Spidergeddon #0 Review
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Clayton Crain
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I must admit, the news of Spider-Man of Insomniac’s hit PS4 title making the leap to comics did seem like a bit of a cash grab to me, like just a slightly different spin on the movie synergy that comes and goes with each new Marvel flick. Does it mean I’m cynical if I’m happy to be wrong most of the time? Point is, Spidergeddon #0 is a surprisingly fun read. No spoilers for Spider-Man or Spidergeddon here.
Obviously, Christos Gage didn’t have time to play the game before writing the script, but his insider knowledge he had has paid off. As someone who’s pretty close to a platinum trophy, I totally bought that this was the same Spider-Man I’d been playing as. The characters all sound just like they do in game (because Gage helped write that, too. Duh.), and many of Earth-1048’s trademarks such as Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson or the gadgets featured in gameplay help sell that this is a proper continuation of this Spider-Man’s story. I’m still very doubtful, but maybe his role in Spidergeddon will actually affect the events of the next game. Speaking of which, DO NOT read this unless you’ve finished the game…. Or unless you have basic knowledge of the Spider-Man mythos. Much as I loved it, Spider-Man PS4’s story was predictable, but if you’re against spoilers anyway, you’ll have to hold off on this one. What this issue does do with those spoilers caught me off guard. I should have put two and two together, but I didn’t expect Gage to use a certain someone to give Peter of 1048 a look into what could have been, adding perspective to his own path and giving depth to his relationship with his new crime fighting partner. Layered between the heart-to-hearts is enough action to keep the pace consistently on the up, meaning there’s never a dull moment.
Clayton Crain wouldn’t have been my first choice for the book, just because his coloring makes the world feel much drabber than it actually is. His renditions of the characters definitely feel genuine to their world, but it’s like viewing it through a bleak filter. The drawings themselves are fantastic though. Crain really excels at portraying depth in such limited space that helps you get an idea for the scale of characters and the environment. Silhouetted backgrounds are thrown in to add some variety to shots as well as the panel layout. Generally, the colors of the book could use some more spice, but the rest of it is visually interesting from beginning to end.
I can’t say I would recommend this book to just anyone who enjoyed Spider-Man on the PS4, but if you’re one of them and you’re interested in Spidergeddon to begin with, then this is absolutely the book for you. It takes Peter’s relationship with the antagonist of the game further to new interesting places, and truly feels like Earth-1048 rather than just any Spider-Man with a big white spider on his chest. I could have gone for some brighter colors, but Crain easily makes the visuals catchy enough to carry the book. I enjoyed it and I’m actually a little more interested in checking out Spidergeddon now.
But only a little.
Artist: Clayton Crain
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I must admit, the news of Spider-Man of Insomniac’s hit PS4 title making the leap to comics did seem like a bit of a cash grab to me, like just a slightly different spin on the movie synergy that comes and goes with each new Marvel flick. Does it mean I’m cynical if I’m happy to be wrong most of the time? Point is, Spidergeddon #0 is a surprisingly fun read. No spoilers for Spider-Man or Spidergeddon here.
Obviously, Christos Gage didn’t have time to play the game before writing the script, but his insider knowledge he had has paid off. As someone who’s pretty close to a platinum trophy, I totally bought that this was the same Spider-Man I’d been playing as. The characters all sound just like they do in game (because Gage helped write that, too. Duh.), and many of Earth-1048’s trademarks such as Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson or the gadgets featured in gameplay help sell that this is a proper continuation of this Spider-Man’s story. I’m still very doubtful, but maybe his role in Spidergeddon will actually affect the events of the next game. Speaking of which, DO NOT read this unless you’ve finished the game…. Or unless you have basic knowledge of the Spider-Man mythos. Much as I loved it, Spider-Man PS4’s story was predictable, but if you’re against spoilers anyway, you’ll have to hold off on this one. What this issue does do with those spoilers caught me off guard. I should have put two and two together, but I didn’t expect Gage to use a certain someone to give Peter of 1048 a look into what could have been, adding perspective to his own path and giving depth to his relationship with his new crime fighting partner. Layered between the heart-to-hearts is enough action to keep the pace consistently on the up, meaning there’s never a dull moment.
Clayton Crain wouldn’t have been my first choice for the book, just because his coloring makes the world feel much drabber than it actually is. His renditions of the characters definitely feel genuine to their world, but it’s like viewing it through a bleak filter. The drawings themselves are fantastic though. Crain really excels at portraying depth in such limited space that helps you get an idea for the scale of characters and the environment. Silhouetted backgrounds are thrown in to add some variety to shots as well as the panel layout. Generally, the colors of the book could use some more spice, but the rest of it is visually interesting from beginning to end.
I can’t say I would recommend this book to just anyone who enjoyed Spider-Man on the PS4, but if you’re one of them and you’re interested in Spidergeddon to begin with, then this is absolutely the book for you. It takes Peter’s relationship with the antagonist of the game further to new interesting places, and truly feels like Earth-1048 rather than just any Spider-Man with a big white spider on his chest. I could have gone for some brighter colors, but Crain easily makes the visuals catchy enough to carry the book. I enjoyed it and I’m actually a little more interested in checking out Spidergeddon now.
But only a little.
A Look Inside
