Marco Speaks Spidey: Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1 (2025) Review

1 month ago 28

Okay, I’ll be honest—when I first saw the solicit for Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1, I wasn’t totally sold. I didn’t know if it was essential reading, if it would connect with the current continuity, or if it would just be another flashback tale lost in the void. But let me tell you, this book? This book SLAPPED, and it WENT HARD, FAST. Not only did it surprise me, it might just be one of the best-written and best-drawn Spider-Man books of the year. Period.

Yes, it’s a flashback story. Yes, it takes place in that golden era when Peter was still a student, still figuring things out, still hanging out with Gwen, MJ, and Harry. But far from being filler or fluff, this book dives deep—not just into classic action, but into the emotional core of the characters we’ve known and loved for decades. It’s like watching a forgotten episode of a classic Spider-Man cartoon that somehow landed in comic book form, in 2025, with modern sensibilities but old-school soul.

HIGHLIGHTS:

A LOT Happens in One Issue

This first issue pulls no punches when it comes to action. Torn #1 gives us not one, not two, but three separate fights in a single issue—and they’re all unique. We get Spidey vs. Sandman (and Spider-Man gets clever about it!), a battle with terrorists (because why not), and a wild confrontation with a mystically mutated monster woman, who looks like something straight out of a dark fantasy fever dream.

But what really sold it for me wasn’t just the fisticuffs. It was how Peter Parker handled these fights. In the Sandman sequence alone, we see the return of something I feel modern books often downplay—Peter’s brain. He isn’t just quipping his way through these fights; he’s thinking, calculating, using science and observation to win. And THAT is classic Spidey.

Heartfelt Character Work That Actually Matters

Where the book really shines, though, is in its quieter moments. There’s a scene with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Harry sitting around, just talking—and it’s one of the most moving character moments I’ve read in a Spider-Man comic in a long time.

Harry opens up about not wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps. A quiet moment, but one that hits hard given what we know about his future.
MJ reveals the real reason she wants to act—not for fame, not for money, but to wake people up, to help them feel. (It’s honestly kinda beautiful.)
Gwen confesses that she wants to make her dad proud, but doesn’t really know what her path is yet—a line that lands like a gut punch when you think about how her story ends.
And Peter? Peter hides behind dark humor. Classic coping mechanism. But the book doesn’t let him off the hook—it suggests that, maybe, just maybe, these conversations are starting to chip away at that wall he’s built around himself.

All of this is tied together with a wonderful theme: that life isn’t a linear journey—it’s an experience. It’s not about chasing the end, it’s about living the moment. That theme runs like a current through the issue, giving even the craziest monster fight some philosophical weight.

The New Villain? Kinda Terrifying

A mysterious woman kills two people just for a magical book. Later, she uses it, albeit accidentally, and transforms into a nasty, grotesque magical creature that could’ve easily been a throwaway design in lesser hands—but here? She’s ominous. Creepy. And, most importantly, she feels like a real threat.

And this being just the first issue? Yeah, I’m curious where this is going. She’s not some rehash of older Spidey rogues—she’s something fresh, something ancient, something weird, and I’m here for it.

Peter’s Student Life Struggles? Perfectly Done

One of my favorite bits was a scene with Peter haunted by… German class, of all things, being scolded for bad grammar by a certain Dr. Dark (great name, by the way). It’s a small scene, but it hits that classic Spidey formula: saving the city one minute, failing at school the next. It’s relatable, it’s human, and it captures what makes Peter Parker work as a character.

Art and Writing: A Modern Classic

The creative team is clearly in their element here. You can tell this comic book is run by someone who understands these characters—not just what they are on paper, but who they are in spirit. The dialogue flows naturally, the humor lands, and the emotional beats don’t feel forced or overbaked.

And the art? This is Spider-Man at his top form this year. The subtle expressions work wonders in character moments, and the monster designs are top-tier. There’s a big, explosive page near the end that made me go “WHOA”—and that doesn’t happen often anymore.

The work here manages to feel classic and modern all at once—a visual love letter to the classic days of Spider-Man with a 2025 twist.

SUMMARY:

Pros:

Brilliant writing and dialogue
Multiple strong action sequences
Thoughtful character introspection
Strong, thematic storytelling
A creepy new villain with serious potential
Amazing art firing on all cylinders

Cons:

None for me. This hit every note just right.

Final Thoughts: Essential? Maybe Not. Worth Reading? Absolutely.

Sure, this might not move the needle on the current overarching continuity. But Torn #1 is absolutely worth your time. It captures everything that makes Spider-Man great—witty action, grounded character work, real-life struggles, and a hint of tragedy.

If you’ve been missing the soul of Peter Parker lately, or if you’ve been itching for some Gwen and MJ that doesn’t feel forced or shallow, this is the book to pick up.