The release of The Amazing Spider-Man #60 marks the end of an era for Marvel’s flagship Spider-Man comic. This issue serves as the finale to writer Zeb Wells’ long run on the title, ending a saga that has included controversial plot twists like the breakup of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson and Spidey temporarily becoming the new Green Goblin. But where does this finale leave Peter and the gang? How does it set up the upcoming, ominously titled “The Eight Deaths of Spider-Man” storyline?
Read on for a full breakdown of what happens in this issue, including where Peter and MJ currently stand and why Spider-man has suddenly gained the power of immortality. But beware of full spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #60 ahead!
Spider-Man vs. Tombstone: The Final Round
Tombstone has served as one of the overarching villains of Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man run, so it’s only fitting that this saga culminates in one last showdown between Spidey and this powerful crime lord. Only this battle plays out in the courtroom rather than on the streets of New York.
In issue #60, Peter is on the verge of finally seeing Lonnie Lincoln put behind bars for good. He’s got hotshot lawyer She-Hulk on the case, and Tombstone’s own daughter Janice is serving as the star witness. But that case was thrown for a loop recently when Tombstone set out to kill Janice. Spidey managed to break through and show Tombstone the mistake he was about to make, but the result is that Janice has now fled the city and the witness stand.
Unfortunately, Spider-Man’s interference in the case is all the pretext the judge needs to throw it out. Lonnie Lincoln is set free, and Peter and She-Hulk have nothing to show for their efforts. Before returning to his criminal empire, Lonnie delivers a message to Peter. The judge was in his pocket all along. They were never going to win. But Lonnie wants Peter to know that Spider-Man was the true winner of their feud, because he stopped Lonnie from committing an unspeakable act.
For Peter, even that admission is cold comfort. Tombstone remains a clear and present danger to New York City, even if he’s been diminished by the collapse of his relationship with his daughter and the loss of a major lieutenant in White Rabbit.
Peter is given little time to rest, however. No sooner does he meet Aunt May at the F.E.A.S.T. shelter than he’s forced to respond to an attack by Sandman. May is dismayed when Peter disappears during the fracas, and she chastises Spider-Man for always bringing harm on her nephew. She then makes a desperate request for Spider-Man to leave Peter Parker alone.
Spidey can do nothing but sheepishly apologize and remind May that her nephew helps Spider-Man because he needs to do everything in his power to defend others. May recognizes her late husband’s lingering influence over Peter and relents. She may not be privy to Peter’s secret anymore (one of the long-term effects of 2007’s One More Day storyline), but she seems to have accepted that Peter and Spider-Man will always be linked.
The Fate of Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s Romance
Wells’ Spider-Man run has seen its fair share of controversy, with many Spider-fans lamenting the latest breakup between Peter and Mary Jane. Is there any hope for the two to rekindle their romance as Wells’ run ends? In a word, no.
One of the backup stories in issue #60 sets the tone for Peter and MJ’s relationship going forward. MJ is still in a committed relationship with the infamous Paul, and Peter has started dating a new love interest named Shay. That looks to be the status quo for both characters for the foreseeable future.
MJ is also still masquerading as the superhero Jackpot, and she teams up with Spider-Man to battle the Die-Chromator. The two heroes eventually overpower their foe, only to realize they’re both late for a double date. Now on the opposite side of things, MJ belatedly realizes how difficult it is to balance a personal life with a superhero identity.
They may not be dating anymore, but MJ makes it clear she still holds plenty of love for Peter. She even thanks him for saving her from the alternate dimension she and Paul were stranded in at the beginning of the series. As Peter says, “I’ll always come for you, MJ. Eventually.”
The Threat of Ben Reilly
Peter’s clone brother Ben Reilly has certainly had a rough go of it in recent years. Earlier in the series, Wells chronicled Ben’s transformation into the villain Chasm, making him one of the two villains of the Spider-Man/X-Men crossover Dark Web. For a guy who once tried to prove himself a worthy successor to the Spider-Man mantle, Ben has certainly strayed from the heroic path.
Another backup story suggests that may finally change. Peter reluctantly agrees to have coffee with Ben after the two team up to defeat Bushwhacker. Ben seeks to apologize for his recent actions and profess his desire to move past his sibling rivalry. Peter is hesitant, but agrees to give Ben the chance to prove his willingness to atone.
Unfortunately, it’s all an act. No sooner does Peter leave than Ben reflects on the lies he just told. Fighting Bushwhacker was merely a pretext for meeting with Peter. Ben wants Peter to think their feud has ended, making it that much easier to steal Peter’s life and become Spider-Man again. He’s simply biding his time until the right moment.
Spider-Man Becomes Immortal?
Issue #60 also features a short story from incoming writer Joe Kelly, one that sets up Kelly’s upcoming “The Eight Deaths of Spider-Man” storyline. This new storyline is one of several that set up 2025’s The Rise of Emperor Doom crossover, which sees Doctor Doom claim the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and declare himself master of the entire world. But before his big declaration, Doom will reach out to Spidey with an important mission and the power to make it happen.
In this tale, Doom watches Spider-Man from afar as the wallcrawler battles Override. This techno-villain seeks to take over the Night Bank, tank the world economy, and make himself the new economic superpower. Spider-Man narrowly defeats Override and saves the world from complete economic collapse.
As Doom notes, while there are many heroes arguably more deserving of his gifts, none are quite so selfless or accustomed to battling against overwhelming odds as Spider-Man. That makes him the right candidate to carry out Doom’s mission, involving something known as The Covenant. What exactly that mission entails is still unclear, but we do know it’s so dangerous that Doom will grant Spidey limited immortality. He’ll be giving Peter Parker the power of eight extra lives. And as far as we can tell from what Marvel has shown of upcoming issues, Spidey will sorely need those extra lives. He’s going to die over and over again, and those deaths will only further Doom’s rise to power as the new emperor of the Marvel Universe.
If nothing else, 2025 should be an interesting year for Spider-Man.
What do you think about this big finale issue? Should Marvel have taken the chance to get Peter and Mary Jane back together? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
For more big developments in the world of comics, check out our full breakdown of Absolute Batman's big changes and learn how Detective Comics #1090 rewrites Batman's origin story.
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