When Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #2 begins, Peter Parker is in for a world of trouble. While he’s been using the Lexicon, a book containing the secrets of New York’s various criminal empires, to dismantle said empires, he’s run afoul of Mister Negative and his Inner Demons. Making things even worse, the Punisher comes in guns a-blazing…and he’s immediately corrupted by Mister Negative’s touch! Now Spidey has to deal with a Punisher who’s gunning for him, literally, and protect anyone else who’s caught in the violent vigilante’s crosshairs.
A common misconception that most Spider-Man fans, and a few writers, have in common is that a Spider-Man story only works if it heaps misery upon the web-slinger’s head. In my opinion, a good Spider-Man story should tackle the balance in Peter Parker’s life. If Spider-Man loses, Peter Parker should get a win, and vice versa. Dan Slott seems to adhere to that same principle, as the Punisher’s rampage ends up wounding Spidey’s friend Yuri Watanabe. While fans know that Yuri will live, and even adapt some of the Punisher’s more lethal tactics as the Wraith, it’s still a shocking moment that underlines that Spidey just can’t easily take out all crime in New York with a book and a plan. Slott also showcases how Spidey’s life affects Peter Parker’s life, as he winds up being late to the computer class he’s teaching at the F.E.AS.T. center where his Aunt May works.
This leads to a sequence where Slott sets a flurry of plot points into motion, with mixed results. There’s a great twist involving one of Peter’s co-teachers, which also serves as a reminder of how Mister Negative’s evil worms into the places you’d least expect. On the other hand, Peter’s back and forth with Bailey Briggs isn’t so much leaning on the fourth wall as taking a sledgehammer to it. Again, most fans know that Bailey will eventually become Spider-Boy and work with Spider-Man, but the abrasive little jerkwad needling Peter is a far cry from the preteen superhero who became a comics sensation.
Marvel
While the story in Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #2 might have some bumps, the art certainly doesn’t. I cannot stress enough how amazing (pun not intended) of an artist Marcus To is; not only does he perfectly capture Spidey’s speed and grace but also makes the Punisher’s firefight feel as intense as it looks. To’s standout moment comes when Mister Negative attempts to solidify his hold on the Punisher, as Castle recalls the tragic death of his family. Whether this is your first introduction to the Punisher, or you’re a long-time Marvel fan, you’ll appreciate how To manages to stuff plenty of emotion into a pair of pages.
Equally as impressive is the opening page by Marcos Martin, which delivers a simple yet striking image that tells you everything you need to know about Mister Negative. Alex Sinclair brings a wide palette of colors to the table, and seems to be having some fun with Mister Negative’s inverted color palette. It also works surprisingly well with the corrupted Punisher, especially considering that black and white are Frank Castle’s preferred color scheme.
Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #2 ups the ante by introducing a corrupted Punisher and more conflicts that impact Peter Parker’s personal and superhero lives. With the lethal vigilante hot on his trail, Spidey is going to need some luck to survive — and not the Parker kind.
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