REVIEW: ‘All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider’ Issue 2

All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Stephanie Phillips, art by Paolo Villanelli, colors by Matt Milla, and letters by Ariana Maher.

Gwen goes on the hunt for a killer as another of her friends is attacked.

This issue remains in the black, maintaining a dark and gritty tone. The attack from the monster starts quickly, and this time, the target is someone we know. Silk, fellow spider hero and bassist in Gwen’s band, is the next on the list, and the fight is both exciting and dramatic.

It’s a shocking start that affects the emotions going forward. Everyone in All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2 is on edge and frazzled, meaning that their actions and reactions are off-kilter. The writing adds tension through every sinew of the story. And when Gwen finds the person suspected of being responsible for the attacks, it becomes an intense confrontation. It manages to feel both cathartic and somewhat catastrophic.

The energy and emotion within All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2 are what give it a compelling edge. The darkness doesn’t just hang in the air; it has direct consequences for Gwen. She’s beyond angry, inconsolable in her rage. And when either her father or her boyfriend tries to suggest that she ease away from going out as Ghost Spider, it is met with backlash and animosity.

That apoplectic rage radiating from Gwen makes her so enthralling as a character, louder than those around her. Fabian, also known as Black Tarantula, her boyfriend, had a really fascinating personality. His idea of justice and how far they go is desperately needed when tensions are so high.

The art is phenomenal. The monster gets more dangerous and frightening every time it appears. Before, it was killing defenseless people, with bloody results. In All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2, there is more of a typical superhero showdown, and it’s just as violent and terrifying. Even exhausted Silk is no slouch, and the fight displays fantastic movement. But it’s vicious and ends with as much blood as before.

The other characters are just as amazing in the art style by Paolo Villanelli. Gwen exudes anger even through her mask. With her body language, she makes those that she’s targeting shrink in her presence. And the action showcases just how much the spider characters hold back, and what happens when they stop.

The colors are terrific. There’s a lovely balance between the darkness that shrouds much of the panels and the lighter shades. Black Tarantula is like a moving shadow, with only the white strips of his costume sticking out. It’s harder to do that with Gwen’s electric pink, but Milla manages to make her menacing at points as well. The lettering is very easy to read. The caption boxes are very comfortable because of the white background, making the text inside them clear.

All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2 brings a fierce level of severity to the series. The level of darkness these first chapters have reached is alarming. There was the energetic, frenetic feeling of the new band in the previous issue, but those who joined have been targeted by this vicious monster. Phillips, Villanelli, and Milla all channel that darkness superbly. It brings the worst out of Gwen, but the best out of the story.

All-New Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.