I went into reading Spider-Man #1 trying to know as little as possible. I’m glad I did as I came out of it not only surprised but immediately wanting to see what’s next.
Written by the father/son duo of J.J. Abrams and Henry Abrams, the comic is a “new” but familiar take on Spider-Man.
Not set in continuity, I think, the comic has shocking moments that’ll catch you off guard if you’re like me and avoiding spoilers as much as possible.
But, to give a review as to why this comic is so good, we have to go the spoiler route.
A father and son duo are telling a story about a father a son. In this version of Spider-Man, MJ has been murdered during a battle. Twelve years later and we find out Peter and MJ had a son, Ben. Ben lives with Aunt May as Peter is a bit of an absentee father. Ben also has the spirit of justice as his father and some of his father’s abilities. From there, the story is pretty clear.
What the Abrams do is explore a relationship they have. It’s unknown how much of their own life they’ve poured into this but the inclusion of Henry Abrams as a co-writer feels vital as it brings a sense of authenticity. This isn’t a story told from a father’s perspective but both father and son.
Yes, the comic has another fridging which gets old but it’s difficult to explore the aspect the comic seems to be doing without it.
The art Sara Pichelli is fantastic. The ink by Elisabetta D’Amico, the coloring of Dave Stewart, and lettering by Joe Caramagna all come together for a hell of a visual treat. There’s a slight shift in style as the comic jumps ahead which helps with the break. It also sets up an art style that feels rare in comics these day. There’s an almost water color aspect to it all. It just looks beautiful.
I figured the comic would be entertaining but this goes beyond that. This may be the surprise of the week.
Story: J.J. Abrams, Henry Abrams Art: Sara Pichelli
Ink: Elisabetta D’Amico Color: Dave Stewart Letters: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.65 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
