Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31 Review

 

Writer: Cody Ziglar

Artist: Luigi Zagaria

Colorist: Bryan Valenza

Letterer: Cory Petit

Cover Artists: Federico Vicentini & Ceci De La Cruz; Sara Pichelli & Federico Blee; Frany

Production Designer: Sarah Spadaccini

Editors: Tom Groneman, Mark Basso, Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Cy Pedro Beltran, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 19, 2025

 

While Deadpool and Shift battled Midas and Output, Miles repaired Ellie’s phone so they could teleport back to Agent Gao’s hideout. After the two Deadpool & Spidey teams work together to knock out Midas and unhand Output, Miles’ storyteller god senses an interesting development. Then Agent Gao strides in, rocking a Greek outfit and a glowing sword. Is she channeling a higher power or just listening to Coldplay? Let's put on our vibranium suits, leap into Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31, and find out!

 

Story

Agent Gao no longer speaks in terms of justice. Nor does she love the city she once served. Like Rabble, Julia Gao is hurting and seeks a target for her loss. She forgets that Spider-Man teamed up with her squad to help Scorpion, Gust, and Hightail protect New York against costumed villains. And despite New Yorkers arising amid the Gang War to overturn Fisk's Law, she blames Spider-Man for shuttering her Cape Killers crew. So when a mysterious stranger in a dark alley offers her a boon, she takes it. In Cody Ziglar's story, Agent Gao turns her back on democracy. All she wants is the power to enforce her will.

 

After Deadpool mistook Shift for Miles, Spider-Man, Deadpool, and Ellie clashed in a not-so-dark alley. But they’re (mostly) putting their grievances behind them. In Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31, Miles and Wade confront the new-and-improved Agent Gao. Despite Wade's impulsiveness, Miles and Deadpool fight side-by-side to take down the hate-filled, high-powered herald. While Deadpool is over the moon to battle alongside Spidey, Miles isn't ready to make Wade his BFF. But then, Wade speaks of matters Miles doesn't understand while Miles talks to someone no one else can see.

 

As Miles and Deadpool serve up the A-Team action, Shift and Ellie focus on Agent Gao's Not Ready For Prime Time Players. It’s too early to know if Shift’s relationship with Ellie will evolve like Ms Marvel’s. Still, both understand what it's like not to belong anywhere. This crossover began with a high-flying phone call. After Ellie explains why she fought so hard to fight alongside her father, Shift yearns to have a similar talk with his brother in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31.

 

 

 

 

Art

Agent Gao's blue, white, and gold outfit coordinates with her paid help. Miles’ purple and red suit bonds him with the equally colorful Kwaku Anansi. Shift's red-and-black links him with Ellie and his new buddy (who tried to kill him but apologized later). Bryan Valenza makes Agent Gao’s eyes burn with the same yellow and orange fire that leaps from her curved sword. After she unleashes an Alderaan-incinerating laser beam, heroes and mercs regard Agent Gao amid light green smoke. Then Miles dances amid a yellow venom show that would make Dazzler applaud.

 

Agent Gao’s curved sword hovers before her before unleashing the sun's energy. Deadpool performs acrobatics to attack Agent Gao from behind. Midas and Output demonstrate resilience as Ellie leaps, and Shift gets super-stretchy and pays homage to his trickster god. But after Luigi Zagaria shows Shift and Ellie taking a selfie, Agent Gao does a thunderclap in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31.

 

Cory Petit thwips uppercase letters into dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Miles' thoughts appear as white letters in red narrative boxes. Agent Gao's white balloons glow yellow, while 3D logos pop from balloons when heroes and mercs fight together. The dialogue grows bold for intonation, enlarges for volume, and rarely shrinks. Sound effects enhance snapping weapons, breaking bones, explosions, Deadpool getting jerked around, and Anansi's sweet champion thwipping for victory. Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a copy for review. 

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

All great stories poise characters on the cusp of change. As Ellie tries to pull a sword out of stone and gods prepare to renew old conflicts, heroes and villains reexamine and forge new identities in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 Review

 

Writer: Cody Ziglar, Curtis Baxter & Danny Lore

Artist: David Baldeón, Alitha Martinez & Elena Casagrande

Colorist: Dono Sánchez-Almara, Ceci De La Cruz & Dee Cunniffe

Letterer: Cory Petit

Cover Artists: Federico Vicentini & Erick Arciniega; Dike Ruan & Moreno Dinisio

Design: Jay Bowen

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 21, 2024

 

While he enjoys crimefighting with his friends as Spider-Man, Miles Morales looks forward to personal time with his friends. But Miles won't spend Spring Break attending art shows or street fairs with Tiana, Ganke, Shift, and his baby sister Billie. Instead, he’ll face a foe scarier than Hobgoblin, Rabble, Agent Gao, or the Cape Killers. Can Miles forge a fragile peace with his irascible abuela Gloria Morales? And what other adventures might Miles undertake in this multi-story special issue? Let's grab our venom swords, leap into the Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1, and find out!

 

On The Road: Story

Gloria recently returned to Puerto Rico and needs help unpacking. Jeff and Rio kindly offer her Miles' services. When you're in a bad mood, everything bothers you, and Miles finds plenty to grumble about. Still, when he arrives in Puerto Rico's capital city, he's stunned by its beauty. His flight arrives early, so he explores San Juan and befriends three generous teens. Then his phone rings and his abuela chews him out for keeping her waiting. Miles boards a bus for a circuitous journey filled with stops and starts until he reaches Gloria in Trujillo Alto.

 

In Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1, Gloria makes it clear from the outset that she expects him to be on his best behavior. Miles soon discovers why. His grandmother presents him to her sisters and wants him to impress them. Their discussion helps Miles realize why she had to forsake her life in New York City and return to the island of her youth. Miles doesn't don his spidey suit in On The Road, but like the friends he met in San Juan, he uses his abilities to help the endangered. Cody Ziglar’s heartwarming story celebrates Latino culture and sparkles with humor as Miles and Gloria find common ground and forge peace between warring locals.

 

Leyendas: Story

In Curtis Baxter’s story, Miles isn’t griping about giving up time with his friends or flying the friendly skies in Economy. Instead, he complains about being cooped up in his abuela’s house. The skies have grown distinctly unfriendly. The wind howls. The rain batters the roof. Gloria suggests a divine reason for the hurricane. His parents have arrived, and his mother tries to nip Miles' curiosity in the bud, but even strong-willed Rio can't keep Spider-Man down. Miles doesn't brave the elements to save lives or protect the locals’ homes and infrastructure. Nor does he meet the mythical Juracán, who lashed Puerto Rico with a storm in a fit of jealousy. Still, he makes a new friend in Curtis Baxter’s story about urban legends and learns how the stories that define us change with the times.

 

Night Shift: Story

While On The Road and Leyenas ignored Miles’ vampirism, he’s struggling to cope with his new identity in Night Shift. Danny Lore’s story doesn’t associate Miles with the vampire that haunted the Puerto Rican town of Moca in 1975. Instead, it focuses on how isolating being different can be. Miles fears that Doctor Strange’s spell will wane and his bloodlust will return. Instead of seeking a talking cure with Doc Sasquatch or looking to Tiana for moral support, Miles fixes on Bloodline. He figures that her experience in fighting vampires might give her insights into controlling his unwanted urges. Miles may be grasping at straws, but he’s desperate. Reaching out to Bloodline is a dangerous proposition, given their complicated history. And even if she’s inclined to help, Miles knows how she’ll react if she suspects he's losing control. 

 

 

 

Art

David Baldeón wows with the stunning beauty of Puerto Rico in Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1. His portrayal of Gloria and her sisters is fanciful and endearing. Miles moves swiftly through action scenes and demonstrates respect, nonchalance, leadership, and bravery amid his interactions with the locals. Dono Sánchez-Almara lavishes On The Road with a loaded palette. Her vibrant colors remind mainlanders of the tropical beauty that suffuses these sparkling jewels dotting the azure seas.

 

While Leyenas continues Miles’ vacation in Puerto Rico, Spider-Man steals the show. Alitha Martinez suffuses interiors with familial warmth and belonging, while Spider-Man braves the raging forces of nature. Miles looks dauntless as the elements pound him, and the person he meets exhibits flair and glamour. Ceci de la Cruz lavishes bright colors on Gloria's home, and the red on Miles' black suit shines amid the darkness. But everything glows on this dark and stormy night as Miles thwips toward the heart of the black and gray storm lashing Puerto Rico.

 

Elena Casagrande communicates the isolation Miles feels as the weight of his vampirism threatens to crush him. Dee Cunniffe lavishes blues, reds, pinks, and lavender on this story about navigating the ever-changing landscape of friendship.

 

Cory Petit thwips black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons in Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1. He shares Miles' thoughts as white letters in red narrative boxes and his journal entries as black letters on tan parchment. The delicate font never shrinks and emboldens for inflection. Energizing sound effects accompany a runaway vehicle and a storm’s ferocity. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 reminds us of the importance of self-care and family, that those we love may die but never abandon us, and the importance of achieving our potential. Along the way, Miles learns more about his Puerto Rican heritage and struggles to cope with his vampirism. The epilogue showcases the dangers awaiting Brooklyn's Spider-Man in forthcoming issues.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

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

Deadpool #5 Review

 

Writer: Cody Ziglar

Artist: Andrea Di Vito

Colorist: Guru-eFX

Letterer: Joe Sabino

Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke; Jan Bazaldua & Israel Silva; Sergio Dávila & Ceci De La Cruz; Yasmine Putri; Annie Wu

Designer: Carlos Lao

Editors: MR Daniel & Drew Baumgartner; Ellie Pyle & Mark Basso; CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 21, 2024

 

Deadpool wants to protect his Human daughter. Ellie insists on being part of his life. Taskmaster continually gripes about his expenses, yet he sticks around when Deadpool blows his office renovation budget on a rooftop sauna. Princess, Deadpool's alien wolf symbiote daughter, and Doug, who keeps the office humming, are also valued members of his family. But when Taskmaster and Deadpool storm a death cult’s temple, their leader makes Deadpool fear for his life. Can Death Grip nullify Deadpool’s healing ability? And if Deadpool dies, who will care for the rat in the office water cooler? Let's leap into Deadpool #5 and find out!

 

Story

Death Grip’s desire to master his fighting skills made him hunger for supremacy. Now Death Grip worships death, and Deadpool is the ultimate prize. Deadpool's healing ability makes it impossible to kill him. But what if Death Grip could remove it? He has everything a cult leader could want: a temple, subservient followers, and the ability to kill anyone who displeases him without repercussions. But none of that matters as long as someone lives who he can't kill.

 

Ellie enjoys her life with the Prestons but yearns to reconnect with her dad. She’s a whip-smart girl with a healing ability like her father’s and doesn't need protection like a fragile decoration. Ellie can use SHIELD technology to teleport anywhere. If Deadpool sends her away, she will only return. Ellie passed Taskmaster’s combat and physical training tests with flying colors. She wants to go on field missions and won’t charge Deadpool for expenses. Yet when Death Grip invites Deadpool to his temple, Deadpool and Taskmaster leave on the down low. In Deadpool #5, Ellie and Princess are of one mind. Deadpool’s daughters are not interested in Daddy Day Care. They’re going to be part of the team!

 

 

 

If superheroes kill villains, are they still the good guys? Or does taking a life make them antiheroes? Cody Ziglar's story wrestles with what it means to take someone's life. Deadpool has bought enough shiny toys to know everything comes at a price. He is proud of Ellie's accomplishments. He is glad that cancer doesn't accompany her healing abilities. But the mercenary business involves taking lives. Like the blemishes covering his body and the burned taste buds that prevent him from enjoying his food, killing another person devours part of one's soul. Deadpool uses humor to push away the darkness and prevent him from becoming like Death Grip. But not taking things seriously also has a cost. Deadpool has paid the price for killing others and wants to save Ellie from footing that bill. But will Ellie let him?

 

 

Art

Blood streams from Deadpool’s chest as he pushes himself off the floor in Deadpool #5. Death Grip’s magical hands blast a pillar and send Deadpool flying. Deadpool tosses smoke grenades to let him get within sword reach. Death Grip uses magic to hang Deadpool upside down at eye level but doesn’t pull off Deadpool’s mask to steal Mary Jane’s special kiss. Princess stalks the office and looms like King Kong after knocking down an office door. After reading a note filled with hearts, Ellie frowns.

 

Guru-eFX’s bright palette imbues Andrea Di Vito’s taught action and character moments with ambiance and contrast. Death Grip’s white energy radiates a blue glow in the purple temple. Overhead lights allow characters to shine and cast shadows amid the green textured walls and the littered, grimy floor of Deadpool’s green office. Stippled pale red on ivory enlivens an otherwise blank background as Elie rolls up her pink shirt sleeves. Yellow, orange, and pink fill the sky as Deadpool #5 reaches its deadly end.

 

 

 

Joe Sabino stabs white and colored dialogue balloons and narrative boxes with black and white uppercase lettering. The font shrinks for lowered voices, emboldens for inflection, and swells for increased volume. Death Grip's spells appear as purple symbols in blue dialogue balloons and as white symbols against the purple temple walls. Colorful and energetic sound effects enliven Deadpool and Death Grip's deathmatch, enhance Taskmaster's holy war against priests, and help us understand why an arrow bears a smiley face. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Deadpool finds strength in being the Family Guy when Death Grip goes Godzilla. Ellie cries, "Hi ho, Silver," Taskmaster gets a promotion, and Deadpool gives Princess carte blanche to eat bad guys (because they’re so yummy) in Deadpool #5.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

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

Daredevil: Gang War #3 Review

 

Writer: Erica Schultz

Penciler: Sergio Dávila

Inker: Sean Parsons

Colorist: Ceci De La Cruz

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Sergio Dávila, Sean Parsons & Ceci De La Cruz; Paco Medina & Ceci De La Cruz

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 7, 2024

 

Madame Masque is turning up the heat in Hell’s Kitchen. She’s upset the Owl hooted about her plans to Daredevil. Madame Masque didn’t want Matt Murdock’s stand-in to take The Heat out of play. How will she reward the Owl for his interference? And how will Madame Masque ensure Elektra Natchios doesn’t interfere with her attempt to rule the gangs of New York? Let’s grab our sonic sai, leap into Daredevil: Gang War #3, and find out!

 

Story

Leland Owlsley looks after his interests. But helping heroes invites Madame Masque's ire, and she plays for keeps. Like Hammerhead, Silvermane, and her father, Count Nefaria, the Owl underestimates her. Is he a match for her new assassin?

 

Madame Masque gave her assassin new orders. Bellona’s days of supplying gangs like The Heat are over. Her next challenge is to take on Daredevil. Alchemax forged Bellona into a living weapon. Like Elektra and X-23, Bellona has a tortured past. She relishes any chance to employ her fighting prowess for an employer who values her skills. Will her adamantium claws help her succeed where so many others have failed?

 

In Daredevil: Gang War #3, Elektra may be minding the store until Matt gives up the collar, but that doesn’t mean her heart isn’t in this fight. She’s through being used and hurting people for money. So, when she sees a tortured soul like Bellona, Elektra feels compassion. Sure, Elektra will use every weapon at her disposal to defend herself. But if Elektra can pierce the armor of pain, anger, and self-pity insulating Bellona from her humanity, all the better.

 

Aside from the gangland fighting, Erica Schultz reminds readers how everyday citizens are faring. Hoodlums and minor gangs are taking advantage of Madame Masque’s madness. Can parents flee the warzone to safeguard their children? They will if Elektra Natchios, aka Daredevil, has anything to say about it! 

 

 

 

 

Art

Daredevil: Gang War #3 begins with the Owl in flight. He alights atop a building. As he confronts Madame Masque, Sergio Dávila and Sean Parsons show us smoke rising beyond the crenelated rooftop. Smoke fills every scene, suggesting the fire in Hell's Kitchen rages out of control. The stylized scars accentuating Bellona’s features suggest a desperate need to assert her individuality. Her fight with the Owl captures every brutal moment and the energy and determination that propels their flurry of movements.

 

Sergio Dávila and Sean Parsons also capitalize on human moments. A child gazes up in awe at Daredevil. Despite the dangerous circumstances, Elektra smiles and spins her katanas to please him. Madame Masque seems to lean into the wall in one panel, suggesting she's not nearly as impervious as she appears. The artists end the issue as they begin. Only this time, it's Daredevil flying toward her next destination.

 

Ceci De La Cruz loads her palette with bold, contrasting colors in Daredevil: Gang War #3. The yellow and orange smoke hints at the fury consuming Hell's Kitchen. The red and black in Bellona and Daredevil's costumes hint that both have endured difficult pasts. Red and green also form a strong theme, from Owl and Bellona's faceoff to glimpses of She-Hulk interposed with Daredevil to the thugs terrorizing a family trying to escape the chaos.

 

The single note that rises highest in Ceci De La Cruz's symphony may be the coloration of Madame Masque's disguise. Light and shadow caress every curve, bringing brown, green, yellow, and even a hint of white to the golden mask. All these character moments and breathtaking battles occur at night. Yet beneath the canopy of glittering stars, nothing hides in shadow.

 

Clayton Cowles fills white dialogue balloons with black, uppercase lettering. The spacing between words and lettering enhances readability, and the thin font grows bold for inflection. White lowercase words fill red-edged black narrative boxes to reveal Daredevil’s thoughts. Colored and transparent sound effects enhance the furious action sparingly in Daredevil: Gang War #3. Curiously, a rocket banging off She-Hulk and speeding toward the reader almost goes unnoticed amid the cataclysmic chaos overtaking New York City.

 

Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing an issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As two assassins—one driven by pain, the other by atonement—collide, ordinary New Yorkers face the collapse of civilization, and a seemingly unconquerable foe betrays a moment of weakness in Daredevil: Gang War #3.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

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