‘Spider-Man #1’ Review (Marvel Comics)
Written by Dan Slott | Art by Mark Bagley, John Dell | Published by Marvel Comics
First things first. This isn’t a first issue. Yes, I know it says Issue 1 on the front, but normally that’s to tell new readers it’s a book you can safely jump aboard as a newbie. This isn’t one of those. We do get legendary Spidey creators Dan Slott and Mark Bagley, either of which would be worth jumping on board for, and we do get a storyline titled ‘End of the Spider-Verse’ which, again, would be enough to make me jump on board. If you are a new reader, though, you may need to do a little catch-up before you throw yourself into this, there’s a whole lot of stuff going on.
For everyone else, let’s go.
From the very first two pages, you can see this is a new Peter Parker for modern tastes. It’s a version that incorporates the best bits from the films, games, and comics. This Peter is working for Oscorp and the reformed Norman Osborn. He’s got a hi-tech suit now, and he has a robot sidekick, Bugs. He does have the same old pithy dialogue though, that never changes. A little several page sequence gives the perfect chance to show Spidey and gadgets in action, with Slott writing that great dialogue and Bagley drawing those great panels. Everything old is new again creatively. Spidey’s happy, popular with the public, well supported by Osborn and living his best life. Currently.
Loomworld on Earth 001, and this is where new readers may start to struggle. Meet Shathra, a dark goddess. She wants to essentially destroy the current reality, the Great Web, and replace it with her own version, the Great Nest. She also hates all the Spider characters, the Spider-Totems, and would like them all dead. To this end she has captured and corrupted Spiderling, Anna-May Parker from Earth 18119, turning her into her servant, Nestling. She commands an army of spider-wasp-totems as well, and now is the time she decides to open a portal to our Peter’s Earth, 616, and start her attack. Still with me? Oh, look here’s Morlun. You know who he is, though, right? No? Morlun is an old vampiric being who feeds on the Totems, not fussy of which variety. He has, though, proved quite partial to spiders.
Which is why Peter punches him in the face. Quite a few times. Morlun, though, is another level and Peter is soon on the verge of losing. Luckily, the Spider-cavalry arrive, as Miles Morales and Silk show up just in the nick of time, quickly followed by Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew, and then by Spider-Man Noir. Morlun’s in trouble now. Only he’s not. It appears one of these Spider’s has been corrupted and manages to kill one of the others. I won’t spoil who. The one who jumps in to help before things get better, none other than Morlun. He tells them what both we and them are starting to realise. The Spider-verse is under attack, and not everyone will make it. In fact, three more Spider’s turn up, all corrupted themselves. Looks like next issue will see some friend-on-friend action.
In the friendly Marvel all-ages fashion of course.
A hugely enjoyable first issue, though one that will make perfect sense to some and be a tad confusing to others. A little recap at the beginning would have been nice. Dan Slott rarely disappoints of course, especially when writing Spider-books, and here he is a man in full control of his story and characters. His stories are always so easy to read, and that goes for this issue as well. Bagley and Dell are clearly having a ball with the art, some great panels, and pages throughout. Bagley’s art is even better than I remember, but he’s also been a classic Spider-Man artist down the years. Timeless stuff.
What I enjoyed most here is that although this one issue told a really good story, it also liberally threw in some plot threads for the future. That always makes readers come back, including me.
Guess I’m also trapped in Slott and Bagley’s web now.
