As the Spider-Verse concept has exploded in popularity (thanks in no small part to a certain pair of blockbuster movies), more and more characters in the Spider-Man mythos have been getting their own spotlight. Chasm: Curse of Kaine #1 continues that tradition, with a story that draws Ben Reilly – The Artist Currently Known as Chasm – and his fellow clone Kaine, the Scarlet Spider, into a tangled web.
Following his escape from Limbo and his confrontation with Peter Parker in recent issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Ben is determined to be his own man as long as he has his girlfriend Hallows’ Eve with him. But someone is messing with Ben’s already fragile mind…and if he didn’t have enough problems, Kaine is on the warpath for him.
I’ll freely admit that when I heard about this book, I was more drawn to the Kaine aspect than the Chasm aspect, mainly because Kaine has been a Spider-Man character that I felt didn’t get much love outside of the severely underrated Scarlet Spider run by Christopher Yost. Even Kaine’s narration seems to reflect on this, as he talks about how fighting Ben seems to be the one constant in his life. But writer Steve Foxe has a handle on both of the clones; throughout the story, he highlights Kaine’s surlier nature and Ben’s desperation to have a life of his own. Foxe even throws in a curveball or two that I didn’t see coming, but which immediately make the book more interesting.
Marvel Comics
Chasm: Curse of Kaine #1 also is a visually striking book, thanks to the artwork of Andrea Broccardo and Brian Reber. Take Chasm and Hallows’ Eve’s first appearance; Broccardo highlights how creepy Chasm looks, as he towers over a group of innocent kids. Reber’s colors add a haunting element, especially since Chasm’s eyes and web-shooters pulse with ghostly green energy. Topping it off is Joe Caramagna’s lettering, which displays Chasm’s name in the same eerie emerald hue.
The only downside was the insistence of the editors’ notes to check out Web of Spider-Man #1, which contained a Kaine/Chasm story that leads into this miniseries. I do feel that Web of Spider-Man is worth checking out for the sheer variety of Spidey stories, but Chasm: Curse of Kaine is a book you can leap into without much background. Ultimately, Chasm: Curse Of Kaine #1 is a reminder of how great the Scarlet Spiders are – and it’s a reminder that more Spider-Man writers could use.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login