Cody Ziglar has been putting Miles Morales through the wringer during his run on Miles Morales: Spider-Man. Miles has been turned into a vampire during Blood Hunt, fought in a gang war, battled the gods themselves, and was even pulled into another universe during Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion. So how does Ziglar choose to end his nearly five-year saga? He brings things full circle with Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar Vol. 8: Revenge of Rabble, which brings the tech-controlling Raneem Rashad back into the young web-slinger’s orbit.
Revenge of Rabble is actually split into two parts: Miles Morales: Spider-Man #37-39 features a tale in which Miles encounters a pair of thieves, White Fox and Inari, while #40-42 are dedicated to the (potentially) final showdown between Miles and Raneem. In the case of Miles Morales #37-39, Miles learns that the two thieves are working under crime boss Black Obsidian, whom he previously battled during Giant Size Spider-Man #1. It’s a fun caper, made even more exciting by the Black Cat lending a hand to tip the odds in Miles’ favor and the energetic artwork of Luigi Zagaria. Zagaria keeps up the anime-inspired aesthetics of Ziglar’s run by showcasing Inari as a ninja-like thief who has the power to summon the spirits of kitsune, while White Cat is yet another of the “New Champions” that made the leap from being a mere variant cover to a character in his own right.
While I do feel that the White Fox and Inari arc doesn’t have the emotional meat of the Rabble storyline, it does feature a great moment where Miles actually talks to the duo and convinces them he can help. It’s this sort of emotional catharsis that’s been a staple of Ziglar’s run, as he remembers that Miles isn’t just a teen but one who grew up in the modern day and as a result is more open about meeting people on an emotional level. The fact that the arc ends with a tease of the Origin Boxes, which Miles brought over from Earth-6160, is just the icing on top.
Marvel
As for the Rabble arc, it’s emotionally charged, action-packed, and draws a thematic line between Miles and Raneem as it showcases how they deal or don’t deal with their emotions. In short, it’s everything you could ever want from a Spider-Man story. Things hit even harder when the malevolent artificial intelligence known as the Assessor, who previously tormented Miles in Saladin Ahmed’s Miles Morales: Spider-Man run, shows up with a new form and a new purpose. Through their conflict with the Assessor, Ziglar manages to define who Miles and Raneem are. Miles is able to literally fight his past demons and move past his trauma, while Raneem succumbs to it. It’s a story laced with triumph and tragedy, but then again, you can’t expect anything less from a Spider-Man story.
“Revenge of Rabble” is notable for bringing in Peter Parker for a last-minute assist and showcasing Marco Renna’s incredible artwork. Renna’s grown as an artist, bringing the fast-paced energy he developed while illustrating Power Rangers and Rogue Sun to the pages of Miles Morales, resulting in some incredible moments. Whether it’s drawing Miles going into full “Venom Max” mode to defeat the Assessor, or Raneem summoning a new armored form as Rabble, Renna holds nothing back. Neither does Bryan Valenza, who brings a smorgasbord of color to the table. Seeing Renna and Valenza illustrate Peter’s gold-and-black suit not only provides a great contrast to Miles’ red-and-black uniform, but also makes me wish Joe Kelly’s “Spidey in Space” arc had lasted longer than it did.
What really makes Miles Morales: Spider-Man Vol. 8 stand out is its ending, which is fairly low-key but surrounds Miles with his friends, family, and other loved ones. It’s a reminder that no matter what he goes through, he has people to lean on – and for mainstream superhero comics, that’s a beautiful message to pass on to readers. Equally heartwarming is Ziglar’s farewell letter, in which he reflects on the past four years of writing for Miles. It’s a true gift to have a run that long, and to put your own signature stamp on such an iconic character, and Ziglar more than succeeded on both fronts.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Cody Ziglar Vol. 8: Revenge of Rabble wraps up Ziglar’s run in a spectacular fashion, blending emotional catharsis with high-octane action. With a new run of Miles Morales by Bryan Hill and Nico Leon slated for this summer, my hope is that they bring their own flavor to Miles without neglecting the amazing work Ziglar’s done with him.
You must be logged in to post a comment.