Spider-Man & the Secret Wars #1 – review

Fans of recent Spider-Man are going to hate me, but when reading this issue the most prominent thought that comes to me is “Spider-Man is back” and “Spidey is Spidey”. Kids, this is Spider-Man, as sure as if it was Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz giving us a throwdown with Spidey and the Sinister Six. I know that legendary names like Ditko and Romita are part of Spidey’s past, but I have been unable to really buy Spider-Man as character since I stopped reading the comic (at the time my favorite character) back in the ’90s a little after Todd McFarlane left Amazing Spider-Man(coincidentally, I think it was an Erik Larsen story arc about the Sinister Six). Sure, I’ve enjoyed New Avengers as much as the next reader, but I don’t do so directly due to presence of Spider-Man, which considering the character’s status in my eyes has to be viewed as a letdown.

This is why you should – the parent – should be buying Spider-Man & the Secret Wars even if you’re not in fact a a parent. It plays into the ’80s Secret Wars stories that molded each and every comic fan that is now between the ages of 25-35. Do you remember this sweet cover?

What happen after (and before—giving readers a rather strong recap) is where Spider-Man & the Secret Wars#1 lives. Spidey is the focus and essentially our eyes (and mouth) in the story. Paul Tobin (the writer) is impressive; in one issue putting his story out there while still having room to clearly lay out basic premises that have made Marvel work for decades:

• Cap is a leader
• Hulk is strong
• Reed is smart

As to the first, Spidey (Tobin) gives it to us in one line

“One thing about arguing with Captain America…it means you’re probably wrong.”

The second is illustrated via mountain upside your head, and the third when Reed goes genius-level MacGyver. You throw in Spidey who is used as a vehicle to ask questions that we may have not asked as kids, but now would as adults. He does this, however, do so in a manner that is not demeaning or belittling to our former selves. It instead catches us up to what kids today would have ask!

What’s great about this issue (and Secret Wars) is you can do all of the above because the premise is as easy to explain as it is awesome. Heroes, Villains, Battleworld. The art by Patrick Scherberger does what art is supposed to do– establish place, a desire to be there, and all while finding this visual middle-ground that offers characters that generations can share.

I enjoy the current Marvel Comics well enough, this first issue of Spider-Man & the Secret Wars reminded me of how much more I – and may always – loved the me that was reading comics when I was a kid.

Thanks for that.

Check out a PREVIEW of this issue!