Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Nathan Stockman
Colorist: Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Paco Medina & Edgar Delgado; Francesco Mobili & Moreno Dinisio
Designer: Adam Del Re
Editors: Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 5, 2025
Bailey Briggs didn't ask to compete in the Dragon's Challenge. His mother isn't happy that Daredevil took him to Madripoor without her permission. Her ten-year-old son missed school and battled A-List foes. Tabitha Briggs won't even let Bailey play Robux. Will she allow Bailey to keep donning the red-and-blue and battle the Deadly Foes Of Spider-Boy? Let's leap into Spider-Boy #17 and find out!
Story
Spider-Boy may respect Daredevil, but he's not happy. His mentor gave his mom another reason to ground him for life. After skipping school for years, Bailey can't afford to take weeks off while he tries to catch up with others his age. So when Daredevil seeks definitive answers on the Gaping Maw ninja clan's activities, Bailey keeps mum.
Bailey has finally secured his mother's love. He and Tabitha have made a home together at the FEAST center. In Spider-Boy #17, Bailey returns to find that Boy-Spider has taken over his life. Madame Monstrosity gave him a brother using his Human and Spider DNA, but Bailey and Boy-Spider have never been close. When Boy-Spider steals his room and friends, Bailey battles his brother to win them back. After all, Tabitha Briggs chose Boy-Spider and rejected Bailey before Spider-Man restored him to the Web Of Life And Destiny.
When Tabitha gets her boys to see reason, Boy-Spider can't help Spider-Boy recover his lost ground at school. After having his mother all to himself, Boy-Spider isn't comfortable sharing her in Dan Slott's story. But when danger threatens family and home, Bailey must decide between securing his place in school or rescuing the boy with his Human and Spider DNA.
Art
After turning his back on Daredevil, Bailey spots his double disembarking the school bus with Marco and Larissa. Seeing an imposter stealing his friends, Bailey launches a vicious kick at his lookalike. Spider-Boy and Boy-Spider shift into monster mode as they battle amid overturned trash cans. Nathan Stockman shows spiders scurrying from bins and dumpsters as the Human Spiders fight in Spider-Boy #17. Tabitha clutches her hissing cat as the displaced spiders scurry across the trash-strewn street or climb nearby walls.
The Orange and Black villains sport similar costume differences as Spider-Boy and Boy-Spider. Colorful produce fills brown boxes behind Mr Cricket’s green head as he speaks on the phone. While Bailey and Boy-Spider tussle behind Tabitha's back, they share the same auburn hair. But as an orange shape leaps before Bailey as he deflects Daredevil's question, Erick Arciniega hangs two yellow shapes over the brothers when their mother glances their way.
While characters speak uppercase black letters into dialogue balloons, Boy-Spider speaks with cloudy balloons, and a combative fantasy spider shouts words into white stars. Words grow bold for intonation, shrink for lowered voices, swell for volume, and turn red for emphasis. Joe Caramagna helps us hear the boys' arachnidian argument in Spider-Boy #17. Sound effects announce the orange and black duo's attack and overwhelm Spider-Boy's mind when his spider-sense awakens. Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
When Spider-Boy returns home, he discovers that Boy-Spider has stolen his life. As the genetically bonded brothers and their mother discover they must share their time with those they love, another would-be hero seeks a better future for her family. Spider-Boy #17 is about finding our place in the world and what we are willing to risk to attain it.
Rating 9.6/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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