REVIEW: ‘Dark Web: Finale,’ Issue #1

Dark Web: Finale #1 is the conclusion of the crossover, published by Marvel Comics, written by Zeb Wells, art by Adam Kubert, Scott Mortarino, and Scott Hanna, colours by Frank Martin and Guru eFX, and letters by Joe Caramagna. Chasm now holds the Goblin Queen’s scythe, leading a full demon army into New York as King Chasm. Spider-Man, the X-Men, and allies old and new must push back against the new rulers of Limbo.

The is an epic feel to this final part of Dark Web. The story is a brilliant mix of the tones this crossover has contained. It is a battle of epic proportions, but one that embraces the absurd fun that has covered the series. The brief period of gathering from both sides ramps up the energy before throwing them at each other. All of the various elements and sub-plots come back to be of importance, but this has not been a series difficult to follow. There is enough within the dialogue that explains the changes from the beginning, but not too much to be superfluous to those that have followed every part. The action is intense but hilarious at times. The end of the comic wraps the whole plot up rather nicely whilst leaving big questions and mysteries open for both Spider-Man and the X-Men.

The characters have been the driving force and heart of this whole concept. This might be the first issue where I felt the strength coming from Spider-Man. He has not been bad during the story, but it felt like he was being dragged along by the plot. But in Dark Web: Finale #1, he has anger and frustration pulsating through him. That responsibility he feels for what has happened to Ben Reilly and what he now doing weighs heavily on him. A loud and angry confrontation with Madelyne Pryor demonstrates where his head is. Madelyne has been a terrific piece of Dark Web. It should be noted that even when she is on the “right” side of the battle, her demeanor and presence remain powerful. This is questioned by multiple people, especially her former subjects. This is due to the challenge by Chasm and Hallow’s Eve. They are both terrific villains, with a partnership that is endearing. There is genuine love between them, something that is never questioned or tarnished.

The other characters in the book are all brilliant. From Cyclops and his tactical commands to the glorious and hilarious chatter from the demons, the dialogue is superb. Keeping the Insidious Six and Rek-Rap included in the final battle ensures that they aren’t just basic, one-time villains. So much of the banter within the fights is fantastic as Wells appears to enjoy himself scripting the demons and the heroes alike.

The art is brilliant. We finally return to this altered version of New York, with the artists superbly creating the atmosphere. The backgrounds are thick with shadows, but there are also very thin line weights for intricate details. The faces that appear in objects are creepy yet amazing. Kubert and Mortarino beautifully recreate the more muscular, transformed King Chasm that appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #18. It’s a magnificent design that elevates an already incredible costume. And it should be noted that Hallow’s Eve and her capabilities are the most exciting addition to Marvel’s recent history.

The switching of artists throughout the book, with awesome inking by Hanna, adds to the ever-changing, twisted nature of the comic. Some of the most fascinating pages are due to a shift in the style or regular layout. At one stage the panels shift orientation to landscape, which uses the size to boost the magnitude of the situation. But during all of this, there are smaller panels that show snippets of fights elsewhere. The fights are either cartoonish or brutally violent, which is a great blend.

The colors are fantastic. There is a frequent orange hue due to flames of the natural color of Limbo, or even in the hair colors of four redheads in this final issue. But the tone can alternate and diversify, meaning that it doesn’t get weary to read. In some panels the orange is light, but in others verges on blood red. The lettering is pivotal, with so much customisation to the word balloons. The text is enlarged with screams and shrieks included frequently, which adds life and noise to the pages.

Dark Web Finale #1 closes the crossover with consistency. It goes out with the same energy that it came in with. It is clear on every single page that these creators love comics. This is a celebration of the characters and the format. It’s so enjoyable to read, with lovable characters and fights full of excitement. And yet the story is meaningful, carrying massive consequences. It’s a very rewarding comic and one that was a delight to read.

Dark Web Finale #1 is available where comics are sold.