Does Whatever A Spider Can — Reviewing ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man’ #7

Carnage continues to unleash carnage upon the citizens of New York City. Heroes and villains alike are seemingly no match for the symbiote. Good thing a certain iron-themed hero has entered the fray just in time to cue up the conclusion.

This is not an issue that is going to be easy to follow if you haven’t at least been keeping up with the Carnage Reigns event as a whole. Well, I mean it is, in the sense that it’s a ton of chaotic action and symbiote mayhem. It’s wall-to-wall fights and action, but with the same energy that the regular series normally has showcased.

Cody Ziglar being a co-writer of the event and the regular writer of this series helps. His contributions make sure that, through and through, Miles is very much Miles even when appearing in the other characters’ books. Honestly, it’s so great to have this showcasing of how heroic and tenacious Miles is, with no sign of the other Spider-Man. This is what we need more of.

Miles gets to be Spider-Man in big ways, taking the spotlight solo and not there to supplement or stand beside Peter. It’s been over a decade since he became Spider-Man, seven since joining this universe, and it’s showing right now. New York City is under siege and it’s 100% Miles, Red Goblin, and a lot of villains/new characters doing the heavy lifting.

I just love any time I crack open a Miles issue and let my eyes fall upon the artwork of Federico Vicentini. It’s just so dynamic, kinetic, and gorgeously fitting for any Spider-Man series, but especially Miles. Everything is so fluid as the characters are moving all over the place, the POV bouncing all around as it should with such a bouncy character.

Not only that, but the emotions are so clear and tangible, they are just leaping off the page. Masked emotions I imagine are not easy to pull off but when an artist does it, there is magic.

It all fits smoothly with Bryan Valenza’s coloring. A heaviness permeates the color palate with shadows and darker tones, playing well with the pops of vibrancy that come into play. This is a series that balances lighter and more serious tones easily, and we see that both in plot and artwork. Valenza knows when to pull back on the darker tones and when to lay them on thicker, sometimes in the blink of an eye.

That tone is also grown out of the way that Cory Petit handles the lettering. He allows it to breathe and flow through the panels, rife with the distinct energies of each character. Little flairs are thrown in to make things hit harder, or bring a bit more levity and fun. It can be heavy and hard in one space and colorful and light in the next.

Life won’t be any easier for Miles in the next issue, as the Hobgoblin shows up, but for us Miles fans it’s the type of series we’ve always needed and wanted.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #7 is now available from Marvel Comics.