Spider-Man has tinkered with his powers thanks to the help of Gold Goblin, and now things are going very badly for him. For a hero who has given himself extra arms by accident, he sure doesn’t learn his lesson. In part two of “Spider-Sensitivity Training,” Dan Slott and Mark Bagley show the good and the bad of a heightened Spider-Sense!
This issue continues the great start of the second story arc with many fun ideas. That goes for all the ways Spider-Man can save people and also how his Spider-Sense can backfire. We also get more appearances from Spider-Boy and more exploration of Norman in Spidey’s life. Sure, it’s a bit silly Spider-Man would decide to mess with his powers given the history he’s had with that, but at least Spider-Boy calls it out as a bone-headed move!
Spider-Man #9 opens with Spider-Man on his hands and knees, aching from his Spider-Sense going off nonstop. Being the stubborn and super-strong hero he is, he fights through it and proceeds to save more innocent lives. Given the years of high-stakes Spider-Verse shenanigans and supernatural villains Spider-Man has faced, it’s nice to see him save someone from an oncoming car or two knuckleheads fighting and letting it get too serious. This story arc has shown Spider-Man is a hero of the people no matter what kind of danger they’re in, big or small.
This seems ominous.
Credit: Marvel
If you’re looking for Spider-Boy answers, you’ll need to be patient when reading this issue. Slott continues to play around with the idea that a long-lost sidekick has just reentered the universe, which is intriguing. Playing around with superhero tropes is one thing, but adding them to a character that hasn’t ever really had a sidekick is a compelling idea. That said, he’s more of a tease in this issue.
It’s nice to see Slott play around with Peter’s familial dynamic. Have we ever seen Jameson confront Norman, two characters who once wanted Peter dead, but are now his close confidants? Slott plays around with the concept at a dinner Aunt May is hosting. Fans of comics referring to the larger universe should enjoy this issue. From Krakoan healing leaves to other nods to other stories, Slott makes this story feel like it lives within a much bigger universe.
Mark Bagley continues to do his thing with highly detailed art. Spider-Man looks great, and there’s good efficiency in his zipping around and saving multiple people. Electro graces the cover, and once again, Bagley proves he’s one of the best to do it, from the perfect mask to the classic suit returning.
Spider-Man #9 continues to show that Slott and Bagley have the best handle on Spider-Man at Marvel right now. From the complicated family life to the zip-pow ideas and great art, there are tons to love in this series.
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