I've been interested in reading Nick Spencer's run of Amazing Spider-Man from beginning to end. I've read every issue as they were coming out, but I haven't reread some of the later stuff. The twenty issue Kindred/ Sin-Eater showdown with Sins Rising, Last Remains and all the tie-ins might come across differently if I'm not reading it all in one go.
2018 Free Comic Book Day Special
Spencer and Ottley immediately establish a contemporary vibe for the series, and have a nice set-up for Peter's private life, or at least his housing situation. The battle with supervillains is okay, and leads to a movie style rescue sequence, while setting up some mysteries. It's a decent prologue.
A
Amazing Spider-Man Volume 5#1
The first issue works quite well as a proof of concept. I'm not sure Spencer and company ever surpassed it, although that's more about why this comic is good than a criticism of his later work. It's a great A-plot, and there are fun changes like Kingpin trying to push a rift between Spider-Man and the Marvel heroes, or Boomerang as a roommate. It's an excellent intro to Ottley who ably depicts all other Marvel heroes, and Peter's supporting cast, balancing struggles for Peter with an alien invasion. The intro of Kindred at Mysterio's trial is also creepy, and it's a smart move to have Ramos on that back-up as it fits his wheelhouse and sets him up as part of the initial creative team. I do like how things are going badly for Peter, but one thing goes very well.
I was bothered by Peter losing what's probably the character's ideal job as a science reporter, but the final pages do set up something different that has potential going forward. And I do like how they play around with form with what's kinda like a post-credits sequence, which also gives Peter & MJ"s reconciliation more weight. This is an issue that can be explored in depth as an example of a decent Spider-Man comic, and taking advantage of one shot to impress new readers.
A+
Technically, the first issue is part one of the larger "Back to Basics" story, but it really is more of a standalone, distinct from the A-plot of the next four issues.