There’s a new villain in town. Marvel Comics recently announced that The Amazing Spider-Man will be getting a relaunch later this year. The book will see Peter Parker squaring off with classic villains including Rhino, among others. But the publisher isn’t just going back to the well as the series will introduce a brand new foe for Spidey to contend with. Get ready to meet Hellgate.
In a press release Marvel explains, “Bursting on the scene with a singular purpose to humble the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man like no one else has, Hellgate’’s motives may be unclear, but his formidable strength will be immediately evident!” The series is written by Joe Kelly, wth artwork by Pepe Larraz and John Romita Jr.’s. The artwork included here showcases Romita’s design for Hellgate. Given that the bodies of Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales are lying by his feet, it appears this villain is no joke. Marvel added that the villain “will force Spider-Man to endure some of his most brutal battles ever.”
Marvel has shown a willingness to shake things up with Spider-Man over the years. Just a few years ago they gave Spidey a pretty bold, new suit. It’s far more rare for a character with a legacy as rich as this one to have a new villain introduced. A big part of that has to do with familiarity working for readers. There’s more of a guarantee there. But it does happen every so often. Will this one live up to the hype though? That’s the big question.
Here is the synopsis for The Amazing Spider-Man #1.
“Alive & thwipping! The next era of Amazing Spider-Man has arrived! Peter is, shockingly, without a job and looking for gainful employment, but his job search is interrupted by a rampaging rhino who is but the tip of a sinister iceberg. What major Spider-Villain is working behind the scenes weaponizing other Spider-Villains including one we haven’t seen in over seven years?! Also, what is that Goblin-free Norman Osborn up to anyway?”
Spider-Man has one of the best galleries of villains in all of comics, rivaled perhaps only by Batman. That means Hellgate has a high bar to clear and the pressure is on. Can this character stand alongside the likes of Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin and Kingpin? Time will tell. Fortunately, we only have to wait a few months before the answer comes into focus.
“Spider-Man was probably the first Marvel comic I read when I was a kid,” Larraz said when the book was announced. “It is a privilege for me to be able to draw this character, even more so that it’s guided by Joe Kelly’s hand. I’m a huge fan of Joe’s writing, from the way he builds characters to his dialogue, humor, and sense of action. Joe is great at everything he does, but the most important thing for me is that his stories matter, touching upon themes that are always relevant.”
The Amazing Spider-Man #1 hits shelves on April 9.
What do you think? Do you like the idea of Hellgate? Are you planning on picking up this issue? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
