Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1 Review: New Take on Peter Parker

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For many, Peter Parker embodies the spirit of youth. He was groundbreaking as one of the first teenage superheroes to lead his own adventures, rather than just assisting another hero. However, recent Spider-Man comics, starting after the ‘One More Day’ storyline, often portray Peter as someone who never fully grows up emotionally. It’s therefore interesting that ‘Amazing Spider-Man: Torn’ offers a surprisingly mature portrayal of Spider-Man, exploring his life as a college student.

The story ‘Torn’ takes place when Peter Parker has just begun studying at Empire State University, well before Gwen Stacy’s death. At this point, Peter and Gwen aren’t even a couple, and he’s still deciding whether to pursue a relationship with her or Mary Jane Watson. He also hasn’t formed a close friendship with Harry Osborn yet.

Peter Parker is finding it tough to balance being Spider-Man with starting college. He’s barely staying awake in his science and math classes, and his German professor is not impressed. He’s also having trouble connecting with his friends. This is because he’s constantly busy fighting crime and only focuses on the present, while Gwen, MJ, and Harry are all thinking about their futures, creating distance between them.

Amazing Spider-Man: Torn more than an untold tale

J. Michael Straczynski initially suggested a major rewrite of Spider-Man’s history for the ‘One More Day’ storyline, proposing to send Peter Parker back to his college years in the early 1970s. He thought this would give the story a young, single Spider-Man as desired by the story’s higher powers. However, this idea was turned down. Instead, they opted for a more limited reset that simply erased Peter and Mary Jane’s marriage, leaving some plot holes, such as why Harry Osborn was still alive and how Venom’s introduction fit into the revised timeline.

Amazing Spider-Man: Torn offers a glimpse of what the main Spider-Man comic could have been if writer J. Michael Straczynski had been able to rewrite past events. While focused on themes of youth, the story goes much deeper than typical teen romances and relationship drama found in young adult fiction.

The movie has action, and true to classic Spider-Man, includes some clumsy romantic moments. Surprisingly, these relationship dynamics are more engaging than the story of the new villain, whose life is altered after crossing paths with Spider-Man.

Pere Perez’s artwork really captures the feel of classic Spider-Man, as if we’re discovering a missing piece of its history. His style is strongly reminiscent of John Romita Sr., especially when it comes to dynamic action scenes, and the colors by Guru-eFX complete the look perfectly.

Amazing Spider-Man: Torn is a delightful throwback, offering both a classic Marvel Comics feel and excellent writing from a legendary Spider-Man author. It’s a must-read for any Spider-Man fan.

Grade: 8/10

Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1 is now available in comic shops everywhere.

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2025-10-08 15:57