Amazing Spider-Man #15

Writer – Dan Slott
Artist – Giuseppe Camuncoli
Inker – Cam Smith, Robert Poggi
Colours – Justin Ponsor

One of the biggest events in Spider-Man history, Spider-Verse, has come to a close and it all wraps up here in the epilogue by Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  All of the various Spiders are going home to their various dimensions, all that is except for one.  Otto Octavius, the Superior Spider-Man, has no wish to do so as he knows that he will not live to have a future.  To that effect, Otto will do whatever he can to prevent that, and if it means erasing every Spider-Man that ever lived by cutting the Great Web to pieces, then that is exactly what he is going to do.  Spider-Verse might be over, but the action and excitement continues to prevail as Otto battles for his life and Peter battles for them all.  While there is a lot of action, there is also some drama to balance it all out and the best feel-good moment comes courtesy of Spider-Girl, reunited with her little brother, her surprisingly alive mother and the alternate dimension Uncle Ben who has decided to stay with them as he has nobody else to go home to.  Spider-Gwen and Spider-Man 2099 both head home to their own realities, and what that holds for Miguel’s title is now up in the air, but it should be interesting to find out.  Spider-Ham will definitely be missed, as will many of these new and unique Spider-Men, but it will be good to see Peter off and doing his thing once again.  It is a little sad to see that the proper 616 universe will be without one less Spider-Girl, though Anya is not dead or anything to that effect, just staying behind to patrol the multiverse.  There is also a bit of a surprise that makes itself known, though when or how Dan Slott will ever follow up on it due to Secret Wars starting up is a good question, but should he ever, it will no doubt be a really fun story.  Spider-Verse was a great crossover and this was a perfect end-cap to that.

4 out of 5

Gotham Academy #5

Writer – Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher
Artist – Karl Kerschl
Colours – Msassyk, Serge Lapointe

It looks like the creature that has been living in the walls of the school is none other than Killer Croc, though at the moment he seems more like the Friendly Giant than anything else.  Olive and Maps decide to investigate the tunnels some more when Croc takes off and getting nowhere, they enlist the help of their little group which also leads them to the school dance!  Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher continue to amaze and delight with this title, especially with Karl Kerschl handling the art duties and bringing it to rich, animated life.  With the introduction of Croc, another layer of mystery is added to an already full book and when our young heroines find out that he knew Olive’s mom Sybil, it gets even more complicated and opens up a whole new line of questioning.  Of course, the investigation continues as everyone ditches their dates at the dance and just when they think they are getting somewhere, Batman has to stick his nose in and interrupt.  Even though Olive is still missing some of her memory, she is starting to mellow out and be more sociable, quite different from the moment when we were first introduced to her.  Also of significance to note, is the fact that she asks her ex-boyfriend Kyle to the dance, though it is only a cover.  Sort of.  She clearly has feelings for him still and it should be a lot of fun seeing the writers explore that come future issues, especially if Kyle can get over the fact that he was just left holding his own hand at the dance.  Intriguing, wondrous and beautiful are three words that really do not do this book enough justice.

4 out of 5