Commencing this November, war breaks out on the streets of New York over in the Marvel Universe!
First unveiled at Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel at SDCC 2023, chaos erupts with Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War. The newest event in Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr.’s Amazing Spider-Man, this storyline pays off plotlines that have been brewing since issue one of the series, as the criminal elements of New York take to the streets, forcing the street-level heroes to step up and prevent all hell from breaking loose.
What is Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War?
Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War is a street-level event that brings together the vigilantes of New York as they fight to squash the rising efforts of Marvel’s criminal underworld. Villains like Mr. Negative, Hobgoblin, Diamondback, the Owl and many more are duking it out for control of the city, and it’s up to Peter Parker and his assembled team of heroes to stop them.
On that point, Peter Parker and his team of allies (compromised of She-Hulk, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Spider-Woman and Daredevil) have all of 48 hours to save the day.
Marvel have also teased the involvement of other heroic players, namely Luke Cage (who’s currently serving as Mayor since Devil’s Reign, and is responsible for an anti-masks policy throughout the city), Shang Chi and Jackpot, the codename for the newly superheroic Mary Jane Watson.
Practically speaking, Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War plays out throughout the main Amazing Spider-Man title as well as Cody Ziglar’s excellent ongoing Miles Morales: Spider-Man series. In addition to that, Marvel are also publishing various ancillary limited series to accompany those books, widening the scope of the event.
What Comics are Included in Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War?
As mentioned above, the main story for Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War occurs in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man and Miles Morales: Spider-Man. However, as there are a variety of other books that tie in to the event, we’ve provided a handy breakdown of every participating title, with their relevant creative teams and synopses below.
Amazing Spider-Man
The main title of the event, and the book from which everything has spun out of. Amazing Spider-Man comes from the minds of writer Zeb Wells (Hellions, Dark Web), John Romita Jr. (Action Comics, Daredevil) and Ed McGuiness (Avengers, Spider-Man/Deadpool).
This title will naturally deal with the central thrust of the story, with Spidey taking on the multiple criminal factions vying for control while also assembling a team of his own.
Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War takes place over #39-44 of this series, as well as Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War: First Strike #1 (which precedes these issues).
Also, Marvel have labelled issues #37-38 of this series as preludes to the event, with their contents being considered as part of the “First Strike” portion of the storyline. Based on the solicitations, these issues may be worth checking out if you’d like some additional context about where Peter Parker’s life is at prior to the event starting.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man
A sister title to the other Spider-Man book in this event, Miles Morales: Spider-Man follows the other webslinger in New York as he does everything he can to keep Brooklyn safe while the streets are set ablaze. Meanwhile, he’ll have to escape the clutches of the Scorpion, Agent Gao and her Cape Killer taskforce.
From Cody Ziglar (Disney+’s She-Hulk, Spider-Punk), Partha Pratim (Moon Knight) and Federico Vicentini (X Deaths of Wolverine, Amazing Spider-Man), this series continues its trend of delivering fresh, stylish and dynamic stories that push Miles’ adventures forward into exciting new places.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man will crossover into Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War for issues #12-16, with #12 serving as a “First Strike” lead-in issue. Fans of Blade will want to check out #12 in particular, as Miles teams up with the Daywalker to help bring down the villain in front of him.
Spider-Woman
Recently deceased, and even more recently resurrected in the pages of Dan Slott and Mark Bagley’s Spider-Man, Jessica Drew is back in action as Spider-Woman! And no sooner than she’s back in the land of the living is she being drafted by Spider-Man into the events of Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War.
Viper is making a play amidst the chaos of Gang War, trying to align Diamondback and the forces of HYRDA – an organisation that Jess has more than a little history with.
Steve Foxe (Dark X-Men, X-Men Annual) and Carola Borelli are shepherding Spider-Woman on her newest solo outing, with issues #1-4 taking place under the banner of this event. Furthermore, despite initial reports from Marvel that this is a limited series, they have subsequently confirmed it is in fact an ongoing and will continue past four issues should fan interest support it.
Luke Cage: Gang War
Since Devil’s Reign, Luke Cage has been mayor of New York City, trying his best to save the city in a suit and tie rather than his traditional yellow t-shirt and jeans.
Frequent readers of the Marvel Universe will know that Luke has been active in the pages of Thunderbolts and, more recently, Avengers Inc. as he tries to stay true to his heroic roots while also enforcing the Anti-Vigilante Act.
From award-winning writer Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia, Falcon) and stunning artist Ramon F. Bachs (Venom, Star Wars: Bounty Hunters), Luke Cage, spurred on by a reunion with best friend Danny Rand, takes to the streets to show the world of organised crime how Power Man deals with villains.
Luke Cage: Gang War is a four-issue limited series.
Daredevil: Gang War
With Matt Murdock in a compromised position since the end of his most recent run, his ninja-assassin lover Elektra Natchios has taken up the mantle of Daredevil to keep the streets of Hell’s Kitchen safe in his absence.
As such, when Spider-Man comes a-knockin’ looking for the help of Daredevil, it’s Elektra who answers the call. Written by Erica Schultz (Amazing Spider-Man Annual, Hallow’s Eve), with art by Sergio Dávila (Venom, Thor), Daredevil must defend Hell’s Kitchen from new gang the HEAT before everything is lost!
Daredevil: Gang War is a four-part limited series that begins in December 2023 and finishes March 2024.
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War
Rounding out the list of series participating in Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War is the newest incarnation of The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, starring Shang-Chi.
In his most recent adventures, Shang-Chi has assumed leadership of the Five Weapons Society, and has vowed to reform the organisation and use it for benevolent purposes. Given his joint status as both superhero and crime boss, Shang-Chi finds himself in an interesting position, having to play both sides of the conflict for his own ends. Whether this brings him into favour or conflict with the superheroes is a question set to be answered in the pages of this mini-series.
From the creative minds of Greg Pak (City Boy, Totally Awesome Hulk) and Caio Majado (Hulk Annual, Edge of Spider-Verse) comes this three-part limited series.
What is the Reading Order for Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War?
While Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War can be read on a series-by-series basis, as it is likely to be collected in trade paperback format, the reading order for a fully chronological experience requires a little more hopping around from title to title.
Marvel have released a handy checklist infographic to help structure the reading order for fans, shown above. However, for a more contextual breakdown, see below (note, titles in bold are considered main parts of the event, other issues are tie-ins):
Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War: First Strike
To kick off the event, Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War opens with a handful of prelude issues that set the stage for the conflict to come. This is the “First Strike” part of the event:
- Amazing Spider-Man #37
- Amazing Spider-Man #38
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12
- Amazing Spider-Man – Gang War: First Strike #1
- Spider-Woman #1
- Luke Cage: Gang War #1
Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War
Following “First Strike” the event kicks off in earnest. The following is a list of issues laid out in chronological order, with main issues highlighted in bold:
- Amazing Spider-Man #39
- Amazing Spider-Man #40
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #13
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14
- Daredevil: Gang War #1
- Spider-Woman #2
- Luke Cage: Gang War #2
- Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War #1
- Amazing Spider-Man #41
- Amazing Spider-Man #42
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15
- Daredevil: Gang War #2
- Spider-Woman #3
- Luke Cage: Gang War #3
- Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War #2
- Amazing Spider-Man #43
- Amazing Spider-Man #44
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16
- Daredevil: Gang War #3
- Spider-Woman #4
- Luke Cage: Gang War #4
- Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War #3
- Daredevil: Gang War #4
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