Having read comics most of my life, I’m old enough to remember a time when reading these works of art were shunned upon. In fact, one of my best friends from high school used to commiserate with me about comics all the time, but we didn’t make it known to most of our friends. Our apparent “shame” seems ridiculous in today’s climate since comics culture is now part of popular culture. This was around the time when Image Comics first emerged on the scene and the big two publishers were doing everything to compete with them. 

One of the things Marvel did in 1992 was introduce the 2099 series line. It imagined a world where many of our heroes still existed 107 years from present day. One of the more interesting characters, which incidentally was its most popular, was Miguel O’Hara AKA Spiderman 2099. In a follow-up to that iconic series, writer Steve Orlando reintroduces the character in the debut issue of Spider-Man 2099: Exodus Alpha, where we find an embattled Miguel facing a new atrocity in America’s wastelands.

We are taken back to Nueva York , in the Lightwielding District, where a recruit for the Cabal, super powered crime cartel, who answers nobody,  were terrorizing citizens, a fact that Miguel uses  to suss out exactly where the Cabal may be hiding out. As Miguel enters their lair, he uncovers a vast network, one that he completely underestimated, as we find out the Cabal took out what was left of the Avengers, and may be the reason for what is considered an extinction level event, known as the Ontario Impact, which has world leaders and corporations pointing fingers, as Miguel might be the only one who can get to the truth. As Miguel needs help, he looks for it Nueva York’s Dead Zone and finds Ghost Rider,  who can decrypt the Cabal’s files but  finds a few firewalls in the programming’s path, one such being a digital Cave Troll. As Ghost Rider temporarily distracts the Cave Troll, Miguel is able to sneak past it, to find the files he is looking for. Before Miguel, can find anymore, Ghost Rider pulls him out, as they drawn the interest of Cabal Killcraft. By the issue’s end, Miguel and Ghost Rider finds out that a familiar foe runs the Cabal, and has become powerful in his stead.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099: Exodus Alpha is an excellent return to Nueva York and the world of 2099. The story by Orlando is exciting. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a worthy reintroduction of a classic series.

Story: Steve Orlando Art: Paul Fry
Color: Neeraj Menon Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics