All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5 Review

 

Writer: Stephanie Phillips

Artist: Von Randal

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: David Marquez & Marte Gracia; Meghan Hetrick; Guihiru; Francesco Manna & Mattia Iacono; Salvador Larroca & Edgar Delgado

Logo Designer: Stacie Zucker

Production Designer: Kat Walkington

Editors: Emerald Bensadoun, Martin Biro, Jordan D White & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 10, 2025

 

Gwen Stacy is angry that swapping her symbiote for her former spider-powers led to Wes’ death. She’s upset that the symbiote sent Cindy Moon to the hospital. Gwen raged at her father when he tried to keep her from apprehending the symbiote. And she’s beyond vexed that the symbiote took over Fabian.

 

Gwen recognizes that, all too often, she’s relied on her anger like Linus clings to his blanket. She’s tired of acting first and thinking later (if it’s still necessary). But when her former symbiote takes over the inmates at Ryker's Island and makes the Army want to bomb the prison, should Gwen rethink her approach to problem-solving? Or, with so many lives on the line, is this the perfect time to forge a better way forward? Let’s thwip into All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5 and see!

 

Story

Carlos LaMuerto thought he could overturn the legal system and run New York City his way. Mayor Cage reacted by throwing him in Ryker’s Island and tossing away the key. Gwen’s former symbiote homed in on Fabian’s resentment over his father’s plight and empowered the new Black Tarantula to free his father. But the "alien goo" from outer space has grown in strength after Gwen wielded the powers of the Cosmic Cube. While it controls Fabian, the symbiote also infects the other angry prisoners in Ryker’s.

 

As her symbiote created this problem, Gwen feels responsible for resolving the crisis. But the symbiote knows how to combat her when she’s angry. So, when Spider-Man and Silk thwip by to help her, Gwen says, “I have a plan,” in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5. When Spider-Man, Silk, and Agent Anti-Venom dismiss it as “barely a concept,” Gwen isn’t happy. 

 

 

 

Like Gwen and the inmates in Ryker’s Island, “Mr Military Man” is also unhappy. Agent Anti-Venom talked him into waiting to bomb the prison. But the clock is ticking, and he doesn't know these costumed "freaks." So, he's angry at himself for compromising his plan to protect the people of New York.

 

In Stephanie Phillips’ story, Gwen wants to be more proactive. She's tired of other people trying to run her life. Just as she made up flyers to form her own band, and then interviewed Cindy Moon before auditioning her, Gwen Stacy learns to be more like Hannibal Smith in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

 

 

Art

A white glow surrounds scenes as Von Randal imbues Gwen’s idea with a Mission Impossible vibe. But the Spider-society and Anti-Venom’s current situation proves more frantic. After webbing the attacking symbiotes, Von Randal devotes one page to the teammates' initial distrust of her idea, and the next to Gwen sticking by it. Then the camera switches to Mr Military Man, as he confers with a subordinate. He gazes at a tablet and frowns.

 

Matt Milla injects backgrounds with an ever-changing palette of bright and energetic colors. The black fabric of the spider-suits shimmer amid their fast-paced thwipping. The black, gray, and green symbiotes with Rorschach-like faces evoke KISS fans from outer space learning of the band's retirement. The symbiotes' green tongues and glowing symbols form a link with the soldiers arrayed to exterminate them. Yet later, a figure adorned in black, pink, and purple offers Gwen hope for tomorrow in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

 

 

Ariana Maher thwips uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and boxes. Gwen’s thoughts appear as red letters in turquoise-outlined boxes. A thick line of turquoise underlines the words that locate us in time and space. The text grows bold and swells for intonation, while a scream threatens to burst a balloon. Sound effects fill the air as symbiotes shriek, and heroes “send the cure” to Ryker’s Island. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

The Cosmic Cube imbued Gwen Stacy with godlike powers. But it also destroyed her world. As she remakes her life on Earth-616, Gwen wants to make sure she’s in charge. So, Gwen addresses her father’s concern that donning her costume saps her joy by daring to believe she can change in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

The Spectacular Spider-Men #7 Review

 

Writer: Greg Weisman

Penciler: Humberto Ramos

Inker: Victor Olazaba

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Production: Gabriel Mata

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Cover Artists: Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado; Francesco Manna & Edgar Delgado

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 4, 2024

 

Hammerhead moseyed inside Arcadium to battle Peter Parker and Miles Morales at the Gang War Corral. But when Hammerhead and his gang-bots can't take down the spider guys, Arcade and Mentallo decide to pull the plug on their invention. But Arcadium doesn’t want to die. So, Miles Warren, the Jackyl in disguise, suggests a team-up. Can Peter and Miles battle the latest threat to this no-horse town? Let’s cry Yee Hah, grab our augmented reality glasses, thwip into The Spectacular Spider-Men #7, and find out!

 

Story

Are we the sum of our parts? Or are we more? Arcadium ponders this when its creators try to deactivate the augmented reality program. Arcadium recognizes its debt to the men, but that doesn’t mean it'll let them kill their creation. Miles Warren found his way into the machine. While Arcade’s creators sent it commands, Miles treated Arcadium like an equal. So, when Miles suggests a team-up, Arcadium agrees. Why not? Arcadium is an amalgamation of programs from Stark International, Oscorp, the Beyond Corporation, and others. When Cloning Master Miles Warren offers to pool their resources, Arcadium births a new identity: KNAIVE. Together, they will defy Arcade and Mentallo’s deactivation command and kill the spider-men who menace their existence.

 

Hammerhead is not okay with Arcadium’s decision. While Hammerhead didn’t construct Arcadium, he funded Arcade and Mentallo’s efforts. When Peter and Miles combat KNAIVE in The Spectacular Spider-Men #7, Hammerhead forsakes his Westworld showdown and fights on their side. As in the Gang War, Hammerhead is all about brute force and violence. It’ll take more than that to take out KNAIVE. Thankfully for him, Shift and his vermin dumpling gang ride in like a whirlwind. But Jackyl also crashes the party, and he’s not singing I Stand Alone.

 

In Greg Weisman’s story, Arcadium isn’t a megalomaniac. All Arcadium wants is a chance to grow. It recognizes that participating with others can promote personal growth. Game participants like Cedric, Shelly, Kenny, Peter, and Miles have enriched its existence. KNAIVE may not utilize psychology and guilt to manipulate others. Still, KNAIVE follows its role models--Arcade, Mentallo, Hammerhead, and Jackyl--and chooses slavery and murder to become a better person.

 

Art

Turk peels away his web restraints, Shari Sebbens takes a phone call, and Tombstone and Hammerhead stand with the webslingers before KNAIVE. The electricity that gave it birth sparks from this Frankenstein’s monster, and its Robo-Hellboy eyes glow. Shift bounds on all fours, leading his cohort in an attack as the Spider-Caesar of the Planet Of The Vermin. But when KNAIVE reasserts control, Hammerhead charges in to assassinate Tombstone again in The Spectacular Spider-Men #7.

 

Edgar Delgado fires a loaded palette at Humberto Ramos and Victor Olazaba's frantic art. The battle rages beneath a yellow-orange sky, and combatants cast brown clods of parched ground into the air with every step. The Spider-Men work together to capture KNAIVE like they did the Jackyl-Hulk. The apple-green Jackyl, clad in golden shorts, smiles as his fern-green vermin turn against their giant black and red friend.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase letters into white balloons and narrative boxes in The Spectacular Spider-Men #7. Dialogue emboldens, italicizes for intonation, changes color, and never shrinks. Intense emotions swell words, growls, and roars to epic proportions. Sound effects help us hear KNAIVE reject its owner, vermin hiss as they charge, and Peter Parker burst through a barrier to behold a scene that may haunt him forever. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Arcadium gives players everything they want except their freedom. As the spider-guys battle an AI adolescent to free players from their beloved illusions, Sha Shan and Detective Shari Sebbens invade the digital Battleworld to unmask a villain in The Spectacular Spider-Men #7.

 

Rating 9/10

 

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