MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Saladin Ahmed
ART: Javier Garrón
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Brian Stelfreeze
EDITOR: Nick Lowe
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
VARIANT COVERS: Marko Djurdjevic (Fantastic Four Villains Variant); Lee Garbett; Adi Granov
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2019)
Rated T
Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee; Miles Morales created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli
Miles Morales is a Marvel Comics character who is one of the characters known as Spider-Man. Miles Morales first appeared in the comic book Ultimate Fallout #4 (cover dated: August 2011) and existed in a universe different from the universe where the original Spider-Man lived. Now, the Afro-Latino teenager, whose full name is Miles Gonzalo Morales, lives and works in the main Marvel Comics universe (the MCU) as Spider-Man.
Miles has a new ongoing comic book series, Miles Morales: Spider-Man (a continuation of the comic book title, Spider-Man). This is a new direction for Miles Morales with a new creative team. Miles Morales: Spider-Man is written by Saladin Ahmed; drawn by Javier Garrón; colored by David Curiel; and lettered by Cory Petit.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1 opens in the wake of the events depicted in the miniseries, Spider-Geddon. Miles has recently begun a new school term, and is taking a class in which the instructor demands that Miles and his fellow classmates keep a journal.
Miles is struggling to balance school and his personal life with his activities as Spider-Man. He is trying to maintain a relationship with Barbara, who is his girlfriend, although both seem to be reluctant to say that outright. For all his struggles, however, Miles sees that there are those who are struggling more than he is, especially in an anti-immigrant political climate, and it is worse than Miles thinks.
Practically every Miles Morales comic book I ever read was written by Brian Michael Bendis, Miles' co-creator. I am wary of reading Miles comic books not written by Bendis, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story Bryan Edward Hill wrote about Miles for the Spider-Man Annual #1 (2018).
After reading Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1, I am confident in new Miles writer, Saladin Ahmed. I did not read Ahmed's Black Bolt series, which received quite a bit of acclaim and claimed a win at the 2018 Will Eisner Awards. I like that Saladin's story and script are true to the personality Bendis fashioned for Miles, and I also like that Saladin is developing Miles personality and character as he continues to grow-up, going from young teen to older teen. I am also happy that Ahmed is writing a story that tackles real world issues literally and metaphorically.
Artist Javier Garrón is the right choice to create the art and storytelling. His compositions are strong, and his page and panel design recall the work of Spider-Man co-creator, the late Steve Ditko. Ditko balanced the world of Peter Parker-Spider-Man by drawing an ordinary seeming everyday life for Parker. When Parker became Spider-Man, Ditko added imaginative elements and inventive compositions that made the scenes feature Spider-Man seem to pop off the page.
Garrón's art is in a similar vein, and David Curiel's coloring of the art electrifies everything. When a classic Spider-Man villain (who has a surprising reason for appearing) shows up, this story crackles and sparks with energy. In fact, the splash page featuring Miles and that surprise villain is an example of how much power Garrón and Curiel's combined art has.
So I am ready for more Miles Morales: Spider-Man. For now, at least, the post-Brian Michael Bendis Miles Morales has a bright future.
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for information on reprint or syndication rights and fees.
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