Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art by Greg Land; Jay Leisten; Frank D’Armata; Travis Lanham; & W. Scott Forbes
Cover Art by Greg Land & Frank D’Armata
SUMMARY:
Published for May 2015 by Marvel Comics, per the first page summary, this untitled issue depicts two ongoing Spider-Verse storylines. While Silk seeks refuge on a post-nuclear holocaust alternate Earth, Jessica Drew is busily impersonating her evil counterpart on Morlun’s home planet, Loomworld.
Evading Morlun’s creepy advances, Jessica relies on her stealth powers to infiltrate deep inside the enemy’s palace. She encounters the captive Master Weaver, whose mystical control of the ‘Web of Fate’ is being corrupted by Morlun’s forces. After covertly teleporting the Weaver’s secrets scrolls to Spider-Man in another dimension, Jessica flees the palace aboard a speedboat in Loomworld’s harbor.
Taken captive by her evil counterpart’s new pirate cronies, Jessica may need an assist from Silk and Spider-Gwen for a high seas showdown. Their storyline continues in Amazing Spider-Man # 13.
Note: Artist W. Scott Forbes also created a variant cover.
REVIEW:
Though artist Greg Land’s work is stellar (i.e. the cover image), the same doesn’t apply to writer Dennis Hopeless’ somewhat confusing storyline. For instance, Silk’s angle depicts her ongoing dilemma on an apocalyptic parallel Earth; yet, she can teleport in with Spider-Gwen for the plot’s convenience.
Unless Silk’s unrevealed escape (or rescue) is shown in another Spider-Verse-related comic, Hopeless isn’t playing fair with readers. Further, Jessica’s likable narrative is well-played, but, again, exactly how Spider-Woman escapes Morlun’s palace isn’t divulged. One can only assume that the ever-wicked Morlun is too conceited to pay for quality security.
Perhaps the problem lies with basic implausibility. Whether it’s Spider-Woman inadvertently finding the captive Master Weaver, with ease … or her stumbling dialogue fooling a gullible Morlun, who is only mildly annoyed rather than suspicious … or the outnumbered Spider-Ladies’ good-natured banter facing down a crew of monstrous pirates, Hopeless’ underwhelming tale doesn’t bite enough reality in these unlikely scenarios. Spider Woman # 3 has a few entertaining moments, but its middling script too often squanders some intriguing characters.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “Caught Up in the Spider-Verse” is a checklist for upcoming related issues, as well as for cover reveals of Amazing Spider-Man # 13; Scarlet Spiders # 3; and Spider-Woman # 4.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
