Amazing Spider-Man #20

The issue unfolds like a relentless manhunt, driven by a guilty conscience strapped to the front. Norman scrambles, fights, and constantly struggles not to b Read Full Review

This story does an excellent job of capturing the inner emotions of Norman Osborn. Peter Parker didn't ask Norman to take up the role of Spider-Man, he chose to do so. Now he's battling with his own moral dilemma of being a hero after being the villain. This continuation plays a vital part in this arc and shouldn't be missed! Read Full Review

It's a solid issue that has a great battle, and some intrigue for the future of the storyline. Together with tremendous artwork, this is an issue that delivers on all fronts. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #20 is more reflective than revelatory, using action and flashback to deepen Norman Osborn's internal conflict rather than push the narrative closer to its endgame. While the pacing stalls and the art transition distracts, Kelly's continued focus on accountability, trauma, and uneasy redemption keeps the Osborn storyline compelling as the series races toward issue #1000. Read Full Review

The Amazing Spider-Man #20 leaves readers hanging with a rather disappointing climax to both Ben and Norman's time filling in for Peter. The separation of these two, and a hollow reliance on the extended Spider-Family, pales in comparison to both the start of this arc and its space-bound sister story. Read Full Review

This comic proves Kelly understands Norman's psychology, but he won't let us spend time with it. Between Aunt May's subplot, Ben's one-page exit, and the Spider-Family's promotional cameo, Norman's best moments drown in clutter. Kelly needs to cut his cast in half and give his strongest threads space. Peter returns in issue #22. Kelly's focus needs to return with him, because this book is running on empty. Read Full Review

The Amazing Spider-Man #20 crafts compelling individual sequences and character moments but fails to deliver them in service of a satisfying story; it's a middling issue in a series where that word carries specific weight. The emotional stakes are present, the art executes cleanly, and the writing demonstrates genuine character voice, but the comic prioritizes setup over payoff so thoroughly that spending four dollars on it feels like a down payment rather than a purchase. Read Full Review

It seems that the creative team just lost interest in this narrative, and I'm perfectly fine with moving on from another Ben (I'm not calling him Chasm) story. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man #20 opens in a way that exemplifies the problem with the focus on Ben Reilly and Norman Osborn this series has had. The character choices made are head scratching. Add in the artwork-by-committee approach, there are so many problems with the general pacing of this issue that it overshadows any good parts of Joe Kelly's writing. Read Full Review

Afre

Jan 21, 2026

I liked it mostly, but damn the artist switch makes it messy to read. And Ben continues to be the weakest link in this story. We know as much of him and his motivations as we did 12 issues ago.

BirdmanG07

Feb 01, 2026

JRJRs art, and the artist hanging 3-4 times, really didn't do well to help the book. I still don't understand why JRJR is on Marvel's flagship hook. I actually enjoyed the writing quite a bit, might've gotten an 8 if it had consistent good art to match.

DDJamesB

Jan 25, 2026

I thought the story was ok. It's not bad, but we've been meandering around with Norman as Spidey and Pete in space. Like literally nothing new really happens. And the art is a bit difficult. There are multiple artists and none of them fit this book.

Chris Y

Jan 21, 2026

JRJR may be a reliable artist for Marvel, but deadlines aren't everything. Looking at these pages is just so incredibly painful. Even the colorist can't save them.