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Spider-Man 2099 #1 Review

Comic Books

Spider-Man 2099 #1 Review

Though Secret Wars has technically yet to end the “All-New” Marvel marches on. That means two things for readers: we might be able to get some tidbits on what happens post Secret Wars and anyone who hates the Marvel event can pretend it never happened and read this.

I’m looking forward to this series due to the strong creative team carrying it on and because my 90’s self still loves this version of Spidey… but is it good?

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Spider-Man 2099 (2015-) #1 (Marvel Comics)

Spider-Man 2099 #1 Review

Miguel O’Hara is a Ninja Warrior! Okay, maybe not exactly, but he definitely exhibits all the characteristics of a ninja warrior in this new Marvel Universe. The issue opens with him smashing the popular TV show obstacle course not holding back with those Spider-Man powers we love him for. Frankly this is an awesome scene to open the issue since it’s something I’d daydream about as a kid. It’s along the lines of: “What if Spider-Man was a football player,” and we all know he’d be baller. This issue aims to establish the personality of Miguel AKA Spider-Man 2099, his status quo and the direction his main bad guy will take him in.

Why does this comic book matter?

Fact is writer Peter David and artist Will Sliney did a fantastic job with this series before it was rebooted post Secret Wars. The dialogue was strong (David’s dialogue is always great), the art sharp and the new supporting characters interesting and intriguing. Pretty much everything you need for an entertaining comic!

Spider-Man 2099 #1 Review
Be honest: You’ve dreamed about Spidey doing cool stuff like this before!

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

The art is once again fantastic with solid line work, interesting backgrounds, awesome acrobatic moves and emotive expressions. A lot of Sliney’s art reminds me of something a movie director would want for storyboards; it’s nearly realistic enough to be real, but still obviously drawn and colored. The layouts have a cinematic quality as well and the panels look like were structured with widescreen in mind.

Oh and there’s a solid 2D side scrolling panel with Miguel going down an elevator that should get comic enthusiasts shouting for joy. It runs the length of the page down the left side leaving room for continuing panels on the right. It draws the eye down the page and makes the jump back to the top to continue reading fun.

Miguel’s new job makes a ton of sense and I like how it connects to Peter Parker yet is removed enough to let him do his own thing. The dynamic is interesting too for this character because he’s usually been played as the loner. Here he’s the boss of a few people – given he’s still working on those interpersonal skills – but it’s going to be fun to see how this dynamic develops. Hell, David opening the comic with Miguel entering a TV show – putting his secret identity in danger – shows how reckless he is and that should play well with his new boss role.

On top of this element I think Peter David hit the nail on the head with the bad guys discussing terrorism. It’s an inspired take on villains in this day and age and makes a ton of sense. Why take over the world when you can make more money via terrorism?

It can’t be perfect can it?

A couple of things bothered me and the biggest issue I had is the least worrisome: where the hell is the costume?! We get teased with a new costume on the cover and it doesn’t appear once? Travesty!

The Ninja USA opening sequence was great fun and did a lot of things right but it still felt too long. Devoting six pages to a scene to show Miguel as reckless reads more like filler than anything else.

It’s also a mystery to me what happened after Secret Wars; it’s good in that it doesn’t spoil anything, but did the writers at Marvel just pick and choose what they wanted to carry over? The addition of a character David used in the Secret Wars tie-in could bear interesting fruit, but what the heck? If this character why not others?

Spider-Man 2099 #1 Review
I like this new relationship.

Is It Good?

The sin of our title hero not wearing the costume adorning the cover isn’t the worst thing you’ll see in comics this week. This issue establishes the status quo of the hero, his personality, his goals and a villain with some devilish intentions. Check this out to get started on another David/Sliney ride!

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