Taking Out The Rabble — Reviewing ‘Miles Morales: Spider-Man’ #16

Hobgoblin and Rabble joining forces surely means trouble for Spider-Man. Good thing this Spider has a gaggle of Amazing friends.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 brings the series part of the overall Gang War event to an explosive conclusion. An action-packed thwip fest from Cody Ziglar, Federico Vicentini, Federica Mancin, Bryan Valenza, and Cory Petit.

Spider-Man books are at their best when they can balance the character beats and the action perfectly. We’re sixteen issues into this series and there isn’t a single one so far where this isn’t true. Balanced in this case doesn’t mean happening in equal amounts in each issue. It means neither one is sacrificed for the other or takes away from the other.

We’re given a full-on punch fest within this issue; it is the final boss fight after all. Along the way though Ziglar shows those character writing chops as various individuals get their moments to shine. Scorpion using his knowledge of Goblins and his fellow supervillains to help save the day was fist pumping good. Truly this book has shown a love for all things Spider-Man that is unmatched outside of some of the other medium adaptations.

Even as the city is in danger and the team takes blows, the Spider quippage is legit. Numerous times Ziglar had me laughing, chiefly the beat about respect and no respect between Spidey and Hobgoblin. Oh and Ms. Marvel’s joke about another death and haunting.

Gosh, I miss having a book where Kamala and Miles are best friending all over the place. Someone please reassemble the Champions, we need it.

Anyway, back to this book.

Every bit of the action feels chaotic and frantic, yet organized, as it should. The duo of Vicentini and Mancin hit it out of the park again. Panels slip and slide everywhere, shifting shapes and directions on a whim. Characters are all over the place, matching the energy a book starring a Spider character should always have. Nothing about this feels static, as the characters and their settings feel alive at all times.

Everything has a very even tone color-wise, hitting those natural toned-down sorts of vibes. Letting the city and spaces feel accurate, the world outside the window. Yet, Valenza knows just when to really pull out the more vibrant beats. Allowing the super elements at play to stand out from everything else. Big bold colorful moments that feel authentic and earned, reminding us why comic books are such a beautiful and fun medium.

Petit swings along infusing every word on the page with the right energy. All those quips and moments land because they flow through the page, standing side by side with the other artwork. Each voice is distinct, even without changing fonts or other indicators. Tonal shifts, volume increases, emotional beats, and more are distinct.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 is now available from Marvel Comics.