Amazing Spider-Man #4 (2022)

I almost feel dirty saying that the current run on Amazing Spider-Man has been highly readable. It has many hate-able things, including:

Time Jump

Peter/MJ split (which killed the book for a lot of readers back in the Brand New Day era)

A complete lack of trust in Peter, who has a 60+ year history of being among the most trustworthy of Marvel characters. I mean, if you want to keep whatever atrocity exhibition he committed secret, he doesn't get to have at least ONE person put a hand on his shoulder and tell him "I'm sure you must have thought this was going to turn out alright..."???

and the M y S t E r Y B a C k S t O r Y...oOOooOOoo- Didn't we just go through this with Kindred to nearly zero satisfaction?

All that sounds like a Must Skip selection, and yet...

JRJR is doing his most consistent work in years, and may even be improving a bit BECAUSE he's drawing on a regular basis (hint hint, young artists). I'm not saying its great work. I'm saying its better work. Zeb Wells certainly has a good feel for presenting a fully beaten down Peter and fully beaten up Spidey. He also had an effective plot twist in this issue. Are those even allowed anymore?

It will not improve your life, it won't regrow your hair, and it won't find missing change in your car seats. It will provide a dose of superhero fun in the Mighty Marvel Manner. Small victories, but we'll take 'em.