Comic Review: Edge of Spider-Geddon #1

Edge of Spider-Geddon #1

Writer: Jed McKay

Artist: Gerardo Sandoval

Marvel Comics

‘Ragnarok & Roll’

Another year, another spider-vent. (Spidey-vent? Spider-Marketing Strategy?)

We’re now in the lead-up to Spider-Geddon, the sequel to the 2014 Spider-Verse event that ostensibly had every Spider-Man ever involved. At the moment the story sounds pretty simple; the Inheritors have escaped the world they were trapped on and are seeking revenge. Nice and simple, and a great excuse to get the band back together.

If I don’t sound excited then I should. I love Spidey and all his assorted counterparts, it just feels a little too soon and with some substandard villains. That aside I will happily accept any excuse to see the Spider-Gang back in action, especially when we get Spider-Punk back.

‘…accept your corporately mandated destiny’

Edge of Spider-Geddon #1 features Hobie Brown, Spider-Punk, having returned to his world trying to keep some semblance of order after his defeat of President Osborn.

I really enjoy this world in the multiverse, with all the hamfisted references to the equivalents of the 616 universe. The Annihilation Wave as fans of surf-rock and Dr. Strange as ‘M.C. Strange’ are particular favourites and it’s obvious that Jed McKay is having a lot of fun filling in these new details in Earth-138.

Gerardo Sandoval is a great fit for this title as well, with his chunky and scratchy art feeling very punk. (I tried writing that sentence about 30 different ways but I always sounded like a 50-year-old so I’m just running with it.) It all feels very cohesive, and the appearance of ‘Kang the Conglomerator’ as the villain just seals how hilarious this world is. In the future, he’s claimed Spider-Punk’s image (or should that be Spider-Man, as Hobie repeatedly reminds people in this issue) in the future and makes a fortune off of it, especially with the movies.

What better way to make even more money than by bringing actual Spider-Punk (Spider-Man, I mean) to the future? Obviously, Spider-Punk (Spider-MAN) disagrees and goes to get some help to fight off Kang. No Spoilers about who but it’s a good one.

‘I don’t wanna live forever’

We only see the tie in with Spider-Geddon at the very end, when Mayday Parker appears and recruits Spider-Punk (SPIDER-MAN) to go fight the mystery big bads. As if we didn’t know who it was already.

Overall this is a great issue, giving McKay space to expand the character of Spider-Man (there we go) and still tie in with the larger event. There’s one piece of info that I definitely won’t spoil but it’s absolutely going to tie in with Spider-Geddon, and I assume in a big way.

Bring on Edge of Spider-Geddon #2!