The Amazing Spider Man has had an interesting and very artistic line up when you talk about the last two months. The succeeding act of “The Gauntlet” uber plot has Spider Man facing the Sandman after he dispatched Electro in the previous issue. Fred Van Lente has used the character of Sandman in a very different way than the character of Electro used by Mark Waid. He has combined different aspects to the story and given it a beautiful turn which seems just about perfect.

The art work by Pulido is exceptional with usage of simple colour schemes that fits the comic world perfectly. Javier Rodriguez colours unlike the over digitalized colours of Marvel comics are flat and subtle. He uses the classical style in a wonderful way without making it look dated and this definitely adds much charm to the comic book. The plot of this issue revolves around Spider Man investigating a series of murder and search for a missing girl. The girl disappears as a snowman begins talking with her and she is led to a secret kingdom.

Van Lente’s choice to use this scene as a recollection of reported events by someone makes it very effective than simply including the scene in the story. It adds a great deal to the mystery and uncertainty in the overall story. It is very easy for readers to conclude that Sandman is the man behind the disappearance of the girl and that he also is the father of the girl. Unlike Electro, Sandman uses his superior powers to create a fantasy world for his child. Keeping it protected from the outside world is what causes the dual between him and Spider Man.