Writer: Cody Ziglar
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Federico Vicentini & Neeraj Menon; Karen S Darboe & Jesus Aburtov; Doaly
Design: Jay Bowen
Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 14, 2024
Blade transformed Miles into a vampire. The skies cleared after Miles helped Bloodline banish the ancient vampire possessing her father. But when Blood Hunt ended, Miles remained a vampire. Can Miles protect Brooklyn and keep his blood lust in check? Let's grab our venom swords, leap into Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23, and find out!
Story
The gods may no longer rule the world from Mount Olympus, but Zip Zephyr wants to change that. At least, he yearns to be feared. The demigod traces his ancestry to Boreas and uses his windbag like a leaf blower to sweep mortals from his path. When Miles tackled Zip Zephyr before, he had Ms Marvel and Shift beside him. He lacks confidence as he tangles with the demigod alone, and it shows.
Miles isn’t happy with how he reacts to threats. But then, he’s not thrilled to still be a vampire. So he heads to Misty Knight's garage and dials Doc Sasquatch's office on his holo-phone. Instead of speaking with Dr Kwan, the jolly green psychotherapist takes his call. Unfortunately, Doc Sasquatch can only theorize how the vampiric blood interacts with Miles' spidey powers.
Rabble nearly destroyed Miles’ family and left him traumatized. After Blood Hunt, Miles must cope with his thirst for blood and vampiric appearance. Miles' mask doesn't get torn in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23, but his actions frighten others. He feels isolated and fears rejection.
Tiana Toomes' upbringing could have turned her into a villain like Rabble. She once fought alongside the Vulture as Starling. Miles helped her walk a better path. She found ways to cope with her anger and grief. After Rabble's assault, Tiana encouraged Miles to seek counseling and take up journaling. She cannot allay Miles' concerns, but he can share his problems with her, and she should understand what he’s going through.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23 sets up Cody Ziglar’s Birds Of A Feather story. After teaming up with Shift, Ms Marvel, and his uncle Aaron, and then with Bloodline and Hightail, Ziglar’s story promises to shake up things again with an all-new team-up. But then, as a hero imbued with spidey powers, venom blasts, and now vampirism, Miles Morales is an all-new, all-different Spider-Man.
Art
Federico Vicentini follows one page of Tiana living and patrolling alone with another showing Miles' brightening her everyday activities and superhero career. As Zip Zephyr towers over an armored truck, the security guards cower amid broken concrete. Wind flips the heavy vehicle through the air while Miles' thwips and blows send the demigod reeling. Silhouettes and shadows enhance the colored art as Zip crashes into the destroyed street. Amid the rising dust, a venom blast electrifies a double-page confrontation.
Doc Sasquatch hovers amid a pillar of blue light. Doc's green skin and hair shine beneath his office's overhead lights when the transmission ends. Darkforce portals no longer obliterate the sun’s rays, but as daylight ebbs, Bryan Valenza casts yellow, purple, pink, and orange into the sky. Light and shadow streak diagonally through an alley assault while bits of yellow drift through the darkness surrounding Tiana's apartment.
Cory Petit thwips black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons. He shares Miles' thoughts as white letters in red narrative boxes and Tiana's as scarlet words in yellow boxes. The delicate font rarely shrinks and emboldens for inflection. Zip Zephyr announces his name with giant yellow and blue letters, while the demigod employs a font devoid of curves. Colorful, transparent, energizing sound effects enhance every thwip, punch, blast, crash, and whoosh in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
While introducing Shift to his family broadened Miles’ world, vampirism reduces him to the insecure and hurting Spider-Man. Miles looks to others for support in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23. How long until Dr Strange’s magic wears off and Miles preys on those under his protection?
Rating 9.4/10
To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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