Indigo Children TP Vol 1 Review

 

Writers: Curt Pires & Rockwell White

Artist: Alex Diotto

Colorist: Dee Cunniffe

Letterer & Production Design: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Logo: Fenando Rosales

Production: Erika Schnatz

Cover Artists: Alex Diotto & Dee Cunniffe

Publisher: Image

Price: $16.99

Release Date: November 22, 2023

 

Alexei thinks like an MIT professor. He perceives things others don't. And the boy dreams of his previous life on Mars. As Alexei boards a plane with his mother, he glances into a fellow passenger's mind. His whispered warning prompts his mother to warn an air marshal. But amid the confrontation, the terrorist activates his explosives. How will this tragedy change our world? And how will it signal the rise of talented young people like Alexei? Let’s leap into Indigo Children TP Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

Alexei didn't die in the explosion. Years later, a British reporter tries to find him. A tip from a mysterious source directs Donovan Price to Russia. But after leaving the airport, people follow him. And when they decide Donovan is getting too close, an assassin strikes. But Donovan knows the dangerous path he treads. He has cultivated friendships in other countries to protect him. In Russia, that man is Nikki. With his help, perhaps Donovan can find Alexei.

 

Curt Pires and Rockwell White take readers on a hunt to find Alexei and other gifted individuals. In Indigo Children TP Vol 1, these young adults share Alexei's dream. When they unite, they remember their time together. But reuniting is not without risk.

 

An organization observes each of these talented young adults. It has invested significant resources in helping them forget their time together on Earth and their previous lives on Mars. As Donovan and Nikki help Alexei reunite with his friends, another young man with otherworldly powers serves this organization. Like Alexei, he awaits the opportunity to find the Indigo Children.

 

Art

The Gherkin rises in the starry sky as Donovan Price works in his apartment. Cyrillic letters accompany a familiar symbol adorning a restaurant. A military truck trundles toward the security gate to a cluster of buildings that is not a town. From Chicago's skyscrapers to a crowded palace and Kabul's chaotic streets, Alex Diotto sends readers on a world tour in Indigo Children TP Vol 1.

 

Orange and pink fight for dominance as vehicles fly through the Martian sky. As people funnel along curved elevated walkways, several red-robed figures gather on a rooftop. After an eventful discussion, one levitates into the red sky. Orange and yellow fire destroy the blue domes. Such visions remind the Indigo Children of their distant past, while one of levitating toward the Sphinx feels more recent.

 

While Alex Diotto lavishes two planets' worth of information on panel-packed pages, Dee Cunniffe's colors imbue the relatable characters with depth and reality in Indigo Children TP Vol 1. The limited palette dazzles as the characters display their abilities. Yet skin tones and backgrounds ground you amid such otherworldly events.

 

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou fills white and colored dialogue balloons with uppercase letters. Shrunen lowercase letters reveal lowered voices, while bold letters indicate intonation. As raised voices enlarge words, emotions change the font and balloon shapes. The characters’ eyes glow as they think purple words in lavender clouds or project telepathic white letters into transparent purple shapes. Sound effects enhance characters defying their captors and daring rescues. And then there's Nikki, cracking his knuckles before giving bullies a taste of their own medicine. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Some Indigo Children enjoy a life of ease and comfort. Others live as exiles and fear for their lives. One young man can ignite their latent memories and talents. Indigo Children TP Vol 1 is a fast-paced story that reminds readers we are capable of more than we imagine.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For covers from the original series run, see my review on Comic Book Dispatch. 

Lost Fantasy #2 Review

 

Writers: Curt Pires & Rockwell White

Artists: Luca Casalanguida & Alex Diotto

Colorists: Mark Dale & Dee Cunniffe

Letterer: Micah Myers

Logo & Cover Design: Fernando Rosales

Additional Design: Wesley Griffith

Cover Artists: Luca Casalanguida, Alex Diotto & Tyler Boss

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 11, 2025

 

Henry Blackheart is an FBI Special Consultant. He hails from House Blackheart, an institution that trains gifted people to preserve the balance between our world and Terra. Despite the efforts of all five houses, creatures escape the world below and wreak havoc on the surface. What will Henry Blackheart uncover when he investigates a mass murder in Montana? And whatever happened to the Indigo Children? Let’s cast our runes, select a magical weapon, leap into Lost Fantasy #2, and find out!

 

A World Beneath: Story

The Sheriff dislikes outsiders interfering with his investigations. But after Henry glimpses the killing in a comatose witness’ mind, the Sheriff assigns his deputy to babysitting duties. Henry follows a trail of blood into the woods near the slaying. But as he studies a shred of fur, monsters attack.

 

In Lost Fantasy #2, Henry awakens in the hospital wing of the Black Pillar. He remembers slaying monsters before getting shot. Cyrus Blackheart tells him the shooter used an enchanted bullet. His adoptive father urges Henry to rest and let another agent continue the investigation. But a secret stands between the two men. As it eats away at Henry, he finds consolation in alcohol and drugs. Cyrus may have already sent another agent to Montana. Still, Henry refuses to sit on the sidelines until he discovers what his father hides.

 

A World Beneath, the first story in Lost Fantasy #2, is also the name of the organization that protects our world. Like Men In Black, Cyrus’ organization protects our world from creatures often relegated to myth and legend. Curt Pires’ urban fantasy follows Agent Nihlas’ investigation of the murder site. While the deputy attributes scratches in the blood-splattered wall to a bear, Nihlas suspects another type of creature made them.

 

A World Beneath: Art

As a cloaked woman visits a club filled with Humans and horned drinkers, she remembers slaying a tall, spiky monster. Luca Casalanguida paints her tiny silhouette in the forest as Henry confronts a golem with glowing eyes. While evoking the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the Black Pillar resembles the head of Discovery One. Like a miniature Death Star, the globe towers above pedestrians. It absorbs the surrounding light while filling the city with an eerie glow.

 

The gray and blue hospital wing reflects Henry’s white hair and black and gray attire. Nihlas’ orange shirt helps him stand out among the muted colors of the Sheriff’s and Deputy’s world. Mark Dale fills the green forest with red light, reminding us of the slain teens, Henry’s injury, and the dangers facing Nihlas. At least Nihlas has brought a friend along in Lost Fantasy #2. Like the runes Henry and Nihlas cast in the air, Ursa radiates colored light as he watches TV in a cheap motel and yearns for pay-per-view.

 

Indigo Children: Exodus Part 2: Story

While Rand interrogates Alexei as a child, Curt Pires and Rockwell White transport us to Mars. Indigo Prime and his friends foresee the end of their world. Indigo Five disagrees. The World Council also believes that Indigo Prime's predictions are farfetched. When eruptions rock their world, Indigo Prime hopes their memories, values, and spirits can live on.

 

Curt Pires and Rockwell White’s Kryptonian Dilemma is a sociological science fiction story. As occurs during crises on Earth, finger-pointing and backstabbing ensue on Mars. A touch of humor leavens this high-stakes, fast-paced, seven-page heist story in Lost Fantasy #2, leaving readers wanting more.

 

Indigo Children: Exodus Part 2: Art

Yellow and orange fires erupt from the rounded blue buildings and domes. The Indigo Children's scarlet robes contrast with the blue officials and guards. As people scramble for their flying vehicles, Dee Cunniffe casts robots carrying containers through a warehouse in blue. Alex Diotto shows the tiny red-robed figures confronting the blue vessel that could preserve the seeds of their civilization. Their features remind us that, despite superficial similarities, Alexei and the other Indigo Children on Earth are not these people. Yet some portion of them lingers in their human hosts.

 

Lettering

Micah Myers fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters that convey the tangled emotions surrounding Henry. Yellow stars contain radio transmissions and remind us of the conspiracy surrounding the slayings. Sound effects amplify a fight to the death as Nihlas confronts another opponent with glowing eyes. Three-dimensional sound effects accompany chaos on Mars. The Indigos speak their dire words in white balloons and share their desperate thoughts in colored narrative boxes. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Robert E Howard saw civilization as artificial and barbarism as the natural state of Humanity. In A World Beneath and Indigo Children: Exodus, Curt Pires and Rockwell White study the threats facing two worlds. These stories in Lost Fantasy #2 remind us that our differences can keep us at each other's throats. Or they can prompt us to extraordinary measures to fight for the people, values, and ideas we cherish.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Minor Arcana #1 Review

 

Writer, Artist & Colorist: Jeff Lemire

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artists: Jeff Lemire; Tula Lotay & Dee Cunniffe; Dustin Nguyen; David Mack; Jenny Frison; Fernando Rosales; Michael Dialynas; Kevin Wada; Soo Lee

Designers: Tom Muller & Grace Park

Editors: Maya Bollinger, Eric Harburn & Matt Gagnon

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 4, 2024

 

After years in the big city, Theresa returns to her hometown. She dreads the move, but her mother needs her. Can Theresa make this situation work? Or is it a dumpster fire that will incinerate her life? Let’s grab our Tarot decks, leap into Minor Arcana #1, and find out!

 

Story

The bus driver shouts at her. Theresa awakens from a dream. She has arrived! Theresa lumbers out and glares at Limberlost. She drags her roller bag to the local Psychic shop. But Theresa can't face her mom yet and heads to Stella’s Café for a cup of joe. The waitress invites her to sit anywhere she likes. Theresa takes a table and stares out the window at her mom’s shop. Suddenly, the waitress is getting all personal, reminding her of their High School days. Theresa can’t take this. Not now. So, there’s nothing for it. It’s time to reenter her mom’s world.

 

Nothing has changed. Theresa's mom welcomes her warmly. Then Vickie mentions that she expected Theresa yesterday. Vickie also wonders why Theresa doesn't take more pride in her appearance. Vickie dresses to impress her clients and create the supernatural aura they love. But all Theresa sees is a sham. Her mother puts on a show. Vickie preys on people's sadness in this no-hope town that most dream of escaping but never do. Theresa can't respect her mom. Suddenly, all the old frustrations and anger arise. Theresa hurries to the local tavern. But drinking will only bring a momentary escape. Besides, she is on the wagon. So, Theresa tracks down what used to satisfy her. There's nothing there for her now. Still, there is comfort in memories.

 

In Minor Arcana #1, Jeff Lemire tackles the difficulties of escaping our past. Theresa moved away, but new friends and work didn’t fill the aching void inside her. Now, her mother is sick. Vickie needs her. And according to Vickie, Limberlost needs Theresa. No preppy influencers or commercial interests are revitalizing Limberlost. In this small community, people seek connection. Theresa observed her mother with clients while growing up. So what if it is all a show? The future is a scary place. Theresa can offer them guidance. Theresa can assure mourners that their loved ones still care about them. The clients want to believe what Theresa will tell them. After all, doesn’t everyone need something to believe in?

 

Minor Arcana #1 is subtitled The Fool: Part One. But is the Fool card up or reversed? If it falls upright, the Tarot card offers the possibility of new beginnings. But if reversed, it portends folly, lack of direction, and poor judgment. Theresa’s life up ‘til now seems rooted in the reversed card. Perhaps there is still time to turn her life around.

 

Art

Theresa's cheekbones jut out, and lines surround her eyes when she frowns. The wind blows her straggly hair out of her drawn face as the slim woman drags her roller bag past barren trees and old stone and brick buildings. A church steeple rises above the thrift shop and the coin laundry. While most people Theresa passes return her frown, Kelly’s eyes glow, and a smile stretches across her face when Theresa says something Kelly wants to hear.

 

Jeff Lemire lavishes watercolors on his hand-drawn art in Minor Arcana #1. The green and blue skies press down on this town of yellow, brown, and gray buildings. Kelly's red jacket outshines Teresa's gray pants and the green stripes on her sweater. The warm brown and yellow psychic shop suggests vitality. Red neon signs glow in the windows. The drawn drapes hint at purple. But Theresa dreads entering the shop, with its red walls, purple drapes and tablecloth, and a purple lamp that shines down on a smoky yellow and brown globe.

 

Steve Wands conjures black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Frequent intonation emboldens and enlarges words. The wonky wheel’s clacking draws a passerby’s attention as Theresa heads for the house she used to call home. Yet the knocking that fills her mother’s shop could transform Theresa’s life in Minor Arcana #1. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

A dream plagues Theresa while she sleeps. She returns to it again and again. She ran away from her hometown for as long as she could. Now, she is back in Limberlost. Theresa must face whatever her subconscious and the universe want to tell her in Minor Arcana #1. After all, life is but a dream.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art 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.

Blow Away #1 Review

 

Writer: Zac Thompson

Artist: Nicola Izzo

Colorist: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: D. C. Hopkins

Cover Artists: Annie Wu, Tyler Boss, and Tula Lotay with Dee Cunniffe

Publisher: Boom!

Price: $4.99

Release Date: April 17, 2024

 

Brynne Brautigan traveled to Baffin Island in Canada. Her mission: to capture footage of nesting Red Knots. Alone in the arctic wilderness, her focus wanders. Will Brynne complete her documentary before the helicopter arrives to return her to civilization? Let's bundle up, leap into Blow Away #1, and see what happens!

 

Story

Brynne ventures onto the snow to reposition cameras and change memory cards. Then, she returns to examine the previous day's shots. GEM+ commissioned her to get coverage of the environment. She hunts for a scoop that will make her a star.

 

After forty-plus days alone, Brynne tires of studying her monitors. Yet the clock is ticking in Blow Away #1. Soon, the ice will thaw, and the endangered birds will abandon the area. Brynne dreads calling her producer. So when she checks in late, Matt Reznor gives her a drop-dead date. Then he’s sending the helicopter whether she’s ready or not.

 

With little time remaining, she’s hungry for a great story. So when two hikers appear, Brynne decides to multitask. But isolation and long hours make her careless. Or perhaps she’s just brave. Others have paid the price for her hunger for headlines. This time, Brynne could pay the price for her careless disregard for safety.

 

In Blow Away #1, Zac Thompson transports us to the edge of the world. Brynne spends her days gazing at Mount Asgard. After an encounter with a polar bear, an animal believed by native peoples to serve as an intermediary between Humans and the gods, Brynne spots two climbers. Like brothers, they help each other. Yet, like brothers, they also fight.

 

Brynne senses a mystery. But does she have the time to solve it?

 

Art

Snow assails Brynne, clad in her thick parka. She gazes through sunglasses as she checks her camera equipment. Nicola Izzo captures Mount Asgard's vast size in Blow Away #1. Izzo imbues the snowfields with a sorrowful feeling as Brynne races past crevasses on her snowmobile.

 

Is Brynne wrong about the Red Knots nesting on Mount Asgard? Sixteen images stretch longitudinally across two pages like a photography contact sheet. Two images capture the elusive birds. The remainder only shows the mountain and sled dogs pulling a hunter across the snow. Might the endangered birds be nesting on Mount Odin instead?

 

Inside her squat cabin on stilts, Brynne studies two monitors. Disposable cups of coffee proliferate as she perches on the edge of her chair. Instead of searching for the birds, Brynne studies the climbers. She denotes their personalities from their actions and appearances. The one with long, black hair seems nervous as he climbs. His blond companion, sporting a beard, seems more at home on the steep mountainside.

 

Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli color Baffin Island in white, blue, and green. White dominates, as you would expect, amid the constant snowstorms. Yellow, orange, brown, and purple claim cabin interiors, while the colors on her monitors serve as windows to the outside world. Yet red marks its territory in Blow Away #1. One climber wears a red jacket. But we notice it most when blood sprays and covers bodies. Then there’s the trail of red that Brynne follows when she risks her life to help someone in need.

 

D. C. Hopkins slots frail black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Inflection makes words bold or introduces color changes. Enormous white letters help us hear sounds and the howling wind, while their red cousins accompany a soul in pain.

 

Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Reality and mythology merge as a photographer seeks a killer scoop amid whiteout conditions on the mountain James Bond once skied off in Blow Away #1.

 

Rating 8.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Spider-Boy #4 Review

 

Writers: Dan Slott

Artists: Paco Medina; Ty Templeton

Colorist: Erick Arciniega; Dee Cunniffe

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado; Nicoletta Baldari; Philip Tan & Rachelle Rosenberg; Martín Cóccolo & Jesus Aburtov; Ethan Young & John Kalisz

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: February 21, 2023

 

Bailey Briggs risked his reputation to aid Thor. Yet winning the Asgardian's approval meant revealing his monstrous side. Can people trust Bailey, or is he more of a monster than a boy?

 Let's thwip into Spider-Boy #4 and find out!

 

“Nightmare Scenario”

Story

Aunt Mae hosts a movie night at the F.E.A.S.T. center. Tonight's viewing is her nephew Peter's favorite movie, Fast Car Family Five. But Fast Car Family X is playing at the theater down the street. If only Bailey had money, he could watch the latest movie instead of an installment from Ancientville.

 

His friend Christina reminds Bailey that he's got a lifetime pass at Lucky Lane's Bowling Alley. Yeah, he's someone there! Christina cheers him on, even if he doesn't throw all strikes. If only he had accuracy as a superpower, maybe Spider-Man would trust him with web shooters.

 

 

 

In his Spider-Boy #4 story “Nightmare Scenario,” Dan Slott reveals Bailey's frustration. Like us, he yearns to be recognized and at the forefront of everything current. Bailey doesn't try to gain insights into his mentor by watching Peter's favorite movie. Nor does he appreciate how Christina’s family cares for him. He may get free bowling, but when Lucky Lane’s generosity doesn’t extend to free nachos, Bailey abandons Christina to find fun by patrolling the neighborhood

.

 

Blessed with power beyond his years, Bailey grows frustrated when older spidey folks like Peter and Miles don't accept him. Worse, no one remembers him, which isolates him from friends and family. Yet Bailey excels in "Nightmare Scenario" because he finds non-combative solutions to problems. He relies on reason instead of super strength in Spider-Boy #4. Bailey risks losing his friends by using his unpopular abilities to protect someone who feels similarly isolated and disdained. 

 

 

 

 

Art

Aunt May shows no hesitation in greeting the homeless residents at the F.E.A.S.T. center. Bailey’s fellow residents look like ordinary people. Christina cheers Spider-Boy as he hurls a ball down the lane, but the worker pumping cheese onto a serving of nachos lacks enthusiasm. Bailey bounds over water towers and buildings with eye-catching architectural features. He perches atop a pinnacle as the Spider-Men tackling the winged Vulturians steal the foreground.

 

Erick Arciniega lavishes brilliant foreground color on Paco Medina's art in Spider-Boy #4. Background colors are soft, varied, and luminous, making night in the city that never sleeps appealing. Yet the color drains away when a sinister-looking intruder breaks into the bowling alley after it closes. A limited palette enhances thrilling car chases on the big screen. Despite how much money they paid, patrons flee a viewing of Fast Car Family X.

 

 

 

“Missing Pieces”

Story

Dan Slott’s second story in Spider-Boy #4 takes you inside Madame Monstrosity’s lab. After learning that she turned Bailey into Spider-Boy, she searched her records for how she created him. Using the results of her earlier experiment, she births a new entry to the Spider-Verse.

 

“Missing Pieces” is a prequel to "Nightmare Scenario" and enhances our understanding of Bailey's actions in the first story. Madame Monstrosity's actions sow doubt in Spider-Men and Christina's minds, severing Bailey's link with his friends. Whether Bailey can rebuild those relationships and regain their trust remains to be seen.

 

 

 

Art

Ty Templeton’s fanciful art reveals a grand villain, seemingly “forgotten” since the earliest era of Spider-Man. Templeton welcomes us into a lab filled with giant monitors, steam rising from vats, and bubble-filled birthing pods. Humanimal servants carry out their duties and monitor experiments. Madame Monstrosity's eyes widen, and she throws out her arms as her latest creation crawls from a nutrient tank in Spider-Boy #4.

 

Dee Cunniffe steeps the lab in green. Purple, pink, orange, and brown fill backgrounds when Madame Monstrosity takes her Humanimals on tour. Yellow lightning divides panels into scenes from Bailey's life as Madame Monstrosity's latest creation gazes upon the city in wonder. Behind him, a black and white billboard reveals the city's ambiguity with their latest hero.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips black uppercase dialogue into white balloons in “Nightmare Scenario” and “Missing Pieces." Word size shrinks for lowered voices, grows bold for intonation, and enlarges and changes color for shouts. Bailey's monster speech makes another appearance, while an attractive title-style font proclaims the name of Madame Monstrosity's latest creation in Spider-Boy #4.

 

Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Bailey stops trying to gain Spider-Man's respect and embraces his inner monster, while Madame Monstrosity reveals the identity of his mother in Spider-Boy #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Spider-Boy #3 Review

 

Writers: Dan Slott

Artists: Paco Medina; Ty Templeton

Colorist: Erick Arciniega; Dee Cunniffe

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado; David Baldeón & Jesus Aburtov; Paco Medina & Edgar Delgado; Federico Vicentini & Alejandro Sanchez; Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 31, 2023

 

Once, Bailey Briggs had a home, a mother, and a life. Now Bailey lives in a homeless shelter, a framed photo of his mother is his only possession, and many regard him as a monster. Can Bailey rebuild his life and gain others' respect? Let's thwip into Spider-Boy #3 and find out!

 

“Nonstop Action Figure”

Story

When he sees a woman fall from her balcony, Bailey races to save her and her cat. Yet he seems more focused on developing a theme tune, and when she gushes with appreciation, he suggests $20. Thankfully, his friend Christina Xu is nearby and talks Spider-Boy out of a faux pas. Yet Bailey has a point. Shouldn't superheroes get paid for defending others? It worked out for Luke Cage, as the former Hero For Hire is now New York City's mayor.

 

Spider-Boy helped Captain America prevent Taskmaster from stealing the Super Adaptoid for his client. While Taskmaster only brings Killionaire the powerful robot’s hand, the precocious child grows incensed and threatens to kill the skull-faced villain. Killionaire’s chief scientist, Dr. Shannon Stillwell, appeases the Evil Richie Rich by rebuilding the robot hand into a remote-control action figure. Imbued with all the powers of the Avengers, the pint-sized hero can transform to suit Killionaire’s desires. Best of all, it’s an exclusive!

 

In his Spider-Boy #3 story “Nonstop Action Figure,” Dan Slott contrasts Bailey's plight with Killionaire. The young villain has money and power but only finds amusement by hurting others. Bailey let a thief abscond with his cellphone—filled with pictures of his mother—when his spider-sense alerted him to someone in need. When the influencer threatens to steal the shoes Mr. Fantastic gave Bailey (when his fellow superheroes accepted and respected him), Spider-Boy overcomes his anxiety over losing another piece of his identity. Instead of employing force, Bailey uses his wits to defuse the confrontation and turn a villain into a hero.   

 

 

 

Art

While security agents in black suits scan the surroundings, Killionaire looks up at Taskmaster and Dr. Stillwell. Taskmaster crosses his arms over his chest. Shannon wears an exoskeletal suit. Light glints off her monocular as she pulls off a cloth. As in her creator's first appearance, the action figure rests its hands on its hips. Killionaire removes his shades. The letter K hangs from a chain link necklace. The young villain’s eyes widen, and he rests one hand in the pocket of his tracksuit as he orders Toy Soldier to destroy Taskmaster. Thank goodness Killionaire doesn't have a freeze-ray gun!

 

Erick Arciniega lavishes full spectrum color on Paco Medina's art in Spider-Boy #3. While Toy Soldier remains green despite changes in appearance, bold colors provide appeal and contrast. Bailey's luminous yellow eyes highlight his striking red-and-blue costume. Yellow suggests Bailey's power as he catches a dog hurtling through the air and the impact Spider-Boy absorbs when hitting the ground.

 

 

“Spi-lingual”

Story

The lighting striking a construction site beckons bystanders to investigate. As Christina and Bailey merge with the crowd, she urges him to help Thor battle a giant spider. His Spider-Boy abilities grant him super strength, leaping, and wall-crawling, but Bailey realizes that only his monster mode can aid the Asgardian’s efforts. Although reluctant, Bailey summons the physical changes. Additional eyes appear on his face, and fangs sprout from his jaws.

 

Dan Slott’s second story in Spider-Boy #3 requires that Bailey risk the goodwill he's gained. People respect hard work, but they also respond to appearances. Despite Thor's insistence that your belief in yourself matters most, Bailey knows he's inviting more front-page articles in the Daily Bugle and other media declaiming the monstrous new Spider-Boy.

 

Like “Nonstop Action Figure,” “Spi-lingual” also pits Bailey against an opponent with far greater powers. While we don't learn about the resilience and magical properties of the Uru in his opponent’s armor, Thor finds the giant spider a worthy foe. Once again, Spider-Boy must break his mentor’s rule of only fighting lesser threats. But like Thor, Bailey finds communication a powerful weapon.

 

 

 

Art

The armored spider stands equal with Thor but forces the Asgardian back. His mighty thews wield a cracked Mjolnir to no avail. Ty Templeton's early panels focus on Christina and Bailey in Spider-Boy #3. The camera and cellphone-wielding crowd fade away as Christina gives Bailey “The Look.”  A metal Y adorns the spider’s battle helmet, and dreadlocks frame the fang-filled mouth of the Lockjaw-sized monster. Thor clutches one of its limbs as the spider pushes his winged helmet toward the ground. The Asgardian struggles to keep his booted feet beneath him.

 

Dee Cunniffe’s loaded palette softens this all-ages tale. Bright blue surrounds crackling white lightning, while the sky grows brown as it nears the ground. When Thor whirls his hammer, he unleashes a rainbow of color reminiscent of the Asgardian hero’s Silver Age adventures. In the final panel, a purple-adorned figure works in a room dominated by green video screens.

 

 

 

Joe Caramagna thwips black uppercase dialogue into white balloons in "Nonstop Action Figure" and "Spi-lingual." Word size shrinks for lowered voices, grows bold for intonation, and enlarges and changes color for shouts. Toy Soldier speaks green dialogue, while Thor summons a distinctive font. Caramagna helps us hear the tiny green Avenger battle Bailey and Mjolnir clang off Uru armor. Yet Bailey’s monster-mode utterances remain Caramagna’s most unique contributions to Spider-Boy #3.

 

Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Giving triumphs over getting, seeking the best in others prevails where strength fails, sacrifice wins respect, and people prize their pets in Spider-Boy #3.

 

Rating: 9.6/10

 

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