In this review of The Amazing Spider-Man #35, Spider-Man cleans up the city with Damage Control, is wrapped up in a new situation involving Gwen Stacy, and reconciles with Aunt May.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #35
Written by: Joe Kelly
Art: Francesco Manna
Main Cover: Ed McGuinness
Variant Covers: Lee Bermejo, Alexander Lozano, Fabrizio De Tomasso
Page Count: 27 pages
Release Date: August 26, 2026
This review contains spoilers
The Amazing Spider-Man #35 features Peter working extensively with Damage Control to clean up the city and stop criminals. But it’s double-layered, as he’s also using it as an excuse to avoid talking with May, who’s spending increasing amounts of time with Cormac. He takes her out to rich locations, providing happiness amid her consistently financially troubled life. Peter gets wrapped up in Spider-Man work, and requests Mayor Luke Cage increase funding for Damage Control.
Eventually, the hard conversation is had, in which May re-assures him that getting to know Cormac—her child—won’t replace Peter as her son. They hug and he calls her mom, after which a tear-jerked Raelith makes Peter promise to go out with his aunt.
However, that’s interrupted by sights of destruction downtown. Once Peter arrives at the scene, to his surprise, the assailant is Ghost-Spider, aka Gwen Stacy. She attacks him before regaining her senses and saying she has no idea how she arrived there. Damage Control arrives and cleans up the scene, and Agent Griffyn says they want to take Gwen to the raft.
Peter argues and states she’s only a kid, and tells her to go to the Baxter Building instead. Miles Morales and Silk arrive, ready to fight with Damage Control to protect Gwen. Griffyn gives in, and Peter receives a call from Ric, who tells her May has suffered a stroke.
Analysis
A slower-paced issue without much fighting, this issue continued to be a deviation from the ASM action standard, but consistent in its pace with the previous few issues. This issue packed a punch through its dialogue and emotion rather than action. Peter avoiding May was a nice continuation and a great payoff from the slow build-up of the last few issues, where Pete’s feelings towards the situation with Cormac slowly deteriorated. The shot of Peter alone on a bridge while denying May’s invitation will stay with me for a while. Kelly’s decision to slow-burn this arc makes it feel more natural, and the conclusion is well earned.
Even if we all knew May wasn’t going to discard Peter, it doesn’t make his emotional turmoil hit any less. It’s real, and the fact he needed reassurance twice to understand May won’t replace him is realistic. Still, I felt close to Raelith, who teared up and appreciated the two coming together.
The other emotional punch comes from the situation with Gwen. The body expressions drawn by Francesco Manna make the reader take in Gwen’s fear and pain, which is impressive since her face is masked. I was sold on the emotion, which left me invested in learning more about how she caused the destruction and doesn’t remember.
Unfortunately, one thing I can’t say I’m completely sold on is Aunt May’s stroke, which feels like forced tension. She’s finally happy after a while. She gets to enjoy the finer side of life after years of financial hardship. And a reconciliation with her son is followed up by… tragedy.
Can’t the Parkers get a break? Peter just fixed things at Rand Enterprises with Maira, cleaned up the city with Damage Control, and began to talk things out with Raelith. Must every tension involve a tragedy that will inevitably leave Peter either sad or angry?
Final Thoughts
A strong issue is undermined by the next story involving Aunt May. The jury is still out on the May arc, as it hinges entirely on the follow-up. But so far, it seems super weak.
