The Good
My first exposure to the dark, pulp-comics take on Spidey came from the (underrated) Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and the character struck a real chord with me if, for no other reason, than it seemed like one of the truly unique, interesting takes on the character. A Spider-Man unlike any other we’d seen from any of the other-dimensional series in terms of both look, personality and setting, but I couldn’t track down the actual story for a few years. It was worth seeking out, though, and this issue, tying into Spider-Verse is absolutely worth checking out whether you’re a fan of either, or both, series. It doesn’t hurt that original series writers David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky return to give the characters that pitch-perfect voice making them identifiable as the established characters, but also different enough to capture the feel of 1930s pulp. We also get the introduction of a pair of well-known Spider-Man villains in Wilson Fisk (who, appropriately enough, is essentially the same character) and the mystical Mysterio, both of whom slot perfectly well into the series.
Richard Isanove may be best known for his covers, but on this book he shows that he can get the little details of interior panel work right just fine. From the ruthless, brutish stance and style of this Spider-Man to the lithe, creeping grace of Doc Ock’s Superior model (who appears near the issue’s end), Isanove does a phenomenal job with the body language of the characters in this issue. Not just the Spiders’ either, but the entire supporting cast from allies to enemies all carry themselves with an air of realism. This is one of the most grounded Spider-verses, which is saying something for a 1930s blue-collar reporter bit by magical spiders, and this art brings that realism to the fore. The action, as well, is hard-hitting and has some vicious impact. There’s a raw bluntness to the violence that makes it all the more powerful and carry some real weight. The colors, also by Isanove, are subdued and mellow. There’s a murky, muddy quality to them, but they never look sloppy nor out of place. There’s an intention behind each and every one that communicates even more of this issue’s strength.
The Bad
This story feels like it could have fit right into a regular Spider-Man: Noir story arc, but since there’s only the one issue a lot gets compressed. It never feels truly rushed, but that’s mostly by virtue of a lack of establishing or expository writing. As a fan of the previous appearances of the characters, I was fine with this, but I could see someone who wasn’t familiar with the character being somewhat lost.
The Verdict
I’d love to see another long-form story with this character, and this is a great promise of that. I’m saying this as a fan of the character and especially of the setting, but I think the book does JUST enough to bring the reader into this world, though at that point it’s more in service of the greater Spider-Verse storyline. The art, though, is good enough to stand on its own and if you’re either a fan of this version of Spidey or want to know more about one of Ock’s most unusual soldiers against the threat recently introduced in SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, this is definitely worth a look.
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