There are a few Spider-Man variants that have stuck around for some time, one of which is Spider-Man: India. Given his heavy inclusion in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it’s no wonder he got his own miniseries last summer. For those trade-waiting, it’s time to grab your wallets as Spider-Man: India – Seva is out this week!
Spider-Man: India starts in a refreshing way. It leans into the culture and uniqueness of the characters. The first issue acts as a good lead-in for casual readers who may not know the character well, throwing them into a battle that involves Miles Morales and Peter Parker. All three are facing a powered-up version of Mysterio, which explains why Spider-Man India is in the 616 universe at all.
From there, writer Nikesh Shukla and Abhishek Malsuni dive right into a fun conversation between the three Spider-Men. Getting a snack after their battle, it’s nice to see them connect. We also clearly understand Spider-Man India’s heroic mantra and how it differs from Peter’s. We learn it’s about self-service to the community, an idea that plays a significant role in the story’s main villain, introduced later in the issue.
Mysterio gets an upgrade.
Credit: Marvel
After the invigorating start, the story zips back to Earth-50101, where we get introduced to Pavitr’s aunt, friend, and rival. These scenes reveal the villain wants to eradicate the slums – a part of the city Spider-Man protects – and we learn he has to go through Pavitr. He seems to accomplish this goal. As the story progresses, a new version of Lizard rears their head, and some personal trials for Pavitr to get through.
One of the more interesting sequences in the book revolves around Pavitr getting a job and basically making fun of Spider-Man. He’s going through an identity crisis as he likes the acclaim and attention, but he’s also shaming himself, at least technically. One can see he’s learning what he really wants, and as a 20-something, I think some readers will connect with that.
The story can feel heavy-handed at times, though. Convenient plot progression can rear its head, and Pavitr is basically forced to change things up at his job. In some respects, it has a classic comic feel thanks to these twists, but it makes elements feel unearned.
If you’re a fan of alternate takes on villains, this story has the gloriously fun Mysterio to start and a version of Lizard that’s a slight variation on the classic Spider-Man villain. Malsuni does a great job rendering both, keeping the action fun. Malsuni’s street-clothed character drawings are top-notch and a real strength of the issue. It all leads to the reveal of the new costume, as seen in the movie, with a few twists.
Fans unfamiliar with this version of Spider-Man are in for a treat. The creative team is firing on all cylinders, capturing his uniqueness, leading us into his world with a good introduction, and setting up a new villain that’s a fun twist on a classic. Don’t pass up on this fun twist on Spider-Man, which totally deserves an ongoing series.
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