Review: Spider-Man Annual #1

There are a number of reasons that I like Miles Morales as Spider-Man more than Peter Parker. One of the main reason is that he has his whole life open ahead of him. Also he is less bogged down as a character. He doesn“t carry around 56 years of stories that seem to carry over no matter how many times they reboot the character. There are no Clone Wars or Spider Islands or brain swaps with Doc Ock to worry about. You can just pick up an issue and read.

This annual is a perfect example of that. It is made up of two stories featuring Miles“ Spider-Man, along with a several page spread of Steve Ditko“s classic Spider-Man art as a tribute to his passing. The first, Youngblood, is a slightly convoluted story within a story within a story. During a fight with Morbuis on his birthday, Miles remembers several years ago when he first became Spider-Man and had to confront his uncle and later several Skrulls while on a date. Can these events teach him what he needs to know to take on the living vampire?

The second story, Right of Way, is a more light-hearted story about Spidey taking a truck hijacker in the middle of Ganke“s first driving lesson. The hijacker has stolen a truckload of unknown Stark technology, so there is a little bite to this fun story.

I liked the art in both stories and in Youngblood Miles learns to put together an impromptu costume on the fly, which manages to pay tribute to both Scarlet Spiders, yet be a unique look for Miles. Nelson Blake II did a fantastic job coming up with the costume. He and Alitha Martinez continue the great work through the story of portraying a Miles who isn“t sure of himself of his powers.

The art in the second story is different and I“m not sure I would have liked it as much in a different story, but Alberto Alburquerque“s style is well suited for this light and fun romp. Ganke is both nervous about being in his first high-speed chase, but loves putting one over on the web-blinded driving instructor who isn“t quite sure what“s going on.

This is really what I like about the Annuals, when they are done well. You get a couple of stories that stand alone and are not part of some multi-book storyline about the end of the universe. You just get to spend time with a character that you either love or are curious about. Either way, there are worse ways of spending a summer afternoon.

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Youngblood
Writer: Bryan Edward Hill
Artists: Nelson Blake II & Alitha E. Martinez
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Roberto Poggi
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Letters: Corey Petit

Right of Way
Writer: Emily Ryan Lerner
Artist: Alberto Alburquerque
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Letters: Corey Petit

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Andy Hall

Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!