A road less taken.
Spider Verse Team-Ups give us a chance to look at the
premier Spiders of this event, and peel back what make each of them unique.
This issue we look at a group from the Spider-UK team
(Spider-Ham, Old Man Spider) and one from the SpOck team (Spider-Man Noir, Six
Armed Spider-Man).
And it makes for a very enjoyable episode in the
Spider-Verse event, as we’re introduced to more alternate Spiders – each with a
tale of their own.
SPOILERS FOLLOW……………
First up is the Spider-UK team traveling to an Earth where
Ben Reilly, a clone of Peter, took over from a powerless Peter Parker. When
they reach him, he is being hunted by a group of alternate universe Vultures
(which include versions of the 616 Edward Toomes, young and old, and the new
one).
They manage to overpower the three, but in the middle of
explaining things to Ben – one of the Vultures is able to paralyze them.
Ben manages to break through the paralytic and they’re able to
put a stop to the Vultures.
Back at Cosmic Spider-Man’s place, Old Man Spider makes note
of Ben’s ability to circumvent extreme odds and given what has happened to most
Ben Reilly’s throughout the mulitverse – death is always staring them in the
face, and if death is the end, atleast it is among his fellow Spiders.
Old Man Spider proves to be a ruthless one when he breaks
one of the Vulture’s arms (Alt. Toomes) and the other ones feast on him, while
Spider-Ham establishes his cartoon roots by mentioning that even an anvil doesn’t
do any damage (see Willie E Coyote or Bugs Bunny for example).
Next is the SpOck team as they peruse a hospital where
instead of giving Peter powers, the spider-bite rendered him catatonic. This is
ironic considering that meant Uncle Ben and Aunt May were both alive there.
Spider-Man Noir suggests killing him to spare the Parkers of
the Inheritors’ wrath, but Six-Armed decides to recreate his serum that he made
to cure his multiple arm problem (though in his universe, it failed). And it’s
no time too soon, as the catatonic Peter starts moving on the second stage
mutation by becoming a full Spider.
The antidote though is successful in destroying the Spider
DNA inside Peter due to the nascent state of development (this in probably very
early in that Peter’s life as Spider-Man). Even as they leave, Six-Armed feels
a personal victory was achieved as well as making sure a Peter Parker did not
suffer at the hands of Morlun and co.
For people familiar with Spider-Man mythology, this will be
a great nostalgic trip. Not to mention greats like Roger Stern coming on to
write the shorts.
SPOILERS END……………..
Some interesting combinations bring out personal moments and
callbacks to big moments in Peter Parker’s life as the wallcrawling webhead.
Gage and Stern give some good one-shots, though the artwork
is below par.
So, I give this 7.5 out of 10.
+Some good personal moments
+Great nostalgic trip
-Artwork is below par
-Feels too much of a retread for a seasoned reader
-Some clichés ruin the experience
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