Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War: First Strike #1

Criminals learn that no one is essential, and heroes forget their friends have difficulties to overcome in Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1. This crucial chapter of the Gang War saga is about love, loyalty, and responsibility, with the odd double-cross thrown in for good measure. Read Full Review

Vasquez and Shaw deliver some visually thrilling art throughout the issue. There is a lot of action in the story and the imagery does a great job of bringing that action to life. Read Full Review

So now Spider-Man needs a team but hes hacked off all his friends, or has he? Read Full Review

The set up for this chaotic event is abundantly tantalizing and First Strike walks the line as both a catch-up for new readers and entertaining addition to the story. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1 clicks off the safety. Whether as a newcomer or a longtime reader, it is clear from the start that the situation is on a knife edge, with criminals gaining confidence as the heroes lack it. Read Full Review

The first die has been cast in a battle where New York City hangs in the balance. Strong writing of Wells and Ziglar light the match with solid visuals from Vasquez, Shaw and the team finishing the explosive start to the next big Spider-Man event fans will be talking about. You wont want to miss this on New Comic Book Day. Read Full Review

Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1 lights the fuse that ignites the forthcoming Gang War event with plenty of plot progression, surprises, and action. That said, the story is riddled with plot holes and shortcuts that undercut the quality of the story, so you get the impression the creators rushed to get to the war without thinking through how they got there. Read Full Review

I want to like "Gang War," but there's not enough here to get you excited unless you're a big fan of the various B-Tier gangsters that Spider-Man has grappled with over the years. The stakes never feel too high in a story that lacks Spider-Man. Read Full Review

The Amazing Spider-Man Gang War: First Strike#1 is weightless. It falls into comic shops with the velocity of feather on the wind, it's lack of proper story and character set up reeking of an editorialized idea meant to nickel and dime stores, readers, and creatives out of their souls as yet another nostalgia play infests the publishing line. While there's a chance that the creatives on this event can salvage what's here, it seems thatGang Waris simply dead on arrival. Read Full Review

Afre

Nov 29, 2023

Gang War? Hah! More like Bang War, because this was a banger for me. An excellent opening issue, I have been critical to Wells' work but this was worth the wait for me. I have been interested of Gang War for a while and if this issue is any indication, it will be amazing. The only part I didn't like was Miles being angry at Peter for being away 6 months. Not the writing itself, it's good, but the implication. Peter being moping away for 6 months hasn't really been a plot point in ~1,5 year so bringing it back once again showcases me the problem of this run that has been lack of planning and pacing issues. I didn't like the idea of Peter being away 6 months (felt a bit too long and kinda pointless in the long run) and since it wasn't b rought up after, it feels very random to bring now. Almost like they forgot about it until now. more

derbycomics

Dec 01, 2023

I was hesitant about this event after the less-than-inspiring interludes that have been appearing in ASM, but this was an exceptional one-shot start and sets the stage for what has the potential for an epic and captivating event. I really enjoyed how the situation felt dire but also tangible. There’s definitely a “realness” to the stakes that gives this an intriguing grounding and I’m currently very invested.

Screaming Enigma

Dec 02, 2023

A really good introduction for this event. I don’t know how I feel about the stuff with Miles, but I really enjoyed everything else. Hammerhead getting absolutely beaten with the bat was just great. I’m really looking forward to the rest of Gang War after reading this.

DDJamesB

Dec 04, 2023

I dunno. I kind of liked it more than I thought I would. It's not amazing, but it got me pretty excited for the gang War. It had some pretty good moments. A good start so far.

Psycamorean

Jan 21, 2024

I'm... not really feeling this. It's competent, don't get me wrong. I just... don't care much.

CrazyforRAMU

Nov 01, 2025

This issue did a remarkable job of getting me excited for a crossover that I previously had zero enthusiasm for. I'm strongly in favor of the "resurrection" featured here. For me, the weak link is the art. It's clear and polished, but the style seems too cartoony for the subject matter. The script is definitely not weak. The pace is fast and tense, the story flows clearly, and all of the dialogue sounds realistic. It's also peppered with memorable lines, particularly by the "resurrected" character. Plus, the verbal spankings that Pete gets from Miles and Robbie were SORELY needed. Pete's been so aimless for so long. I really hope that he follows through on the final scene and gets proactive about protecting his city.

Hex

Dec 01, 2023

My biggest issue is with the art. It was like... too clean? Very safe modern art. It's not bad art but I'd rather not see it in ASM again. The story is fine. Not much more. I'm back to being interested, it's a good setup issue but I definitely would have preferred this to the past 3 issues we got. Also not a big fan of the checklist. Gang War is going to be 26 issues spread over at 6 titles, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Miles, Daredevil, Deadly Hands and ASM with three of those being solely standalone tie-in series. I'm not an event hater but more than half of these won't matter, maybe all but ASM and we'll be lucky if Miles and Daredevil manage to still be good despite being unnecessary to the plot (not saying they are or aren't, just predicti ng). Overall, I have nothing really negative to say about the story. I read one complaint about being upset that Miles was talking down to Peter is a little ridiculous. It was entirely justified. Peter still has a lot of work to do in atoning for how he treated those closest to him during the whole Rabin/Wayep thing. Peter basically told everyone to go to hell then disappeared and shut everyone out. Including the guy who he's supposed to be partners with. Regardless of how close Marvel writes them, they are at least in my mind a pair. Not like in a sidekick way but you don't have two Spider-Men and expect them to never interact like we primarily see. It makes the relationship feel incredibly artificial. We need to see them together more and if Peter is the reason we don't Miles should definitely call him on it. more

+ Like • Comments (1)

Psycamorean - Dec 1, 2023

Don't worry, JRJR is back with the next ASM issue so you'll no longer be getting clean art. 🙏

Kalaoui

Jul 27, 2024

The work by Zeb Wells is good with all the Mafia families war dynamics. Only problem is this a Spidey book where Hammerhead and Company get more work to give them depth over Peter Parker/Spidey so yes it's good but for an ASM book the main guy has no depth and is rudderless. Vazquez is good on art, Cartoony for a war book but very clean and that's me being too picky.

Mout

Dec 09, 2023

When will Spider-Man be exciting again? I don't know

ItsJess

Nov 29, 2023

Miles scolding Peter over a bunch of bullshit and sounding like a dumbass while doing so brings this mediocre tripe down to a 4.

+ Like • Comments (1)

BirdmanG07 - Dec 4, 2023 (edited)

Have you been reading the last 15 or so issues? It was completely warranted (even though it was stupid to begin with).

Bighaz

Dec 11, 2023

Not much of a Spiderman fan. But I actually enjoyed this book. Hopefully marvel doesn't ruin the rest of this