl Kesel. Art by Mike Wieringo, Gary Martin, and Karl Kesel. In order to save two universes, the young hero known as Access was forced to use the power of Amalgam (see Marvel versus DC (1996) #3). In this issue, guest-starring the Challengers of the Fantastic, Spider-Boy (Spider-Man/Superboy) must use all his tricks to defeat Bizarnage (Carnage/Bizaro) and the reptilian menace King Lizard (Lizard/King Shark).

Genres: Comics

24 pages, Comic Book

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Karl Kesel (Victor, New York) is an American comics writer and inker whose works have primarily been under contract for DC Comics. He is a member of Periscope Studio. In 2017, he started Panic Button Press with Tom Grummett to publish the creator-owned graphic novel Section Zero.

Reviews

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve heard much of this comic that mixes the worst elements of both Superboy and Ben Riley Spider-Man. I really don’t see what’s so bad about this one.

If you want to be technical, this is just Superboy but with spider powers. A clone of an unfortunate Peter Parker who got spider powers, as part of the Cadmus program to replicate the super soldier serum.

I actually dig Peter’s personality here. And the fact that multiple Spider-Man villains are recast as Cadmus scientists.

Now, nothing really happens. We only have some minor villain interference, and a glimpse of a larger storyline. But that’s pretty much it. I’d like to know more.

[Christopher Gibson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don’t like giving one stars but this book was terrible. I had no idea what was going on for the first half and the unnecessary name drops did not help progress the story. I am not sure what the point of reprinting this book in 2025 was, there are much better books that could have had a re-print.

[Carlos · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a joke.