Writer: Zeb Wells
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna & Marcio Menyz; J. Scott Campbell & Tanya Lehoux; Tony Daniel & Sonia Oback; Anthony Francisco; Sean Galloway; Peach Momoko; Joey Vazquez
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 20, 2023
Madame Masque organized all this chaos, but can she control it? Janice Lincoln loves her father, but then she ousts him as head of his territory. And who does Spidey team up with this issue? Let’s thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #40 and find out!
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Story
Digger is back and working for a hooded figure who wears a rose. Beetle insists on taking Diamondback’s territory. And Madame Masque tells an injured Hammerhead, “Fine. Call in your boys. Go ahead. Make my day!” Madame Masque grabs the headlines in Amazing Spider-Man #40. She played understudy for years. Now she’s taking the stage. She believes she’ll win this Game Of Thrones. But does she hold all the cards? Aside from She-Hulk, Spider-Man couldn’t keep his team together. So Peter accepts Tombstone’s offer to repeat their former partnership. This time, Tombstone’s making no bones about his involvement. He’s a master strategist and knows what this play will cost him. Still, his daughter’s worth it.
Janet Lincoln has finally thrown in the towel with Randy Robertson and embraced the Dark Side. With Randy in hospital and no longer campaigning to overturn Fisk’s Law, she’s building a new future without him. Aside from losing Randy, one wonders what else her actions will cost her. With Luke Cage ignoring Fisk’s Law by coordinating with superheroes and covertly fighting foes as Power Man, will he face the consequences of his actions? With Wilson Fisk back in New York City, might the Kingpin use this Gang War to his advantage? Does anyone think he wants his master-crafted anti-vigilante law overturned?
Art
John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna preserve the Rose’s anonymity in their opening page. Then the Art Bros show us the Tracksuit Mafia poised to take down the Inner Demons. She-Hulk practices her fastball while Spider-Man scores a strike. Madame Masque’s body language reinforces her confidence, and Hammerhead’s crew pays her respect. While Janice looks determined, she betrays none of the joy she revealed with Randy. Tombstone can’t help but smile as he helps Spidey and Shulkie take on the Tracksuite Bros. Yet Tombstone’s not smiling when he discusses the future with his temporary teammates. A closeup of Tombstone pouring drinks affords readers a glimpse of Spider-Man. Smoke rises behind Tombstone, reminding us of the anarchy ruling the crime lord’s streets. The Beetle makes a powerful statement as she busts into Diamondback’s headquarters. John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna close Amazing Spider-Man #40 by showing a worried father beside his confident daughter as each confronts different crime lords.
Marcio Menyz paints pages using a palette loaded with bold colors. Light sources and shadows give scenes drama. While bathing closeups of Madame Masque and Hammerhead in gray tones, the mansion’s façade glows with color and reflects gold like her shiny mask. Menyz and Erick Arciniega signaled Hammerhead’s ambition in ASM #35 by showing the crime lord’s reflection in a pool of blood. Now blood coats Hammerhead’s face in Amazing Spider-Man #40. Vibrant sound effects report gunfire and toppled boxes in a warehouse wrangle. Madame Masque crunches her victims from great heights and underfoot. While Joe Caramagna thwips easily readable uppercase black letters into most of his white balloons, Tombstone’s tell tiny tales. But then, after his extended hospital stay, it’s understandable Tombstone’s reflecting on his mortality and the model he set for his daughter. Thanks to Marvel for providing this essential chapter of the Gang War saga for review.
Final Thoughts
Spider-Man, She-Hulk, and the Beetle tackle symptoms while Madame Masque, Tombstone, and perhaps another player concentrate on curing New York City’s disease in Amazing Spider-Man #40.