Written by Dan Slott.
Art by Olivier Coipel; Guiseppe Camuncoli; Cam Smith; Wade Von Grawbadger; Livesay; Victor Olazaba; Mark Morales; & Justin Ponsor.
‘Spider-Feast’ Interlude Written by Dan Slott.
‘Spider-Feast’ Interlude Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli; Cam smith; Antonio Fabela; & VC’s Travis Lanham.
Collection Cover Art by Olivier Coipel; Wade Von Grawbadger; & Justin Ponsor.
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics in 2015, this 144-page trade paperback compiles that same year’s The Amazing Spider-Man # 9-15.
From their interdimensional stronghold (Loomworld – Earth 001), Morlun’s insatiable vampire clan (‘The Inheritors’) plunder other Earths. For their insidious hunting season: specifically, these vampires are overpowering and consuming a plethora of Spider-Totems (unsuspecting Spider-Men and evidently Spider-Women) throughout Marvel’s multiverse. Three subsequent captives: the Other, the Bride, and the Scion, will be later sacrificed for the Inheritors’ secret endgame – to finally destroy the multiverse’s so-called Spider-Totems.
On Marvel’s primary Earth (Earth-616), an incredulous Peter Parker, Cindy “Silk” Moon, Jessica Drew’s Spider-Woman, Anya Corazon’s Spider-Girl, and Peter’s wounded clone, Kaine, are recruited into a growing resistance force of Spider-Totems from different continuities.
Among them are: the Ultimate reality’s Miles Morales and Jessica Drew; the MC2’s orphaned May “Mayday” Parker and her infant brother, Benjy; Star Comics/Marvel Tails’ anthropomorphic Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham; Gwen Stacy’s Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider; Miguel O’Hara’s Spider-Man 2099; clone Ben Reilly’s Spider-Man; Spider-Man Noir; and Dr. Octopus’ own ‘Superior Spider-Man,’ plucked from a different point in Earth-616’s timeline.
Given his prior victories over Morlun, Earth-616’s Spider-Man reluctantly assumes command of his diverse counterparts. Spider-Man is also forced to rely on Dr. Octopus’ self-serving ‘Superior’ science, if any weakness of Morlun’s bloodthirsty clan can be exploited.
In spite of an advantage in sheer numbers, the Spider-verse’s survivors are decimated in ambushes by Morlun’s overwhelming forces. Side missions (including recruiting additional Spider-Men from more alternate realities) and last-minute escapes into various Earths sets up the climax: a desperate invasion of Morlun’s Loomworld. A fateful showdown will decide the legacy of the multiverse’s Spider-Men, including Morlun’s three captives.
Notes: This title is available digitally. Marvel Comics specifies tie-in references to other Spider-titles and their issue numbers for this crossover. Hence, one shouldn’t mistake this single volume as the complete ‘Spider-Verse’ saga.
REVIEW:
Aside from grisly inferences and occasional confusion (i.e. how many Spider-characters is an average reader supposed to keep track of?), writer Dan Slott keeps his ambitious plotting on track. Including homages to Spidey’s animated and Japanese TV counterparts, Volume 3: Spider-Verse delivers an intriguing and surprisingly coherent read for adults. Bits of well-played comedy relief supply an extra asset, including a late sight gag that seemingly comes out of nowhere.
As clarification, parents should not presume this title as kid-friendly. Though they aren’t ultra-graphic, the vampire scenes are unsettling. In depicting Morlun’s clan, Slott lays his script’s debauchery down thick. Still, Slott’s complex (and somewhat bewildering) storyline is bolstered by consistently high-caliber visuals. The art squad answered a creative challenge distinguishing so many Spider-Men (and Spider-Women) from one another, especially in group shots. Their visual teamwork is indeed impressive.
If anything, The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 3: Spider-Verse presents a likely must-have for Spider-Man’s ardent fans – in particular, for those thrilled with the character’s alternate-reality variants. The icky sequences (though mostly off-screen), however, may determine if this particular epic is really more a purchase or a library rental.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Each full-page cover precedes its story. Cover artists are the following: Issues # 9-12 (Olivier Coipel & Justin Ponsor); Issue # 13 (Coipel, Wade Von Grawbadger, & Ponsor); and Issues # 14-15 (Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, & Ponsor).
Sporadically included are:
- Three variant covers (Issue # 13 – artists Salvador Larocca & Israel Silva; Issue # 14 – artist Phil Noto; and Issue # 15 – artist Simone Bianchi) are shrunk to 1/3 size to fit one page.
- A single page combines artist Jeff Wamester’s variants for Issues # 9-14.
- Another single-page combined variant is artist Skottie Young’s from Superior Spider-Man # 32 and Issue # 9.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
