REVIEW: ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man’ #16

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Cody Ziglar, with art by Federico Vicentini and Federica Mancin, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Cory Petit. This is part of the Gang War event. Miles Morales and his team face off against Hobgoblin and Rabble.

The issue features intense action in multiple locations at the same time. Miles’ tie-in to Gang War has taken him from one battle to another, but they have all been working for Hobgoblin and armed by Rabble. Now Spider-Man has the chance to shut down his section of the city. The adrenaline and the pace never stop for a second, splitting the fights into sections to maintain a form of structure. Inside the warehouse are Miles, Ms Marvel, and Gust. Outside, Scorpion, Starling, and Shift face a group of minor villains acting like hired guns.

This many characters result in brilliant chaos. The issue is never difficult to follow despite the frantic pace and the fighting that is spread out. Links and comments to previous issues of Miles Morales: Spider-Man are welcome and make this connection to the Gang War crossover feel like part of a long-term plan, but they aren’t necessary to those jumping on over these coinciding issues. The action and the energy are the pulsating heart of this comic. The ending is explosive and satisfying at the same time but leaves numerous loose ends to be tied up across both Spider-Man books.

The number of characters that end up within Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 is ridiculous. So many costumed heroes and villains are fighting it out for money, power, and revenge. And yet, within that foray are strands of a great story and specific voices. The story’s main characters are given the chance to talk and drive the book forward. Miles and Scorpion are the loudest, leading the respective groups.

Ziglar ensures that the personalities of the characters are not silenced or squeezed by the lack of space. When someone speaks, it matters. Ms Marvel and Miles work superbly as a team, but it was slightly disappointing not to get a closing conversation between the best friends. They have both been through so much, but the pacing of the comic would not allow for that intimacy.

The villains are also fantastically written. At the head of the table are Hobgoblin and Rabble. They may be partners, but they have their own masters and agendas. Rabble is not only out for revenge against Spider-Man, but she is serving Madame Masque in the wider Gang War. Hobgoblin is solely thinking of himself. They are both extremely noisy and arrogant, loving the sounds of their own voice. The loyalty between the villains is something that becomes much more important as the issue progresses.

The art embraces the carnage, as that is what Vicentini and Macin appear to thrive on. There are characters everywhere, and the coordination it takes to place them in the same panels together is a superhuman feat in itself. What is different about these characters is that they are completely different shapes and sizes. Spider-Man is small and lithe. Scorpion is huge and comes with a long tail that is used as a weapon. Ms Marvel is constantly resizing and elongating.

The characters are given the space to exist, but space is fascinating within a Vicentini comic in particular. Figures are always moving fast and blurry and can often be incredibly close to the “camera.” Backgrounds are always filled with what can only be described as stuff or debris. The more characters included the more carnage there is going to be.

The colors are terrific even when many of the characters are penned in and crammed against one another. The depth within the shades themselves is remarkable, helping to display shapes and textures within the costumes. The lettering is superb, always staying focused and clear to read.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 enjoys its exuberance. There is so much going on within this comic. The book is devoted to keeping the speed and the energy high. But what must be commended across the entire creative team is the fact that pace never damages the detail. Whether it is in the dialogue or in the drawings, the book is extremely intricate and layered. It’s easily the best tie-in for Gang War, as it is just an extension of the current ongoing for Miles. It’s not a separate creative team; it’s those who know him and what he has been going through.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 is available where comics are sold.