Amazing Spider-man #615 (Ongoing)

Pausing just a tad to show the emotional consequences of the previous issue, Fred Van Lente and Javier Pulido, in their start of the new story arc of the storyline, immediately settles down into a radically different atmosphere and feel from that of Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta. It's like switching into higher gear. You've got a mystery with Peter Parker doing real detective work; a rare glimpse into J. Jonah Jameson's heart; the Sandman, reinvented; all those touches from artist Pulido who I think is just perfect; and a cliffhanger that promises you're in for one heck of a thrill ride in the succeeding issues. A big three thumbs up! Spider-Man first appeared in the comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug. 1962). The series was canceled with that issue, but response to the character was so positive that a solo title, The Amazing Spider-Man, was launched with a March 1963 cover-date. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko, and the pair produced 38 issues from 1963 to 1966. The Amazing Spider-Man title is the character's flagship series. Most of the major characters and villains of the Spider-Man saga have been introduced here, and it is where key events occur. The title was published continuously until 1998 when Marvel Comics relaunched it with a new issue #1 (Jan. 1999), but on Spider-Man's 40th anniversary, this new title reverted to using the numbering of the original series, beginning again with issue #500 (Dec. 2003).

A locked room mystery! A string of brutal murders! A missing girl! One of Peter Parker's closest friends on the brink of ruin! This looks like a job for the Amazing Spider-Sleuth... and all clues point to the sinister SANDMAN! But all of Spidey's classic villains are being reinvented as part of 'THE GAUNTLET', and Sandy is no different -- so nothing is what it seems! --

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