You may recall that the function of Amazing Spider-Man Extra #1 was to plug some continuity gaps in a rather half-arsed way – indeed, one of the stories from #1 takes place at a point in continuity that, six months since it was published, still hasn’t yet arrived for readers. The series itself is now about the become the de facto “second” spider-title on a bi-monthly release schedule, so if it wants fans to actually buy it, we need two things from this issue: good stories, and a compelling reason why they couldn’t be told in the main series, neither of which we got with the first issue’s page-filling offcuts.

Shockingly, this issue manages to turn that around and provide both.

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The opening piece is an Anti-Venom solo story by Dan Slott and Chris Bachalo. Although it doesn’t feature Spider-Man at all, it maintains a strong focus on a recently-developed corner of the spider-verse: the FEAST shelter, and new villain Mr. Negative. While the material attempts to concentrate mostly on Brock’s new status quo as a kind of homeless-rescuing Venom-like hero/monster, it’s not half as interesting as the few scenes we get that show what Martin “Mr. Negative” Li might actually be up to, and his plans for all those refugees that Oscorp was experimenting on. It’s a nice trick, delivering this valuable (if non-essential) information to readers in a side-story, and whether or not you particularly enjoy the way Brock’s lot has been recast, it’s hard to argue that this isn’t a well-constructed short with something to offer both regular and infrequent readers.

By contrast, the second feature, showing Wolverine and Spider-Man heading out to a bar, is utterly throwaway in terms of continuity, instead offering a fantastic character piece that neatly defines the relationship between the two heroes. Surprisingly, Wells even manages to out-perform Slott in the humour department, offering some decent comedy of the kind that Wolverine and Spider-Man together can’t help but generate. Even better, Wells also contrasts that with some genuine emotion that manages to cast Wolverine in a sympathetic light. It’s better than any of the multitudinous Wolverine one-shots that Marvel has flooded the shelves with over the last year, and it’s one of the best things I’ve read from Wells in ages to boot. Paulo Rivera’s artwork certainly doesn’t hurt either.

It’s unexpected, but Amazing Spider-Man Extra #2 actually convinces me that the series might be worth sticking with after all. Neither story would work in the main title – the former because it doesn’t feature Peter at all, and the latter because it’s not a 22-page story, however you stretch it. Strangely, by jamming the two together in this special, Marvel have ensured that they both complement Peter’s world perfectly. If future issues stick to the formula set down by this one, well, I’ll be glad to buy it.