Spock is back! Did you miss him?
My last review from this series, Superior Spider-Man #31. Spock is back, sorta, but who cares! More Spock is good news for me! Oh, and Edge of the Spider-Verse starts with this issue!
The Good
So you remember that time when Spock was handling that time anomaly back in issue 19? And how he seemingly died? (See my review.) Well, it looks like he was actually in the future. (2099 to be exact.) But, other than trying to find a way back to the present, it appears that Spock was busy with other projects too. This other project being, forming the Spider-Sanction, to stop a villain that seeks to kill only Spider-Men throughout all of time and space! This is the beginning of the Edge of the Spider-Verse! And you want to be here!
Writer Dan Slott did a great job with this issue! The build up to Spock establishing the Spider-Sanction was extremely boring and slow (more on that later), but after Slott got over the roadblock of the first half of this issue; this issue got extremely better! Slott did a great job at establishing what readers will be seeing in the Edge of the Spider-Verse storyline, by showing the readers what they really want to see, alternate Spider-Men from different dimensions! Let's face it, we all want to see what kind of different Spider-Men come out from this storyline. The different personalities; the origin stories, and how it all drives them to becoming some form of Spider-Man. The roster that was shown in this issue gets me really excited for things to come (Like Spider-Man Noir!!!!!!!), as I know the personalities and differences of the various Spider-Men will be the driving force for this issue's storyline. (And will also make this series great, or break it!) And that's where writer Christos N. Gage comes in!
Gage did an outstanding job at writing the story that showed us a different version of Peter Parker, one that doesn't mind killing. I liked seeing his story for that version of Spider-Man, because it gave me a quick idea of what to expect from the writers of this storyline. Sure it was brief, but Christos N. Gage did a good job at hitting the story elements that the reader would be most excited to find out about, that particular Spider-Man. (I.e. What drove him to train with Wolverine and become a killer.) So with Gage's story in mind, it puts my mind at ease, knowing that there will be similar stories that are just as great, and even better!
The Bad
The best part about this issue was Spock establishing the Spider-people team. (Hands down best part of this issue!) However, the build up to that part of the story was really, really boring. Spock was originally using 2099 tech to build a time machine back to the present, that was his mission. But, through random coincidences, Spock found multiple Spider-Men dead and eventually decided to look for answers. I wish the beginning was more action packed, and meaningful, like the later half of this issue. Instead of slow and boring. But I guess you can't win them all right?
A big problem with this issue that I had is, The Edge of the Spider-Verse storyline. I looked back to issue 19, and found out that, yes in fact, it does connect to The Edge of the Spider-Verse. (See image.) However, back in issue 19, Spock totally forgets everything when Max and his former employees, pull Spider-Man back to good old 2013. With that in mind, it does take away from this issue. Instead of this issue being double sized, I wish it was triple sized! For the sake of the writers finishing up with Spock's portion of the storyline and connecting it back to issue 19. I don't want to have to wait to find out "What?" exactly happens to Spock and his team in the future. The writers should've came full circle, that way, they would have more time to focus on the other aspect of the story, The Original Spider-Man! I feel like the Amazing Spider-Man will have conflict with the Superior Spider-Man, as Peter is back in control of his body, but will have to deal with the guy that will eventually try to kill him and his Spider-counterparts. And how Superior Spider-Man's story was cutoff prematurely with this 32nd issue. So now, the writers will have to find a way to ease everything out for both Spider-Men, and the readers, so that everything makes sense.
Which I'm hoping it does! (It better!)
The Verdict
Overall this was a great issue! It had its fair share of problems, like "Why?" exactly the writers didn't come full circle and finish Spock's storyline that connects with the Edge of the Spider-Verse; and a very slow first half of this issue. Nonetheless, the writers overcame a couple of speed bumps for this issue, and gave readers (like moi) something to look forward to from this new Spider-Man storyline! I can't wait to see what Edge of the Spider-Verse brings! 3 out of 5. Until the story TRULY begins!