REVIEW: ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man,’ Issue #6

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Cody Ziglar, art by Federico Vicentini, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Clayton Cowles. Suffering adverse effects from the battle with Carnage, Miles’s night out with Starling and his friends is derailed by the Hobgoblin.

This is a great issue to be the first after such a big and dramatic crossover. There are ramifications and consequences from Carnage Reigns, but the book is also trying to have fun. Starting at a carnival of sorts, there is the facade of Miles having a good time whilst the main threat is starting to build up pace in the background. It’s a great tactic to tell two really interesting stories at the same time. What’s going on with Miles and Starling is something long-term, affecting the series on a broader notion. But Hobgoblin is the here and now, and hurtling right into conflict. What Hobgoblin wants is mysterious, the whole fight taking place in an old Beyond warehouse full of technology. 

The pacing increases in its intensity as the issue progresses. The exposition being revealed warrants a slower start. But once the fighting erupts, the book becomes frantic. Miles and Starling are practically picked up and thrown around in a battle they have little to no control over. Hobgoblin has new tech too, and that makes him even more powerful and unpredictable.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8 approaches the dialogue that a superhero might have with a really fascinating and different view. There is a really frank and honest conversation between the two young heroes. Miles just came out of something incredibly traumatic, sustaining serious injuries as well. What he’s experiencing is something potentially relatable, with anxiety and stress all biting at him, but there is also a comic book consequence to how he’s acting. His Spider-sense seems to be playing up, complicating how he reacts to threats in the heat of battle.

Ziglar approaches the conversation with an incredibly natural slant. It feels like a real, genuine conversation two people would have about insecurities and why one of them just isn’t feeling right. Miles can’t even accurately express what he’s feeling, whilst Tiana is rational and suggests options that are helpful for more than just the characters in the comic. However, there are times when the dialogue can feel a little repetitive. There are so many times a reference to Miles’ spider-sense not working is effective, and it is brought up a few too many times.

The art showcases Vicentinie’s high-octane style again but can often lose control of itself. When Hobgoblin flies in on his glider and Miles starts speeding around, the comic becomes a swirling mass of chaos. It makes the book instantly exciting and infectious, with three fast characters all in action around each other. Hobgoblin’s crazy eyes match the frantic tone that features in the second half of the comic. It’s great to see Spider-Man have a partner in Starling as it provides another variable to the page, and has been a common theme within this run. The detail in some panels is extraordinary, even in the quiet moments in Brooklyn, but there are a few pages that seem overcrowded and claustrophobic when they’re not trying to be. That tactic works when Spider-Man is in combat because it pens him in and increases the danger. But in the quiet, civilian moments it feels unnecessary.

The colors are gorgeous. The carnival scene is all under a pretty yellow glow from the low-hanging lights. Then enters Hobgoblin, dressed in the bright orange and blue that is practically trademarked to that character and identifies him instantly. The vibrancy of Hoboglin and the rich red of both Spider-Man and Starling contrast beautifully with the colder blue of their surroundings within the warehouse. The lettering is an easy-to-read font, but there are instances where the placement is confusing during the large conversation.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8 has a great balance of superheroes and humans. It shows what happens when the fighting slows down and the fires are put out. There are lasting consequences for the things that happen to Miles Morales, they don’t just get forgotten about in the next issue. If he nearly dies, that matters. The comic has the ability to be quiet and loud, with the fight against Hobgoblin moving a thousand times quicker than the start to the issue

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8 is available where comics are sold.