Spider-Man is back, in a companion series to the long-running The Amazing Spider-Man. Peter Parker is in his hometown of New York, where he consorts with a bevy of superheroes, supervillains, and personas from the Marvel Universe. The text is plentiful and infused with lots of jokes and the cheesy one-liners you expect from Spider-Man. Commentary, mostly from author Zdarsky, is included in the form of footnotes within the panels, mostly to acquaint readers with the many references to Spider-Man's previous happenings, some of which will be familiar to fans and some of which are more vague. The illustrations are vibrant, energetic, and flow well from panel to panel, though occasionally the ones portraying action can be difficult to decipher. Although this story arc is taking the character back to the personality most devotees are used to, casual fans may find it hard to follow, particularly teens who may not be familiar with all of the backstories. Though it's not for Spider-Man newbies, this will be a treat for seasoned fans.--Temple, Suzanne Copyright 2018 Booklist