Right in time for the new movie, Dan Slott returns to Spider-Man this week with Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It’s a return to the era right after “One More Day,” resetting Spider-Man as single and releasing the series three times a month. The One More Day era brought a new cast and made Spider-Man’s identity a secret once again. It was an era that returned the character to basics while offering a new youthful direction.
Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #1 is a good comic, keeping the story moving forward while catching up casual readers who may have missed the original era. Mostly, this is easy to enjoy without knowing any of the comics of the previous era, with familiar elements like Aunt May’s F.E.A.S.T. organization and Mr. Negative popping up, both of which were in the 2018 video game.
Marcus To draws a strong issue, with some pages drawn by Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente, featuring a dynamic range and simplicity you don’t often see. Detail is high, of course, especially in heavier dialogue scenes, but the opening page and a full page splash of Spider-Man early on are quite dynamic.
Spidey is such a stinker.
Credit: Marvel
The story is easy to follow, opening with Spider-Man giving Kingpin a hard time while setting up a new status quo for mobsters in New York. That sets up Spider-Man’s goal of ending organized crime in the city, as the character thwarts mobsters’ cash reserves. Throw in fun super guards like Eel-ectro, named by Spider-Man, and there’s a bouncy, fun yet direct approach to the narrative.
Throwing a monkey wrench into things is Punisher, who adds a wrinkle because he’s not a fan of Spider-Man letting criminals live. Sure, the MCU synergy is clearly being invoked here, but Slott writes Punisher in a harder-edged sort of way. He straight up murders, and he’s willing to crash a party to stop Spider-Man from letting criminals live. The culmination of his frustration comes out in a great final fight sequence, complete with a cliffhanger that shakes things up nicely.
Along the way, Slott draws your interest into the life of Peter Parker, made complicated by his new boss and having to deal with teaching kids at F.E.A.S.T. Throw in a surprise student you won’t see coming, but readers of Spider-Man in the last two years will like to see, and Slott is mixing things up nicely. He’s not retreading the One More Day era, but injecting new life and direction into it. On the flip side, the fact that characters who knew Spider-Man’s identity don’t know it is a fun element that plays into the dialogue.
Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #1 delivers a confident return that feels welcoming to new readers while giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy. Dan Slott keeps things moving with a clear sense of direction, blending classic Spider-Man beats with new wrinkles that push Peter forward. The action is fun, the stakes are grounded, and the inclusion of Punisher adds real tension to Spider-Man’s moral code. It may lean on familiar elements, but it does so with energy and purpose, setting up a run that feels worth sticking with.
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