As a lifelong Spider-Man stories – and I'm still not sure where the current "8 Deaths of Spider-Man" arc is going to land on that spectrum, as the preview for the latest issue features Peter Parker frustratingly making a familiar mistake, one that is likely have major consequences in the short, and perhaps the long term.

The Amazing Spider-Man #64 – written by Justina Ireland, with art by Gleb Melnikov – finds Peter Parker reeling from his confrontations with the scions of Cytorrak. Having been gifted the eponymous eight mystical resurrections to fight this supernatural threat, Spider-Man has already been killed off several times, something he's eager to avoid.

Doctor Strange bluntly tells Peter that it is all part of the mission, and not to waste his time and energy trying to circumvent death –only for Peter to ignore him completely.

I'm Waiting To Find Out If This Peter Parker Moment Is Part Of The Learning Curve, As He Adapts To Marvel's Mystical Side

Amazing Spider-Man #64 – Written By Justina Ireland; Art By Gleb Melnikov; Color By Marcio Menyz; Lettering By Joe Caramagna

Peter's refusal to listen to Doctor Strange's advice in the preview for Amazing Spider-Man #64 comes off as almost comical – at least, in of how quickly he disregard's Strange – but it is also frustrating for me as a reader, because it has a "same old, same old" feeling to it. A common criticism of Spider-Man stories is that the character exists in a state of "arrested development," embodying the idea that Marvel's most famous superheroes can never be allowed to grow, or change; my concern is that this may cause issues telling a genuinely new kind of Spider-Man tale.

I do want to make space for the fact that this could be intentional, as a story beat intended to show that Peter hasn't yet adapted to his new circumstances, and his new mission. That could certainly become apparent once the full issue is released, or as the remainder of the "8 Deaths of Spider-Man" arc progresses. Yet it does stick out to me as a potential early warning sign. Not that the story won't be fun, or enjoyable, but that it isn't going to make the most of its exciting premise.

I'm On Board With "8 Deaths Of Spider-Man" – But So Far, It Is Off To An Uneven Start

"8 Deaths" Runs Through Amazing Spider-Man #60-#68

Like many Marvel Comics readers, I have relatively high hopes for "8 Deaths of Spider-Man." The arc promises to push Peter Parker far out of his comfort zone, by thrusting him into the center of a pivotal battle between the mystical forces of good and evil that permeate the Marvel Universe. Conceptually, it is a fun idea, one that plays with the idea of superhero mortality – or, more precisely, immortality – using one of the publisher's most iconic characters. The death of any version of Spider-Man is usually a big deal, and I love how "8 Deaths" pushes that into a hyperbolic realm.

[The Amazing Spider-Man] has established a radical new paradigm for the character, but so far, he continues to act exactly like the same old Peter Parker.

"8 Deaths" is also an extended arc, running through eight issues of Amazing Spider-Man, plus the ominously named ".DEATHS" special – with hints that the story's climax will have longer-term implications for Peter Parker and his role in the Marvel Universe. So, the story obviously needs time to build up momentum, but so far, I do feel as though it has been less impactful than Spider-fans, like myself, might have hoped for. That is to say, the series has established a radical new paradigm for the character, but so far, he continues to act exactly like the same old Peter Parker.

Marvel Already Told Us Peter Is Going To Lose All Eight Of His Lives – Will He Accept It Too?

The Amazing Spider-Man #65.DEATHS – Available February 26, 2025 From Marvel Comics

Part of the reality of being a contemporary Marvel Comics fan is that we often have some idea of the trajectory of a storyline well before it plays out, thanks to advanced solicitations for issues. In this case, fans know that Spider-Man – or at least, can reasonably assume – that Peter Parker is going to spend all of his eight mystical lives, meaning the arc will live up to the "8 Deaths" title. Whether it will live up to its premise remains to be determined.

Peter Parker still has plenty of page-space to show that he is up to the task of being Marvel's new mystical warrior.

I personally would argue that in order to do so, the character needs to catch up to the story, and more importantly, to the reader. With five issues remaining in the main part of the story arc, Peter Parker still has plenty of page-space to show that he is up to the task of being Marvel's new mystical warrior. Moreover, he can accept death as part of his mission, as unpleasant as it sounds, and perhaps, hopefully, grow as a character in the process, which I believe is what would truly make this a significant entry into Spider-Man canon.

The Amazing Spider-Man #64 will be available on December 25, 2025 from Marvel Comics.