REVIEW: ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man,’ Issue #3

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #3 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Cody Ziglar, art by Federico Vicentini, colours by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Cory Petit. As Spider-Man and Misty Knight find themselves in a fight with Scorpion, another villain knows his true identity and is hunting those he loves. 

This issue is a brilliant demonstration of spinning multiple plates at the same time. The storytelling is fantastic. The first part of the comic is an origin story for the new villain before seamlessly moving into the present. A lot of plot is unveiled in a small period of time, but not so quickly that it loses cohesion. The fight scene between Misty Knight, Spider-Man, and Scorpion is intense and extremely exciting. The fluctuation in pace is utilised well, moving up and down instead of in a linear way. It allows for the superhero aspects of the comic to co-exist perfectly with the themes and the deeper elements of the wider series. Even with the villain revealed and making moves, there is still a large amount of mystery and confusion created by her actions. The final part of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #3 has some sinister elements to it and is quite shocking.

This is a great book for exploring not just the personality of the main character but also that of his supporting cast. The new villain hunting down Miles’ family and friends is a test of those relationships. The villain has an intricate backstory that brilliantly highlights how a person’s life can go in a different direction. Her life and subsequent personality are great examples of someone having a relatable story but with reprehensible actions. But elsewhere, you have Misty Knight, who is a perfect older superhero for Spider-Man to interact with. She has authority and a willingness to help whilst being wise and a brilliant fighter as well. Misty understands the conflict between super and normal life. It is also great drama to see the recurring presence of Agent Gao, providing more voices to the cast.

The art is terrific. For much of the issue, Vicentini stays close to the characters. This focuses the eyes on their facial expressions, which have also been scrupulously sculpted. I really like some of the costume designs. It could be argued that they are too much, with both the villain and Starling having big additions to their outfits. But they are magnificent for building character and giving distinctive looks to newer figures in the comics. During the fight scene, staying close makes Scorpion look huge and reduces the space that Miles and Misty can work in. It’s claustrophobic and frantic, displaying the speed of all fighters. Vicentini excellently denotes the danger of the situation.

The colours are also fantastic. The lighting is beautiful, especially how it interacts with costumes and objects to give more dimensions and a sense of shape. Miles’ costume looks particularly brilliant with how Valenza applies the colors to it. The black is very sleek, with small trails of red interspersing within it. The lettering is very dynamic and engaging.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #3 is a book filled with frantic energy. A fabulous story is unfolding as the comic opens up and gets deeper into the plot. The speed at which it moves is extremely fun. All the teenage characters have personalities that show what is common in people when they reach that strange crest of life, one where it is impossible to have it all figured out. Both the hero and the villain are representative of that, whilst someone like Misty Knight can be an amazing backup in a fight but also a guiding light.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #3 is available where comics are sold.