Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1 Review

 

Writers: Steve Behling & Riccardo Secchi

Artist: Francesco D’Ippolito

Colorist: Lucio Ruvidotti

Letterer: Laura Tartaglia

Cover Artists: Francesco D’Ippolito & Lucio Ruvidotti; Andrea Freccero; Phil Noto; Ron Lim & Israel Silva; Skottie Young

Designer: Kat Walkington

Editors: Mikey J Basso, Mark Paniccia & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 30, 2025

 

When the school day ends, Goofy’s fellow students invite him out for the evening. Goofy appreciates the offer, but others depend on him. So, he returns home to tend to his insects. How will Goofy's love of insects impact his homelife? And how might a spider-bite alter his future? Let's grab a slice of Aunt Tessie's pie, leap into Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1, and see!

 

Story

In Steve Behling and Riccardo Secchi’s story, Goofy lives in a house with his aunt Tessie. She awakens him each morning, makes him his meals, drives him to and from school, and helps him pursue his interests. Others might denigrate his time-consuming idiosyncrasies, but she finds Goofy's approach to life charming.

 

In Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1, Goofy is fascinated with entomology. He looks forward to each class with Professor Gyro. Like Aunt Tessie, Professor Gyro looks after Goofy. As his top student, he encourages Goofy to apply the same focus and vigor to his other classes. But Goofy single-mindedly pursues his chief interest, and no one forces him to divert time from what he loves.

 

While Goofy fixates on insects, he's not self-centered. When he sees others in trouble, he tries to lend a hand. Goofy also respects life in all its forms. It would be easy to discount Goofy as clueless in Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1. Becoming "Spider-Goofy" may initially go to his head. But his dedication to protecting others helps him become a Spider-Goofy that other Spider-Men would readily work alongside. That is, if they can get used to Goofy's catchphrase.

 

 

 

Art

Goofy wears a red vest and blue slacks, along with a turtleneck shirt, gloves, and a hat. Aunt Tessie dresses in a long-sleeve blouse and skirt. Like her hair, Francesco D’Ippolito gives her kitchen a 1960s sensibility. The Pterygota swarm that nests in her cupboard cleans a pie plate before flying through the window to enjoy their day. Goofy counts his bees off with his fingers as he greets them each morning.

 

Lucio Ruvidotti lavishes a palette of cheery pastels on Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1. Professor Gyro stands out in his yellow hair, white face, and orange beak. As he points to the colorful chemical formula on his whiteboard, his red shirt, blue slacks, green hat, and white gloves link him with his most devoted student. Green clothes, hats, interior flooring, grass, foliage, and kitchen cupboards imbue the urban setting with a pastoral feel.

 

Laura Tartaglia fills yellow narrative boxes and white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters. The yellow boxes introduce characters, locate readers in time and space, and clarify Goofy's entomological remarks. Words grow bold for intonation, and Goofy's thoughts float in puffy clouds as he explores his newfound abilities. Sound effects accompany moments of pain, sorrow, and elation in Disney’s reimagining of Amazing Fantasy #15. Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

While Goofy shares a love of science with Peter Parker, he has more A-hyucks than anger, as his friends long to include him in their activities. But while Goofy Parker shines, Uncle Ben threatens to steal readers' hearts in Marvel & Disney: What If...? Goofy Became Spider-Man #1.

 

Rating: 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.