Given the Spider-Verse and so many Spider-Man types running around, it’s surprising a “Spider-Versity” hasn’t come around until now. A lot of these characters are incredibly young with different power sets and different experiences. Enter Jordan Morris and Joe Kelly, who have put Miles Morales, Silk, Ghost-Spider, Spider-Boy, Spider-Girl, and Aña Corazón on a team being taught by Norman Osborn. Armed with tech and the knowledge of how to beat Spider-Man (more or less), these young Spider-characters are going to get better, or die trying.
It’s clear by this point that Norman is all about tough love, while Spider-Woman is well aware and keeping Norman as leashed as she can. Norman has already put these characters in near-death situations, but after this issue, it’s clear he’s happy to give them field trip homework without a heads-up.
Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #3 opens with Aña taking on Mr. Negative and his goons. We quickly learn she was fighting holograms in Norman’s state-of-the-art gym. Norman is all about giving these characters dossiers on villains and expecting them to do their research, as shown when Ghost-Spider takes out a hologram Ringmaster. The C-Lister is a nice deep cut callback, but it turns out he’s also the main villain of the issue as well. Well, as best as this goofy villain can be, anyway.
The main attraction of the issue is Silk and Ghost-Spider putting on a gig with most of the Spidey characters joining in to support them. Enter villainous clown goons to ruin things. Throughout the issue, the dialogue really zips, with good quips and an energy that suits these characters.
Aña’s magic use is a fun element in this issue.
Credit: Marvel
While clown goons certainly work as cannon fodder, they also feel quite low risk as a main threat. There is the tease of a far more dangerous threat, but this issue reads like an MCU movie, with faceless drones attacking heroes rather than a main villain.
Artist Rafael Perez Granados takes over the issue after joining with Pere Perez early on and does a great job. I particularly liked his expressions, with funny cutaways to Spider-Man characters and Norman that add a lot of comedic flair and loud emotions. It makes the comic edge towards younger-reader territory with its vibe, which suits the issue’s youthfulness. Speed and agility are the name of the game in the last action sequence, with some nifty visuals by Granados, like a pink curved line to indicate Ghost-Spider stealing a hat from a background character and landing in the foreground.
I don’t often call out covers, but I must say the cover to this issue does not match the story within. Covers tend to be created before issues are scripted, so it’s likely the story shifted, but the cover here is more of a spoiler than anything to do with this issue’s story. It’s likely nobody’s fault, but this one felt extra glaring.
Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #3 leans heavily into the charm of its cast, and that proves to be more than enough to keep the issue entertaining. The training dynamic between Norman Osborn and his young students remains one of the book’s strongest hooks, especially as Norman continues to push boundaries. The plot itself is fairly lightweight, relying on a villain who serves more as an obstacle than a true threat, but the lively dialogue and strong team chemistry keep the momentum moving. Granados’ artwork brings an infectious energy to every page, particularly through expressive faces and fluid action. While this chapter feels more like a fun detour than a major turning point (save for the cliffhanger), it succeeds as an enjoyable spotlight on Marvel’s growing generation of Spider-heroes.
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