Spider-Society #4 Review

 

Writer: Alex Segura

Artist: Scott Godlewski

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Pete Woods, Dike Ruan & Mirka Andolfo

Designer: Carlos Lao

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 6, 2024

 

In another world, Gwen Stacy learned of her tragic fate. She didn't want to fall off a bridge and die, so she took Norman Osborn's serum and became the Green Goblin. Aunt May believed that her nephew invited tragedy by becoming Spider-Man. So, she became Madame Web to combat the spider menace. This Madame May ordered the Green Goblin and her Sinister Squadron to capture the spider-heroes of Earth-616 and Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099. But what does Madame May want? And can Araña and the Spider-Society free their friends and foil Aunt May’s sinister scheme? Let’s strap on our web shooters, thwip into Spider-Society #4, and see!

 

Story

Madame Web asked Miguel O’Hara to assemble a spider team to combat a threat to the Web Of Life And Destiny. But the evil Madame May captured them, forcing Araña to lead Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Weapon VIII, Web-Weaver, Spider-Punk, and an unknown Spider-Woman to the Sinister Squadron's headquarters. Araña and her team have shaken off everything Madame May has thrown at them. But when Spider-Punk attacks her in her stronghold, Peter Parker’s evil aunt extends an electrifying welcome. Araña has begun a relationship with Spider-Punk. Now, she hugs her unconscious boyfriend. Can Araña triumph over the woman who destroyed Madame Web’s headquarters, imprisoned her friends, and captured the Web Of Life And Destiny?

 

In Spider-Society #4, Madame May gloats. As she relates the hardships that transformed her, May reveals how she turned tragedy into triumph. Madame May took control of her future by spinning a web of lies and becoming a master manipulator. The people she targets are not the villains who imperil society but the spider heroes who endanger their loved ones. Like the Vulture, Madame May sees the spider-heroes as a sickness that twists good people into self-righteous vigilantes little better than the “evildoers” they fight. So, May plans to use the Web Of Life And Destiny to eradicate this spider infestation.

 

Araña’s team isn’t a well-oiled machine. They are new to working together. Yet they respect her despite previously leading them to defeat. In Alex Segura's story, the spider heroes dig deep one last time, knowing the results will be catastrophic if they fail. As Araña strategizes on the fly, she demonstrates what it means to be a hero by braving the brunt of the storm. But then, Araña knows that their lives, and perhaps the universe, hang in the balance in Spider-Society #4. 

 

 

 

Art

Before them, Madame Web, Miguel O'Hara, and Peter Parker hang from Aunt May's web. Behind them, Lady Octopus, Gwen Goblin, Hunter-Spider, and a six-armed Hulk await. Spider-Punk abandons the pack to attack Aunt May. She catches him by the neck, lifts him with one hand, and shoots electricity through his neck. As Spider-Punk lies at the foot of her stairs, green and muscular Travesty knocks out the spider-wolverine Weapon VIII while Lady Octopus lashes Spider-Gwen with her iron tentacles.

 

The Black Widow hood covering her eyes casts a gray pall over Aunt May's nose and chin as green-tinged memories fill the page beneath her. Heroes and villains battle amid green and blue backgrounds, while energy attacks fill pages with yellow and orange. As a red-haired hologram hovers above Miguel's blue-and-red glove, bats fill the blue evening sky, evoking the ravens that flocked around Gwen when an apocalypse struck Earth-65. Yet, throughout Spider-Society #4, a woman with a red-and-white suit and orange-yellow visors remains central in the fighting.

 

Amid Scott Godlewski’s Spiderific action scenes and Matt Milla’s vibrant panels, Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black letters into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The words grow bold for inflection, enlarge for raised voices, and rarely shrink. As Araña evades Madame May's energy blasts and trades blows with her nemesis, she pauses the fight when buzzing erupts from a concealed pocket. Then, Spider-Cat's meows prompt Araña to rejoin the battle and charge toward an explosive conclusion. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

It shouldn’t have come to this. Miguel O’Hara should have tackled Peter Parker’s evil aunt. But in Spider-Society #4, Araña forges a punk rock guitarist, a fashionista, a science experiment, a little-known Spider-Woman, and more of her arachnid allies into a Spiderific assault squad. As she puts their lives on the line to protect everything that matters, Araña gets help from seasoned veterans and those awaiting their chance to shine.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

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