The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #11 Review

“I don’t have a father and my mother doesn’t have time for me. What is a child without parents?”

Normie sets his trap for Spider-Man. Will Peter be able to rescue Annie or will he join Harry in the afterlife?

WRITER: Ryan Stegman

ARTIST: Brian Level

COLORIST: Jesus Aburtov

LETTERER: VC’s Joe Caramagna

COVER ARTISTS: Ryan Stegman & Jesus Aburtov

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Heather Antos

EDITOR: Darren Shan

SPIDER-MAN created by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO

STORY: The Rhino is running through the streets of New York with the Spider-Family in hot pursuit. Rhino leaps over a moving truck and suddenly the doors of the vehicle open, revealing two thugs with very large weapons, taking out Spidey and Spinneret. Rhino grabs Spiderling, throws her in the truck, and they make their getaway, leaving her groggy parents in the street. Meanwhile, Ms. January throws a coup against Liz Allan, slapping her and leaving out the window into a waiting helicopter. Peter and MJ decide to split up in their efforts to locate Annie, with Peter going after Rhino and MJ off to have a chat to see what Liz knows. Back at Oscorp, Normie is monologuing to the imprisoned Annie. Spidey arrives at Vinnie’s Place, throttling everyone there and getting Annie’s location from Rhino. MJ uses the symbiote to her advantage to gain Liz’s assistance. Ms. January informs Normie that it’s launch time and as Spidey arrives at Oscorp he sees Normie’s revenge take flight!

THOUGHTS: A very dramatic cover by Stegman sets the mood for this issue’s story. While we do get a scene very close to this at the climax, it’s without MJ and Annie beside Peter. It doesn’t detract from how awesome this cover is, even with MJ in the wrong Spinneret costume! I wonder if it was drawn like that to not give away anything from The Venom Solution?

Opening up the issue, we still see MJ in the symbiote suit. She seems to be fully in control of it, even when shocked by energy beams, with nary a swirly costume in sight. It had me wondering at first if she was copying her husband and adopting a cloth version after ditching the symbiote, but we find out later that isn’t the case. Is this Stegman showing just how badass Mary Jane is that she can control the symbiote or an oversight that needed to be addressed?

It was great having the Rhino back in this title after his appearance in the first issue. He gave the Web-slingers a little more trouble this time out…until he messed with Spiderling. We really see Pete go unhinged, almost Batman-like here as he trashes the bar and ultimately a Rhino who was willing to talk without coercion. It recalled how deadly Peter could be against Venom in the original Renew Your Vows mini. I totally get his Dad-Rage and his ruthlessness didn’t seem out of place.

Stegman brings up themes of the Osborn Curse and deflecting responsibilities. A lot of depth and maturity was brought to the young leads of Annie and Normie, with Normie in particular speaking in an advanced fashion for a boy of his age. His crush on Spiderling has taken a back seat to his hatred of Spider-Man and the loss of his father and Annie’s quiet pity seems to be the spark that makes him step back and take a moment of reflection. One thing that always stuck out at me about Peter’s early adventures was his empathy for those he was struggling against. He always had a “there but for the grace of God go I” mentality, especially in those first encounters with the Goblin when he learned his identity. We see some of Annie’s father in her here, as she uses words, not her fists, in her dealing with Normie, her sympathy possibly making the difference.

As for the “Osborn Curse”, you have to wonder about the Nature vs. Nurture side of it. What portion of Harry’s DNA was altered by his use of the formula and how much of Normie’s personality comes from his environment? Of course losing his dad at such an impressionable age would affect him, but so would Liz not being around. Ms. January would like to lay the Curse in its entirety at Liz’s feet, but long time readers will know that Harry (and Norman) had issues LONG before she entered their particular picture.

Brian Level does his best to make the art feel like it’s in Stegman’s world and pulls it off very well. It’s not quite as polished as Stegman’s current output, but fits the tone established at this title’s beginning very well. He certainly blends in stylistically more than say Stockman.

Stegman’s script balances the cast very well, giving equal parts to Peter, MJ, and Annie. He brings a real heart to Annie and Normie doesn’t speak like you would expect someone his age would, which feels appropriate for his character. Both Annie’s parents are more dangerous than we’ve typically seen them, but it’s not out of character given the situation they find themselves in. The benefit of a Spider-Family is Peter and MJ can divide and conquer, giving this book a different dynamic than in Spider titles of yore.

Despite the apparent lack of Conway involvement, Stegman takes over writing well, aided most capably by Level. The plot had plenty of action but not at the sacrifice of characterization. I only wish Stegman could pull a McFarlane and write AND draw the book! This is a solid Spidey comic!

MY GRADE: B+

JAVI’S HUH?: Where was Liz during Normie’s birthday? If she cares as much as she proclaims, it seems odd she would be absent. Is she that far off focus of what really is important?

Why is Cardiac in the villain bar fighting Spidey? Granted I’m not up on his appearances from the last 10 years, but the one I remember from the 90’s wouldn’t be associated with that lot.

Peter’s really okay with letting MJ stay bonded to the Symbiote?