It’s fair to say Marvel Comics has the most teams in superhero comics, and you can add Spider-Versity to the mix, even if it’s also a school. So often, fans want more representation from their favorite heroes, and now you can get Ghost-Spider, Silk, Spider-Girl, Spider-Boy, Arana, and Spider-Woman all in one place. Add in Miles Morales and Norman Osborn as the teacher, and it’s a good setup with nearly every big Spider-Man character in modern comics. Enter Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #2, where the danger at this school doesn’t stop.
Writers Jordan Morris and Joe Kelly keep the danger levels up after the elevated danger of the last issue, this time with Spider-Boy in the crosshairs of the next lesson at the very start. He’s in for a test by Norman as the rest of the characters watch, and per usual, Norman is sending ultra-violent near-death experiences right at these kids. It’s a level of danger that makes you wonder if the Green Goblin is still inside him, and it wants to play. That element keeps all of the heroes on edge, especially Spider-Woman, who is acting as the only adult in the room, keeping an eye on Norman.
The lesson involves a robot Norman built to act like the Vulture. That threat was chosen on purpose because Spider-Boy doesn’t have webs, heightening the danger and tension of the fight scene. Art is by Pere Perez and Rafael Perez Grandos, and is dynamic in this scene, with a full-page splash of Spider-Boy narrowly dodging the robot’s wings, which is a showstopper. Perez’s highly kinetic and dynamic layouts keep the action moving, with some intense beats to the fight.
Great full-page splash.
Credit: Marvel
From there, the issue splits the characters up a bit, with the younger heroes going on a hangout that turns into a robot fight while Norman and Spider-Woman get an after-work cocktail. The latter continues to portray Spider-Woman as an overprotective character, leaving Norman no inch to break bad. The writers do well to push her on Norman so that you might consider she’s going too far, although the cliffhanger puts that into question.
As far as the Spidey characters, much of their antics spiral from a dorm room visit to all-out action. It’s on the shorter side at six pages long, but the necessity of Norman’s lessons comes into play, paying off his intensity early on. We also get to see each character pull off a daring kick or use their unique powers, with Spider-Girl taking the brunt of the heroic, fast-thinking.
It’s hard to say when Grandos takes over on art, although I’d say likely after the opening scene. His style brings a similar kinetic feel to Perez’s, though it’s a little less visually striking in its layout and sequential storytelling. Still, it’s close enough not to feel jarring when the artists change.
Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #2 continues to make strong use of Marvel’s sprawling Spider-cast by balancing school drama, superhero action, and the lingering unease surrounding Norman Osborn. Morris and Kelly keep the pacing sharp while giving nearly every character a moment to shine, and the rotating art team maintains an energetic visual flow throughout. While some character moments move by a little too quickly, the escalating danger and strong group chemistry continue to make this one of Marvel’s more entertaining ensemble books.
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