Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5: Spiral

This mini series is a lot better than the main Amazing Spider-man series. My main problem is that Spider-man is really a supporting character in this series. He is like the mature big brother. The main characters is really Yuri Watanabe/the Wraith. The story is really her Spiral with Spiderman trying to save her.The things I did like about this book is I like the more mature Spiderman as I grew up reading his comics. Only to watch him regress back to his teenage years. The got Spidy 's powers right he is superstrong, the super agility and reflexes. However he holds back a lot, this is why certain character (Black Cat) seem to be getting the better if the exchanges with him. It was really good to hear this from the man himself. The only thing letting this down for me was that Spiderman should have been in the main role more. However this does fill me full of hope of seeing the non teenage Peter Parker/Spiderman more in the Amazing Spiderman main storyline.

The story running through issues #16.1-20.1 of the Amazing Spider-Man (2014) is collected as  Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5: Spiral .Written by veteran scripter Gerry Conway, this self-contained story reminded me very much of an old-fashioned Spider-Man story - but in a good way - while still being very much a modern-day story. There is a gang-war in Captain Yuri Watanabe’s precinct, and her mentor in the Police force becomes one of the first casualties, which leads her back to becoming the Wraith again. Mr Negative is busy behind the scenes setting up the various criminal factions while leaking their plans to the police, and Yuri, who is aware of this, is prepared to play along in order to get rid of the gangs. However, the deeper in she is drawn, the less control she has, and Spidey, who is tagging along, is worried that the vigilante is taking over from the policewoman.There is a series of ‘bouts’ between regulars in Spider-man’s rogue’s gallery as the story progresses, including the Black Cat and the Circus of Crime, before we reach a resolution of sorts, and the successor to the Kingpin is left standing (or webbed-up on a rooftop, as the case may be); but the real question is about the path that Yuri has chosen - and was it part of Mr Negative’s plan all along? Who can say; this is a comic-book, and they’re not going to give everything away immediately; this is going to be one of those dangly endings that will be picked up on at a later date, though there is a resolution to the story, per se.While this is - to me - an old fashioned gang-war story, Spidey is still a modern-day superhero (Avenger, regular FF substitute, and he even has his own X-Men team), and has no trouble dealing with everybody on a purely physical level, unlike in his younger days; so this is a grown-up old-fashioned Spider-man story. The heart of the matter for Spidey is whether Yuri can overcome her grief and anger and become the person she wants to be, or turn to the dark side.THE SPOILER ZONETHE SPOILER ZONEIssue #16.1 opens with Spider-Man swinging across a police raid on Tombstone’s drug operation. He offers to join in but is told to keep out of it by Captain Yuri Watanabe, who has been told from on high to do it exactly by the book. However, a hail of gunfire puts paid to that plan. Yuri’s ‘source’ for the raid is shot down by the opening fusillade, and is unable to testify at the court hearing, which leads to the judge letting Tombstone off. Yuri then discovers that her source - her former mentor in the police force - got his information from Mr negative, and he provides her with a photo of the judge buying drugs from Tombstone, which sends her back to being the Wraith, and she goes hunting for Tombstone, with Spidey tagging along to try and keep things under control. He fails…Issue 17.1 opens with the Goblin King and Hammerhead arranging for a duel between two of their gang-members to decide who will be the new crime boss. They are interrupted by Spider-Man, who happened to be swinging by. Yuri Watanabe meanwhile has arrested the (allegedly) crooked judge from last issue, only to get into trouble with her boss for not following the correct procedures (again). Later, after further plot developments, the Wraith and Spidey crash Hammerhead and the Goblin King’s fight club. Spidey is beginning to suspect that someone is arranging the situation (and we know who it is), but Yuri doesn’t care, as she is getting gangsters behind bars.Issue 18.1 opens with yet another inter-gang fight for dominance in the local area. The Black Cat drops in to try and convince them that she would make a better leader, only to find that it is not her lucky day. Then her luck changes when the new Crime Master and the (mainly original) Enforcers arrive and offer their services and a plan to get the gangs together and working for her. Meanwhile, Spidey is dropping in to have a chat with Yuri Watanabe when he finds her already chatting to Mr Negative, who has just shopped the Enforcers’ plan to rescue Hammerhead and Tombstone. The Wraith and Spidey are soon at the prison to find the break in/out underway, and much more plot-development ensues...Issue #19.1 opens with a flashback of parallel and critical moments in Peter Parker and Yuri Watanabe’s lives, as Yuri reaches a tipping point in her vigilante career. Meanwhile, Mr Negative is taking a meeting with the Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime, who are not at all interested in his schemes for sorting out the current gang war. Back at the office, Yuri discovers that her shortcutting of procedural corners has finally come home to bite her. Another tipping point is reached. Spidey and the Wraith then set off to stop the Circus of Crime’s latest heist.Issue #20.1 opens with an entire series of gang-fights that Spidey has to put down, before he runs into the Black Cat, who points out that it is his fault for taking down the gang bosses and creating the power vacuum in the first place. Meanwhile, the Wraith is busy accusing Mr Negative of being the cause of it all, and a fight ensues, which is quickly joined by Spider-Man. Mr Negative quickly unleashes his powers and soon there is a full-scale riot in the streets to cover his escape, which Spidey has to clear up before bringing everyone in. However, has the Wraith now gone over to the dark side?