‘Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Amazing Spider-Man/Queen in Black’ #1 review

May 3, 2026

In this day and age, nothing beats free, which makes Free Comic Book Day (and for the first time this year, Comics Giveaway Day) so darn fun. Not only is it a great opportunity for comic shops to attract fans, but it also gives comic publishers a chance to give readers a taste of something new or a preview of what’s to come. The latter is definitely the main goal of Marvel’s free comics, with Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Amazing Spider-Man / Queen in Black #1 being a definite must to pick up today.

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There’s a lot of story in Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Amazing Spider-Man / Queen in Black #1, with three stories in total. The mix includes a more lighthearted Spider-Man tale, an event-caliber Queen in Black prelude, and a haunting near-adults-only Infernal Hulk story to wrap things up. All told, there’s a little something for everyone in this free comic.

Kicking things off is Joe Kelly and John Romita Jr. in “Answer the Question,” featuring the supervillain The Answer. Frankly, I did not know this villain, who can flex a couple of new powers to answer any challenge, existed. The story starts with a quippy Spider-Man arriving on the scene, where The Answer has a few cops held hostage. Not only is Spider-Man written well, but Romita delivers his dynamic art that should please longtime fans and new fans alike. You can tell Romita put in extra time into making the art look clean.

As for the story, Kelly has an aptly told story about mental health buried in the altercation, which ends up making the tale feel emotionally tethered to a real-world issue. Throw in a one-page teaser for a certain family member already teased in Amazing Spider-Man #27, and there’s just enough here to act as a taste tester. Not necessarily a preview of what’s to come, but enough for a casual fan.

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Next up is a full-on preview, if not the start of Queen in Black. Titled “Earthfall,” writer Al Ewing and artist Iban Coello bring the event-level art and story, not skimping on being a teaser but the actual start of something. The art is super slick, highly detailed, and dynamite. The story introduces different types of symbiote troops with distinct powers and goals, deployed across different parts of the world. Designating the types is different colors in the spider symbols on their chests. It’s a neat concept that plays with the idea of symbiotes not as singular aliens, but as something far more organized. And of course, NYC has a “Shock and Awe” troop to bring the high octane action. Elsewhere in the world are espionage symbiotes, and even terrafirnubg symbiotes.

Last but not least is Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein’s “Infernal Rage,” revealing the Eldest’s move to compile a team. The shortest of the three stories, this tale will please horror fans, with some of the most macabre and disturbing art I’ve ever seen in a Marvel comic. Klein and Matthew Wilson make you feel the utter hopelessness as Captain America hangs with spikes through his hands and chest. Not only does this story amp up the hopelessness Eldest brings to this battle, but the full-page splash at the end gives a good look at his heroes-turned-monsters’ army. Step aside, DC’s Death Metal, a new metal as hell story is on the way.

Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Amazing Spider-Man / Queen in Black #1 is a strong showcase of what Marvel does well, offering a mix of tones, styles, and hooks that should appeal to a wide range of readers. From a grounded Spider-Man story to a major symbiote event kickoff and a brutal horror finale, the issue keeps things varied and engaging throughout. Not every story is given equal space to breathe, but the overall package succeeds in leaving a lasting impression and building excitement for what’s ahead.

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