Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15 Review

 

Writer: Stephanie Phillips

Artist: Von Randal & Paolo Villanelli

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: Mark Brooks & Kris Anka

Design & Production: Carlos Lao

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Jordan D White & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 2, 2025

 

When King Loki abandoned the world he created, Monster Loki saw an opportunity to help others. He took the throne but left the ruins to remind them of their past. Spider-Gwen used the Cosmic Cube's energy to travel to the world King Loki created. She watched as Monster Loki greeted King Loki as a brother. Monster Loki explained his belief that they have grown beyond the monsters King Loki created. Sadly, King Loki doesn’t take kindly to usurpers. And any monstrous variant who thinks they’re as good as King Loki deserves to die.

 

Spider-Gwen began her interstellar adventure with Loki in the New York subway. When Ouroborus traces Gwen’s cosmic cube energy to King Loki’s world, the Time Variance Authority field agent discovers her cradling not Fabian LaMuerto, but Hulk Loki’s dying body. Can Gwen use her Cosmic Cube energy to resurrect Fabian and the monster who dared call King Loki his brother? And will King Loki answer any more of Gwen’s 1,293 questions? Let’s put on our symbiote space suits, thwip into Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15 and see!

 

Story

When Spider-Gwen saw King Loki pursuing the Cosmic Cube, she prevented him from capturing it. But when she touched the artifact, it bonded with her. Gwen couldn't control the immense energy she wielded. It ruined her low-key superhero life playing drums in the Mary Janes and foiling the Bodega Bandit.

 

Ouroborus rescued Gwen from the apocalypse devouring Earth-65 and hid her on Earth-616. He asked her to lie low, but that wasn’t going to happen. Every time she used her abilities to help others, Gwen drew villains into her web. Eventually, Fabian died protecting her. At her lowest ebb, King Loki offered to relieve Gwen of the power she never meant to wield.

 

In Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15, the other monsters King Loki created find Spider-Gwen standing beside their fallen leader. Even though King Loki's scepter rests in Monster Loki's body, they can't blame their creator. So Theodore and the others seek vengeance on the unwanted visitor to their world. Even if King Loki killed Monster Loki, it must be the outsider’s fault.

 

Gwen opens this journey into vengeance by contemplating the merits of a great story. As Stephanie Phillips pits Gwen, OB, and superpowered guest stars against King Loki’s monstrous creations, she asks how we frame the story of our own lives. Do we regard ourselves as pawns or kings? Are we the masters of our fate, or do we let others dictate our paths?

 

Art

Von Randal opens this final issue by revisiting key moments from the series. Then Spider-Gwen thwips across the barren world, battling the enraged monsters that King Loki created. Directions lines accompany fraught action as doorways appear, and familiar heroes emerge in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15.

 

Matt Milla lavishes a loaded palette as intense conflict knocks fangs from jaws and kicks rocks into the air. A luminous glow surrounds King Loki as he ponders his next attack. The green magic banishes the blue star fields as King Loki unleashes the next volley in his psychological campaign. The energy strands and green waves he unleashes evoke Loki’s decision to bring order to chaos in the Disney+ TV series. Then blue replaces green, as Spider-Gwen realizes that she’s already fought this battle, in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15.

 

Ariana Maher thwips uppercase black letters into white and green dialogue balloons with long white arrows. She outlines narrative boxes with green and blue. The text grows bold for intonation, enlarges for raised voices, and shrinks for distant voices. Pink punctuation marks visualize Gwen’s conflicting thoughts. Sound effects enliven a fistfight, demonstrate the power of Vibranium, and awaken us to Gwen's fate in Paolo Villanelli’s detailed epilogue. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Like gazing into a mirror as she dresses for a gig, Gwen Stacy studies her choices and contemplates a change. After saving the life of a corrupt judge, Gwen must decide how best to dispense judgment on a criminal, and where she belongs, in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #15.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12 Review

 

Writer: Stephanie Phillips

Artist: Von Randal

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: Mark Brooks & Kasia Nie

Design & Production: Carlos Lao

Editors: Kaeden McGahey, Jordan D White & C B Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 9, 2025

 

How do you rectify social inequities? Carlos La Muerto wanted to help the unhoused. So Carlos forced an app onto everyone's phone and pointed a gun at Judge Barbour's head. The Black Tarantula's actions deepened the social divide between the haves and the have-nots, opening the door for Mr Fear to throw New York City into crisis.

 

Fabian risked his life to save Gwen Stacy from Mr Fear's toxin. But Gwen couldn't save him. When app users condemned the corrupt judge, Fabian threw himself before his father’s gun to save the judge.

Now, King Loki offers Spider-Gwen an opportunity to revive the handsome man she met at Bear Coffee on Earth-616. But first, she must graduate from King Loki’s training program. Can Gwen Stacy trust King Loki? Or is he as scheming and manipulative as all his other selves in the multiverse? Let's thwip into Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12 and find out!

 

Story

After introducing her to the war between the Olyrians and the Vyrroks, King Loki brings Gwen to Solara Prime. Unlike New York in Earth-616, no one goes hungry, and everyone has a place to live. But Spider-Gwen discovers the dark side of paradise when she helps children in the park.

 

Gwen tried to prevent King Loki from capturing the cosmic cube. She never expected the cube to bond with her. Ouroborus from the Time Variance Authority wanted Gwen to keep calm and not carry on fighting crime on Earth-616. Now, King Loki is teaching Gwen to harness the power he wants in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12. After driving Chameleon’s nanites wild, Gwen understands how necessary this is.

 

While seeking to master her new abilities, Gwen struggles to change her perspective in Stephanie Phillips's story. She can play the drums with the Mary Janes. Gwen can protect the streets from street villains like purse snatchers and the Bodega Bandit. As she wields Phoenix-level powers, Gwen discovers why Jean Grey is on a "scavenger hunt for redemption." Gods like King Loki have a cosmic view of the universe. Individuals like Gwen and Jean fight to protect the endangered and oppressed. But like Carlos La Muerto, Gwen discovers that addressing social inequities often brings unexpected consequences in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12.

 

Art

Matt Milla shows a flashback of King Loki surrounded by red, orange, and purple. King Loki beholds a glowing white cube. The chains hold the cube more effectively than those wielded by the Black Tarantula’s men in the New York underground. And when King Loki reaches for the cube, his features distort in horror. As for Gwen, she is in her element with the Mary Janes on a New York City rooftop. Yellow and lavender capture her emotions and love of music as she keeps time to Mary Jane’s strumming and singing, Glory’s keyboards, and Betty’s bass guitar. Then clouds gather, and lightning tears through the skies like an out-of-control blaster.

 

Von Randal shows Gwen and King Loki gaze up at the buildings hovering in the green-blue sky above the skyscrapers of Solara Prime. As they walk along a path through a park, King Loki plucks a piece of fruit from a tree. When children clad in tunics approach, Gwen retrieves their ball. She stares through the faceplate of her spacesuit at a design that evokes the moons orbiting this perfect planet. Then, the alien children scatter as guards with blasters surround her. Their suits seem a cross between AIM and the Martians in Mars Attacks.

 

Ariana Maher thwips uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons with long white arrows and places rouge words in white narrative boxes outlined with turquoise. The text grows bold for intonation and enlarges for raised voices. The sounds of thwipping, blaster fire, and cosmic power enhance Gwen’s descent into Paradise Lost in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Politicians seek quick fixes to correct societal problems. Policies that benefit the majority often take a toll on those in the minority. While Gwen Stacy wonders if she can trust King Loki to teach her to wield a cosmic cube, her dedication to heroism prevents Gwen from embracing a larger perspective in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #12. 

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Scorched #20 Review

 

Writers: Sean Lewis & Todd McFarlane

Artist: Stephen Segovia

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: J. H. Williams III; Von Randal

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: July 26, 2023

 

Monolith saw She-Spawn as a Red Shirt: valued for her contributions but ultimately expendable. Enraged, Spawn wrests leadership of the group from his grasp. Yet the Planet-Eaters Monolith fears command supernatural forces, and one wields influence over the masses. Can Spawn and his team defeat these alien invaders living among us? Let's burn into Scorched #20 and find out!

 

Story

Senator Terminus tells the disenfranchised that they matter. He argues the government wants to keep them ignorant, and they must retake their nation. His followers gather outside a New Mexico military base, demanding secrets about alien visitations. Is the Roswell Incident on their minds as they toss their placards and climb the fences? Did they not watch Doctor Who: Dreamland?

 

Disguised, Senator Terminus walks among them. As the crowd assaults the guards, grabs weapons, and fires on their protectors, Terminus enters the base. Like Satan, he’s mixed truth with lies. The government’s hidden the truth about aliens from its citizens, but the aliens didn’t arrive in 1947. They’ve lived among us for hundreds, even thousands of years.

 

While Indiana Jones sought the Spear of Destiny, and the B.P.R.D. briefly possessed it, superheroes have long sought the lance that pierced Jesus’ side. Mantra wielded it in the 90s before Magdalena made it her own. Did Professor Broom give it to the Men In Black, who placed it under the military's protection? If so, Agents J and K chose unwisely. For Terminus knows it's there. His forebear, Saint Longinus--just one more emissary of the Planet-Eaters that humans persecuted, tortured, and killed--used the spear to ease Christ's suffering. Now, as the Planet-Eaters' judgment falls, Terminus reclaims the holy relic as he brings his plans to fruition.

 

Art

Perhaps fewer protestors storm the New Mexico base than filled Arrowhead Stadium in the previous issue. Still, a panel showing the crowd extends across two pages of Scorched #20. Hefting rifles, the armored soldiers look capable of defending Earth in Johnny Rico’s mobile infantry. Senator Terminus exudes power as he stalks through the fighting, dressed in a sleeveless shirt and hooded cape. He crushes a fascist-looking guard with one hand. But watch closely: that’s not all he can do with his hands!

 

The Scorched convey power as they leap into the base. Their eyes blaze with yellow-and-green fire as they descend upon the melee. Redeemer reigns down fire, enveloping a tank in a roiling orange and yellow cloud. Yet Medieval stuns with concussive force, hurling waves of yellow fire in all directions when he lands.

 

Transparent letters, outlined in white and black, help us feel his knockout blast. Yellow words inside a brown narrative box accompany the arc of fire hurled Spawn’s way. Such narrative guides us through Scorched #20, while black uppercase font conveys Human speech, Spawns get stylized dialogue balloons, and sentient blood speaks with white letters in black fields. Words heap fire on this red-hot series, and like Terminus' followers, we devour our twenty pages and howl for more!

 

Curious about Scorched? Read the first issue free at the Image website!

 

Final Thoughts

While Scorched #20 explores what drives populist uprisings, it strips away centuries of history to reveal the truth underlying the pillars of Human civilization and our relationship with otherworldly beings.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To preview other covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

Read Scorched #1 free at the Image website.

 

 

The Scorched #16 Review

Writers: Sean Lewis & Todd McFarlane

Artist: Stephen Segovia

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Mark Spears; Von Randal

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: March 22, 2023

 

Necro and Margaret Love have teamed up with Mandarin. They pound away at the mountainside to free the imprisoned Urizen. They were looking for a teammate. But can they control this fierce demon spawn? Or will he rule them? Let’s descend into Scorched #16 and find out!

 

Story

When Urizen gives Necro, Margaret Love, and Mandarin orders, Mandarin orders his forces to attack. The fight doesn't go Mandarin's way. Urizen regards them as children. The war between Heaven and Hell is bigger than Necro, Margaret Love, and Mandarin had realized.

 

Meanwhile, at the Black Fortress, the fellowship of the Scorched is breaking. Gunslinger has departed; Soul Crusher and Reaper have their tasks to perform. Like the demons, the group realizes how unhappy Gaia is with everything. Rather than allow this war between Heaven and Hell to continue, she'll kill everyone on Earth. Medieval, Redeemer, and She-Spawn must repair some things that our hero Spawn has done before Gaia can end the war once and forever.

 

Art

All the main characters emerge bigger and bolder than life in The Scorched #16. Everyone seems so expressive in body language and facial expression. Stephen Segovia lavishes great care upon each character's costume and armor. I wonder if McFarlane's toy line measures up to the beauty and intricacy of Segovia's art.

 

Ulises Arreola elevates Segovia’s drawings. Giant Urizen breathes green fire as his hairy gray arms sweep through Mandarin's hordes. He breaks bodies and spills blood as he charges from the cave that imprisoned him. The armor catches every variation in lighting as the Scorched stand before a window in the Black Fortress. She-Spawn and Medieval’s eyes burn with green fire. Their red, blue, and black spiky armor looks rich and bold on the misty white and blue snowfield that slopes toward a lavender hillside.

 

Andworld Design makes each character’s dialogue balloons expressive. Urizen’s words are red and black, his balloons outlined in red. Uppercase letters start big and grow darker and bigger with inflection. Gray encircles Medieval Spawn's balloons. In place of an arrow, Redeemer's balloons get a cross. Yellow words in brown narration boxes lead us through these titanic events. Brash sound effects help us feel Urizen’s mighty blows.

 

Final Thoughts

The Spawn Universe has been spinning stories for decades. Dipping your feet into a team book like The Scorched #16 won't be easy. As a newcomer, I won't even pretend to understand half of what this issue holds. If you're fascinated by Saint John's Book Of Revelation and stories about great clashes between powerful mythological forces, you might check out this series. You don't need to understand everything about a long-form story like this to enjoy it. After all, the less you know, the more you can discover.

 

Rating 7.5/10

 

To view both covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.