Spider-Boy #13 Review

 

Spider-Boy #13 Review

Writers: Dan Slott

Artists: Paco Medina

Colorist: Erick Arciniega

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Paco Medina & Edgar Delgado; Chrissie Zulo (The Thing); Josemaria Casanova (Kraven); Michael Cho (Design); Todd Nauck & Rachelle Rosenberg

Designer: Adam Del Re

Editors: MR Daniel, Kaeden McGahey, Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Ellie Pyle, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: November 27, 2024

 

Tabitha Briggs let her son don his costume to bask in the adoration of his fans. But Daredevil ruined Spider-Boy Day by demanding Bailey return a Hellfire Club trophy. Spider-Boy’s mentor didn’t realize he was being followed until Bullseye and Spider-Girl attacked. Can Spider-Boy and Daredevil reclaim the legendary Golden Fang of the Gaping Maw from Bullseye and Spider-Girl? And who is this young girl who knows that Bailey is Spider-Boy? Let's book a flight to Madripoor, thwip into Spider-Boy #13, and find out!

 

Story

Bailey's disobedience got him into hot water with Daredevil three years ago. Spider-Boy owes his mentor for training him to fight and control the sensory information flooding his brain from his additional spider-eyes. So, when Daredevil tells him the world's fate hangs on retrieving the Golden Fang that Bailey won by crashing a cage match, Spider-Boy climbs into the cargo compartment of a jumbo jet for the nineteen-hour flight to Madripoor.

 

Like Bailey Briggs, Makawalu Akana once led a very different life. But when her abilities manifested, she wanted to push her limits. Maka drew Bullseye's attention by displaying skills that most people train for years to master. Bullseye promised the Hawaiian girl the biggest challenge of her life if she helped him defeat Spider-Boy. But that was before everyone forgot about Spider-Boy. After Spider-Man restored Bailey to the Web Of Life And Destiny, Maka and Bullseye remember why they got together. They’re making up for lost time in Spider-Boy #13.

 

As in most Spidey stories, Bailey must choose between his everyday life and his superhero career. Worse, his mother feels guilty over abandoning him for years. While Tabitha Briggs allows him to be a superhero, she won't be happy about Bailey spending more days away from school. Bailey fears she will ground him for life for his unsanctioned flight, but he accompanies his mentor anyway. Unlike Bailey, Spider-Girl exhibits little concern for others in Dan Slott's story. Her ability to master any skill effortlessly insulates her from the need to connect with others. All Maka cares about is winning.

 

 

 

Art

Paco Medina compares the lives of those who work at the expense of others with those who work on behalf of others. Bulleye tilts his champagne flute to the flight attendant, and Spider-Girl listens to tunes while eating shrimp kabobs and a strawberry sundae in Spider-Boy #13. By contrast, Daredevil and Spider-Boy sit on the floor between storage containers, with no food service or in-flight movies. As a crowd surrounds Koa Iona with adoration and cellphones, the sports champion smiles at the ladies but frowns when Maka offers him a pen and notepad. Later, she raises a trophy above her head, evoking Spider-Boy when he grabs the legendary Golden Fang of the Gaping Maw in the Hellfire Club.

 

 

 

Erick Arciniega keeps red and blue foremost of Spider-Boy #13, as the dominant red of Spider-Boy's suit seems an homage to his mentor. Yet Bullseye and Spider-Girl's first meeting seems a nod to their target, as Maka wears a red swimsuit, and Bullseye wears a blue shirt adorned with his signature target logo. The yellow of Spider-Boy's visors makes its presence felt in Maka's business suit, the flight attendants' scarves, and the famous relic displayed in Bullseye's private jet. Even an airplane's landing gear produces yellow fire, which finds its partners in a torchlit fight club. Yet green dominates the arena as the master of ceremonies and the members of the Gaping Maw gather around the green receptacle of Bullseye and Spider-Girl's Golden Fang.

 

 

 

While Erick Arciniega lavishes a loaded palette on Paco Medina's attractive characters, costumes, and settings, Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black lettering into white dialogue balloons. Words shrink for distant or lowered voices, embolden for intonation, and swell for volume. Giant, colored dialogue expresses an airport worker’s anger and Daredevil’s concern for his charge. Sound effects help us hear a cheering crowd and enliven Spider-Boy's fight with a young green-skinned protégé. Mahalo to Marvel Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Spider-Boy #13 introduces a young Hawaiian mutant and several more superpowered youngsters. While Bailey doesn't learn how it could affect world events, he discovers the Golden Fang of the Gaping Maw's immediate purpose. After risking Tabitha Briggs' wrath, Daredevil must do something that goes against his sense of honor. Still, it's Madripoor, Daredevil. “When you’re here, anything goes!”

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

 

 

The Spectacular Spider-Men #9 Review

 

Writer: Greg Weisman

Penciler: Andrés Genolet & Emilio Laiso

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Production: Gabriel Mata

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Cover Artists: Emilio Laiso & Edgar Delgado; Dave Johnson; Josemaria Casanovas

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 13, 2024

 

The gang from the ESU Coffee Bean still gathers each Wednesday. But now, instead of taking individual tables, they circle their chairs and share their grief. Real or imagined, everyone lost a friend, loved ones, or a dream career when Arcadium died. How else might Arcadium have affected its captives? Let’s grab a latte to keep Max Vinck happy, thwip into The Spectacular Spider-Men #9, and find out!

 

Story

Juliet Marcos traveled the world with Anna Romney. Perhaps Juliet suspected their relationship was too good to be true. Even so, Juliet adored Anna and cherished their time together. But their whirlwind romance was an Arcadium fantasy, and on the ESU campus, Anna doesn’t know Juliet. So when Juliet's crush walks into the Coffee Bean during their weekly session and fails to recognize her, Juliet drops her coffee and turns into a water spirit.

 

In The Spectacular Spider-Men #9, Juliet disappears into a puddle. Before the friends can wipe up the spilled coffee, the liquids merge, and Juliet's coffee-stained water form rises. Anger transforms her into flames, and reassurance returns Juliet to her human form. As Dr Sierra Sinclair realizes she isn't qualified to help Juliet master her new abilities, Max wonders if he should have agreed to host the therapy sessions.

 

Greg Weisman's story forces Peter and Miles into leadership roles. Becoming Spider-Men and helping orchestrate the next phase of Juliet's life removes "Peter" and "Miles" from the weekly Coffee Bean session. Peter must put his grief over Gwen Stacy and his Arcadium family aside to help Juliet. When a special guest asks Ms Marvel to join them, Miles confronts his feelings about Kamala Khan. In the real world, Tiana Toomes is his loving and supportive girlfriend. Yet in the Arcadium, Miles wanted Kamala by his side.

 

As Juliet transitions between water, vapor, mud, and fire, she navigates the rocky first stages of a real relationship with Anna. With her forms changing beyond her control, the Spider-Men must find the right mentor to help her. And then there is Max Dillon and Francine Frye. Max saw Spider-Man and Silk defeat Francine on the TV in The Bar With No Name. It irks him that someone else is using his villain name. But for the spider-heroes to quash Francine on TV is bad for his brand. Like Max in the ESU Coffee Bean, Deke gets stressed when two Electros bump into each other over drinks. But then, that's why baristas and bartenders get big tips for serving delicious drinks, right? 

 

 

 

Art

While Andrés Genolet & Emilio Laiso bookend The Spectacular Spider-Men #9 with high-flying action, they supercharge the drama in the ESU Coffee Bean and The Bar With No Name with dynamic layouts and changing camera angles. Panel shapes change from rectangles to pie wedges, while Juliet owns the corners of a two-page spread in her four glorious forms. Superheroes treat the Coffee Bean like Avengers Tower, while sparks fly in The Bar With No Name. Juliet shows all the trauma of losing control of her body, and school teachers dealing with unruly classes will sympathize with Max and Deke.

 

Edgar Delgado makes the ESU Coffee Bean a beacon of light. Overhead lights make the greenish-blue floor gleam as Juliet turns from blue, gray-brown, to yellow and orange. Viv Vision's vibrant skin shines amid the apple green walls while Max Dillon sashays into The Bar With No Name in a darker green jacket. Amid the deep, rich colors of The Spectacular Spider-Men #9, Adam Blackveil’s pink shirt and Juliet Marcos' pink jacket link the superpowered college students.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase letters into white and colored balloons and narrative boxes amid Juliet's spectacular shapechanging. While dialogue emboldens, italicizes for intonation, and rarely shrinks, dozens of red-edged white boxes remind us of ongoing characters and introduce new ones. Amid all the splashing and spraying, Juliet pops more than a pan of Jiffy Pop popcorn. Yet even in her liquid form, Juliet savors the flavor of her favorite coffee. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

As Peter and Miles ponder the criteria for the perfect mentor in The Spectacular Spider-Men #9, a potential hero and a longtime villain struggle with how others perceive them.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1 Review

 

Writer: Justina Ireland

Artists: Marcelo Ferreira, Roberto Poggi, Chris Compana & Craig Yeung; Josemaria Casanovas

Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer: Cory Petit

Cover Artists: Marcelo Ferreira, Roberto Poggi & Rachelle Rosenberg

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 15, 2024

 

Peter Parker has seen the reluctant Human soul beneath the rabid Vampire mask. He wants to prevent the Vampires from converting more Humans to their toothy throng. But the Lizard has other ideas, and they start with body-slamming Spider-Man. Can Peter Parker get through to the Lizard? Can he enlist the Lizard’s aid to close the Darkforce portals or help save the newly fanged? Let’s grab some garlic, thwip into Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1, and find out!

 

Main Story

Lizard scores a few points. But then he steps aside to let Misty Knight enter the ring. Misty wants Spider-Man’s help in fighting the incisor invasion. Spidey’s not interested. But then she mentions a cure. What? A cure for vampirism? Tell me more.

 

In Justina Ireland’s story, Spidey thwips across New York City with Lizard and Misty to find Dr Morbius. An undead assault team kidnapped the vampire researcher and Misty's partner, Colleen. Thankfully, Misty slipped a tracker on The Living Doctor. But then the Lizard gets an idea into his scaly Isotope Genome Accelerator Duplicate head and leads the terrific trio in a different direction.

 

Justina Ireland’s first story in Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1 tosses a lot of fun and intriguing ideas into the mix. Two churches feature prominently, along with an underground lair, and the Lizard finds a way to talk without a spell from Hermoine. Readers will meet a priest who blesses Spider-Man’s web fluid, see parishioners armed with holy water guns, and discover a clue to those behind the Darkforce Invasion. Yet, as Spider-Man says in the beginning, “Something about this feels off.” These incongruities irk Spider-Man, so he takes five to do a little solo investigating. While Spider-Man waits for Misty to show her hand, I look forward to Ireland revealing how the pieces of her puzzle fit together in future issues.

 

Art

Tombstone may want Spider-Man dead, but the crimelord can’t match Lizard’s glare. Misty poises like a model clutching a semiautomatic with her bionic hand. She coolly dispatches vampires while the Lizard slams or chomps down on the living dead. Then Lizard charges down an alley, and the wind of his passage lifts his white lab coat into the air. Spidey thwips along, hoping Misty can keep up. But she follows on a motorcycle, pulling an Evel Knight wheelie while smashing a bloodsucker’s noggin. Spider-Man may have had a revelation, but Misty and Lizard display more exuberance than remorse in dispatching the newly undead. Without a cure, it's us against them!

 

Rachelle Rosenberg fills Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1 with bright and attractive colors. Lizard’s green skin and purple slacks contrast with Spider-Man’s red and blue suit. Bricks that appeared black in ASM #49 are now an appealing turquoise. Rosenberg fills alley backgrounds with green and portrays the throbbing vitality of the city that never sleeps with yellow and orange illuminated buildings under a red sky.  

 

Backup Story

In Justina Ireland’s second installment in Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1, Colleen Wing and Dr Morbius travel in the back of a delivery truck. Dr Mike suggests she give it up, and Colleen demonstrates the benefits of binge-watching Elementary. When the delivery truck arrives, Colleen and Dr Mike haven't computed their location based on sounds and sensations, but they surprise their kidnappers in high-stepping style. As Colleen tells Dr Mike, "Why kick a guy in the face if you're not having fun?

 

As they investigate the premises of a corporation run by vampires, Dr Mike makes a tantalizing comment that puts a new spin on Ireland's Main Story. We also meet the undead CEO who tears out employees who displease him. Like Spider-Man, Dr Morbius and Colleen Wing discover a potential instigator behind the Darkforce Invasion. But will they Unlive to tell about it?

 

Art

Chris Campana and Craig Yeung’s All Ages art shows Colleen keeping her cool while Dr Morbius is grumpy. The vampire employees’ hairless white heads, pointy ears, and red eyes suggest they’d find sanctuary in Limbo should their corporate venture fail. Compana and Yeung enliven this shorter story with action and fighting, and much blood sprays as Colleen trades her gun for Bartitsu stick-fighting.

 

Rachelle Rosenberg contrasts Colleen's red hair with a white jumpsuit, while Dr Morbius' green skin pairs well with his blue and red outfit. While Rosenberg employs a smaller range of colors, Colleen and Dr. Morbius move from the cool blue truck interior to a green and brown parking garage before heading up to the yellow interiors of the bloodsuckers' corporate headquarters.

 

Cory Petit thwips large black uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and white narrative boxes with red borders. Petit demonstrates restraint in emphasizing the carnage in this second story in Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1. Yet he helps us hear creaking doors, scraping sarcophagi, and a mob of undead pounding down church doors. Still, nothing tops the Lizard's roar on the first page. It doesn't faze Spider-Man. But then, he's Amazing.

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Spider-Man teams up with the Lizard and Miles Morales’ mentor, while Colleen Wing and Dr Morbius discover exciting business opportunities among the undead. Both groups uncover clues to the source of the Darkforce Invasion in Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1.

 

Rating 9.5/10 

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