Feeling That Need For Speed — Reviewing ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man’ #10

Take a deep breath. Go ahead and let it out, then take another one. Feeling a bit more relaxed now? Good, because it’s time to dive into Miles Morales’ first session with the green-shaggy Doctor Sasquatch.

The hits keep on coming as Cody Ziglar, Partha Pratim, Federico Sabbatini, Bryan Valenza, and Cory Petit add a bit more focus and chaos in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #10.

One thing that I love about many modern comics is how often various creators throw in beats about mental health. Heroes go through a ton, and there is no shame in seeking the help that one needs at any given time. After having such a thing suggested to him in the previous mini-arc, Miles is ready to do just that.

Even though this is the start of a new arc, Ziglar gives it a lot of that done-in-one old-school sort of feeling. That’s because most of the issue is divided between Mile’s therapy session and a confrontation with the speedy Hightail. Our inciting incident for the arc, titled “Bad Blood,” is the arrival of Blade and his daughter Bloodline which is the climax of the issue.

Personally, I really dig the way that Ziglar makes this series feel modern and classic at the same time. By that, I mean in the formatting of these stories. We have modern-style arcs but also smaller arcs and issues that can stand alone somewhat. All driving towards the same direction of story and character development, building a deeper world and life for Miles.

There are great messages here all around. Especially with the time that is taken for Miles’ therapy session, and how Ziglar makes sure this is a well-handled throughline of the series. It’s not a throwaway situation, but just part of the reality of life (even more so for those in Miles’ situation). Hightail and her situation make so much sense, and even though she’s against our hero we understand the reasons.

Every character has depth, reason, and layers. We saw that previously with how Ziglar handled Scorpion. It’s a focused series, which is just the best in this humble reviewer’s opinion.

Having dual artists works quite well here. Both have a very similar style sense when it comes to things being detailed, a bit rough, but also very kinetic in how they are displayed. Pratim handles the first chunk with Doctor Sasquatch and makes solid framing choices that give life and perspective to what is basically just two characters talking for numerous pages. Giving us close-up shots and stacked panels really makes the conversation flow and keeps the eyes engaged.

As things slide into the action, Sabbatini plays into what a Spider-Man series should be. Energetic, frenzied, but also coordinated with the movement. Things shift and slide with the way panels are placed so that we feel like we’re along for the ride. Even the panels where they are standing around, have energy and life to them. This world has a life and a personality that Sabbatini takes advantage of every single time.

Valenza’s colors are the connective tissue between the two sections. Just like how the overall art is different in each, there are differences between the color presentations in each. In the first half, Valenza takes a lighter approach with colors being a bit more toned down, especially with the heavier green elements, almost washed out for lack of a better term right now. Still, plenty of heavy shadows and darker elements of course.

In the outside sections though, once we fully move over to the action sequences, things kick up a few notches. A switch is flipped as the vibrancy rises and flashes of superhero-style tones are all over the place. There is also a bit more slickness, smooth in nature, to these colors while the first pages have just a bit of roughness mixed into the sequence.

Tons of lettering comes into play here, with the abundance of dialogue and plenty of SFX dropped into the mix. Petit handles it as splendidly as usual. All of it moves around the page easily to make sure it doesn’t slow the reader or the issue down at all. Plenty of emotion and personality peppered into each bubble or caption box, allowing the uses of Spanish and English to stand together but also apart.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #10 is now available from Marvel Comics.