Web Of Spider-Man #1 Review Part 1

 

Writers: Zeb Wells, Cody Ziglar, Steve Foxe, Stephanie Phillips, Greg Weisman & Alex Segura

Artists: Eleonora Carlini, Ig Guara, Eric Gapstur, Joey Vazquez & Salvador Larroca

Pencilers: John Romita Jr., Ed McGuinness & Greg Land

Inkers: Scott Hanna, Mark Farmer & Jay Leisten

Colorists: Marcio Menyz, Arthur Hesli, Arif Prianto, Matt Milla, Frank D’Armata, Edgar Delgado & GURU-eFX

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $7.99

Release Date: March 20, 2024

 

Peter Parker's unhappy with Tombstone. A happy Hightail worries Miles. Spider-Woman moves house to escape her troubled past. Norman Osborn's heroism provides little satisfaction. With the goblins menacing and spider heroes embracing evil, might the Web Of Life and Destiny unravel? Let’s leap into Web Of Spider-Man #1 and find out!

 

Amazing Spider-Man Part 1

Story

Tombstone asked Spider-Man to help save his daughter. He claimed his life of crime was over. Like Wilson Fisk, he wanted to protect his family. Instead, after Janice consolidated control over half of New York City and Spider-Man's team engaged Madame Masque's forces, Tombstone removed his daughter and people from the Battle Of Central Park.

 

So, in Web Of Spider-Man #1, Peter Parker says, "Fair enough. You used our partnership for your gain. Now, it's my turn." Openly associating with Tombstone could hurt Peter's popularity. Tombstone could devote his vast resources to destroying Spider-Man. Zeb Wells' story suggests rising tensions between the two men in forthcoming issues of Amazing Spider-Man.

 

Art

John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna compare the sedate meeting between Kingpin and the Rabbit with Spider-Man's actions at the docks. While Spider-Man looks in his element as he's taking down villains, Tombstone looks like he expected this. The Rabbit's discomfort shows as she's failed her boss after briefly abandoning him to serve his daughter. Marcio Menyz brightens the evening raid, helping us follow the frenetic action amid the glow of the city that never sleeps. Rich coloring brings interest and nuance to the tension in Tombstone’s office.

 

 

 

 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man

Story

Miles enjoys a night of thwipping when he spots violence in the streets. Brooklyn’s Spider-Man discovers vampires attacking people. Then he spots Hightail taking down the undead. Yet he's used to fighting her. So, instead of helping combat the enemy, Miles attacks her.

 

R'YM'R's seductive call fills Hightail's head, taunting her with memories of her brief experience as one of his vampires. The perpetually mad Hightail is smiling. Miles' attack doesn't even ruffle her feathers. Does Agent Gao's attempt to keep wielding her Cape Killers after Luke Cage disbanded the squad and reassigned her to Vice explain Hightail’s happiness? Cody Ziglar hints at the return of R'YM'R, another team-up with Blade and Bloodline, and a friendlier relationship between Miles and the speedster.

 

Art

Artist Eleonora Carlini communicates the energy of this fraught night fight. Sharp angles and thin limbs enhance Miles' arachnidian appeal. With her long braids whipping around as she runs, kicks, and (gasp) smiles, Hightail’s rounded curves, comfortable attire, and easy moves imbue her with more humanity. Colorist Arthur Hesli brings a full palette of bright colors to panels. The undead and some of the bystanders look gray and drained of color. Yet pages glow with neon-like intensity, and Hesli adds interest by painting or stippling backgrounds with secondary colors.

 

 

Spider-Woman

Story

Heartbroken about her son, Spider-Woman opted for a change of scene. San Francisco may not overflow with superheroes, but HYDRA has tentacles everywhere. The televisions in a shopfront window suggest she may soon meet others who fight crime without a badge.

 

Art

Artist Ig Guara breathes life and energy into Steve Foxe's teaser as Spider-Woman leaps off a cablecar to zap a villain. Guara reveals hints of the crowded streets. Tilted camera angles remind us that Spider-Woman isn’t on her home turf. Arif Prianto provides bold colors and brightens Spider-Woman to suggest the reflected glow from the television screens. 

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing this issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As crimelords, vampires, HYDRA, goblins, and Eternals threaten our world, Limbo’s borders weaken, and heroes from across the spider-verse unite to combat threats to the Web Of Life And Destiny in Web Of Spider-Man #1.

 

9.8/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.