Advance Review: Silk #1 (Lgy 32)

With Peter Parker on hiatus and with the new Gwen book just around the corner, it seems that web-slinging is being taken up by a plethora of Spiders. Ben Reilly is on call over on Amazing and now it’s Cindy Moon’s time in the spotlight with another Silk run.

For a first issue, there is more going on in the quiet pages and panels of the book then the loud action scenes. It seems that Cindy is having some sort of “who am I” type of conversation. Surely, life can’t be all Silk and no Cindy. The monotony of routine apparently cascades its way into superhero lives as easily as it does with everyone else. Of course reading a comic where the lead is just sat around sounds boring, so there is a threat in play as ancient Korean magic arrives and is released in New York!

This is the debut of Emily Kim who, after a little bit of setup, leaps straight into the action. No aspect of the opening act is wasted, with the prologue having impacts down the line. Still, Kim does a great job of demonstrating the difference between Silk and Cindy and how social media is affecting both. Under Kim Cindy is a likeable character, as is Silk. Kim also has a handle on the supporting cast; I love the ongoing “oldest young person” situations that Cindy finds herself in; not quite Steve Rogers-like out of time, but you get the idea. It is refreshing aspect of Cindy, centering on the fact that having powers doesn’t automatically solve your problems which is has been a staple in Peter Parker’s life since day one!

Retuning from the previous mini-series is artist Takeshi Miyazawa whose style fits this book brilliantly. Heavy lines emphasise the characters against their backgrounds, I quite like some of the odd poses that Miyazawa uses as it displays the knees and elbows aspect that I expect when it comes to spiders. There are a couple of odd faces; one of the onlookers look half finished to say the least. Still the prologue works, the fighting scenes work and the majority of Cindy’s interactions work. The colors are provided by, also returning, Ian Herring who gives the book a dark look which suits the foreboding elements as much as Cindy’s mood. Who thought being young was such hard work? VC’s Arian Maher returns with an X-font style which doesn’t get in the way of the art. Finally, there are. raft of covers to choose from; Inhyuk Lee and R1c0 are probably my favourites.

If you liked the last run, then to be honest, this is more of the same witha mix of diversity that feel natural and not forced. Maybe not as biting on social media as say, Netflix’s Don’t Look Up, but there is a kind of social commentary, An interesting start to the chapter of Cindy, and Silk’s life.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; Emily Lee
Art by; Takeshi Miyazawa
Colors by; Ian Herring
Letters by; VC’s Ariana Maher
Covers by; Inhyuk & R1c0
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network