REVIEW: ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man,’ Issue #15

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15 is published by Marvel, written by Cody Ziglar, art by Federico Vicentini, colors by Bryan Valenza and letters by Cory Petit. This is part of the Gang War crossover. Miles now has backup in the form of Ms. Marvel and Shift to help him take down the Prowler, as well as Hobgoblin and another old enemy.

Taking place instantly after the previous issue ended, this book takes time to slow down and gather itself. There has been something of an overlap throughout Miles’ tie-ins to Gang War.  The fights aren’t finished until the early stages of the next issue. It should be said that the end to the Prowler fight and the explanation are a bit of a deflation, as it was the most likely of conclusions. The real surprise is the appearance of the backup team, a brilliant and diverse squad that combines heroes and villains. They all share a singular mission of going after Hoblgin and his ally. There are more guest stars used as muscle against the heroes, with a selection of minor characters being dragged into the crossover.

The pacing is still fast but not to the level that it could cause whiplash. It allows for some very sweet moments as friends reunite after a long time and after several traumatic events. It could be seen as a bridging issue, getting the characters to the main location for the final battle. It’s a great collection of the major storylines within Ziglar’s run on this series and it has an extremely powerful effect on the protagonist.

The characters are sensational in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15. Ziglar has an amazing ability to connect characters across entirely separate scenes with atmospheric moments. The second villain that has aligned with Hobgoblin is panicky and anxious, which  to radiate off of the page. And then when Miles hears of their involvement, his reaction is just as intense and nuanced. The emotional depth within this series is terrific.

One of the most wholesome features within this issue is Miles getting to reunite with his best friend, Ms. Marvel. After all of the horrible things both young heroes have been through, the positivity is heart-warming. There’s no tension or awkwardness between them, just happiness and love. Miles is arguably more excited to see Kamala than he is his girlfriend, such is the strength of their relationship. The issue slows down to give space for that reunion to happen, and the rewards are well worth the risks. The dialogue from all of the other characters is also remarkable, with a cast that has grown exponentially.

The art is terrific. Vicentini draws everyone superbly, from the newcomers to those who are remnants of the previous issues. Hobgoblin in particular is an awesome combination of terrifying technology. Ms. Marvel’s costume changes a lot since she’s last seen Miles. The artist handles the characters with crucial, fluid energy. More focus is placed on the facial expressions and the storytelling when the characters are stationary. The erupting action transitions seamlessly. New elements are brought in, including many villains that aren’t particularly well known, and yet the artist adapts and  gives their presence weight.

The colors are extraordinary. In the darkness, where Hobgoblin and his ally are hiding, the shades are gloomy and reliant on energy for the light. The returning character has a signature color that is now instantly recognisable: purple which leads into a pure, almost blinding white. And outside in the light, the shades are stunning. The sky is really pretty, turning pink as the sun starts to set. There‘s variety among all of the costumes, and Valenza encompasses all of them so they fit within the pages. The lettering copes brilliantly with the large amounts of dialogue.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15 is a perfect change of pace. It is surprising that a comic containing so many characters, two fight scenes, and plenty of drama could be considered slower. It speaks to the spectacular speed of Miles and his adventures that it truly has been taken down a notch. This issue makes time to fit in necessary dialogue and relationships. This whole segment of the event containing Miles’ supporting cast has meant that it feels like part of the ongoing series instead of surgically attached due to scheduling. As it reaches its climax, the whole plot has been an extension of Ziglar and the rest of the creative team’s exemplary storytelling.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15 is available where comics are sold.