Exclusive Marvel preview: The gorgeous “Learning To Crawl” concludes in Amazing Spider-Man #1.5

When Marvel announced the five-part “Learning To Crawl” miniseries delving into unrevealed events from Peter Parker’s first days as Spider-Man, there were some immediate questions. To start, why was it being published as Amazing Spider-Man #1.1-#1.5? And did Peter’s past really need revisiting again? The answer to the first question still isn’t clear, but the miniseries has justified its place in Marvel’s line-up thanks to writer Dan Slott’s understanding of Spider-Man fundamentals and, most importantly, the breathtaking artwork of artist Ramón Pérez and colorist Ian Herring.

After spending a year getting Spider-Fans angry about Dr. Octopus’ mind controlling Peter Parker’s body, Dan Slott showed that he can tell a classic-style Spider-Man story by jumping back to a time when Peter’s life was simpler. Slott introduced a new villainous foil for the hero in Clayton “Clash” Cole, and has used the character to explore different aspects of Spider-Man’s younger self while building up a threat for Peter’s future.

Eisner Award-winning artist Ramón Pérez brings a retro charm to the story that is accentuated by Ian Herring’s bold coloring, using bright, saturated shades to reflect the more limited palette of Silver Age comics. This preview of next week’s Amazing Spider-Man #1.5 spotlights Pérez’s talent for staging impactful action and realizing the past setting in period-specific detail, and the huge emotional range of his characters brings Slott’s dialogue to life. Pérez grows with each new project, and now that Peter’s past adventures are coming to an end, the creator needs a new project that will push him even further.