Caught Up In The Feels — Reviewing ‘Spider-Gwen: Smash’ #4

Battling something within ourselves is a common occurrence for many people. Some have to battle actual separate monsters trapped within. What if the monster was what was on the outside rather than what was within?

Case in point, one Bruce Banner in Spider-Gwen: Smash #4, the Carnage and Hulk-filled miniseries conclusion. From Melissa Flores, Enid Balám, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, Elisabetta D’Amico, and Ariana Maher.

Thanks to a little bit of a scheduling situation, readers were treated to the actual final piece of this story (the epilogue) with Giant-Size SpiderGwen #1 (a book I also reviewed). In this one, we get to see how things came to the point they were within that story. Mary Jane has Carnage unleashed within her, Bruce Banner at his most toxic, and the appearance of the original article Hulk.

Flores does a fantastic job of balancing the heavier action of this issue with the solid character foundations established throughout the whole series. Multiple characters are working through issues, and they confront one another about these issues. Loved the moment where Dazzler can turn the tables on Banner because he stupidly provided just what she needs for her mutant power, sound.

I really hope that Mary Jane and the rest of the supporting cast are not forgotten in the upcoming series which brings Gwen “permanently” to the 616. There is so much more to explore, and the way that Flores writes them endeared them to me even more. Especially since Mary Jane is still struggling with her own emotions but also the rage of the symbiote within her.

Having the Hulk turn out to be the well-adjusted one, disgusted at Banner’s actions, was a great twist. Playing with the always-fitting theme centered on which is truly the monster, if either. In this case, it’s pretty clear which one is the so-called monster. Good riddance to Banner.

This is a heavy rough story, and we feel that deeply from the artwork. Balám’s style is very sharp, playing heavily with a lot of exaggeration and extended proportions. Roughness is baked right into everything. D’Amico’s inks play into this, bringing that heaviness even more to the forefront. Giving everything on the page a heftier weight, making sure each moment strikes and strikes hard.

Alongside that roughness though is something of a slicker smoother energy. Spider characters move in graceful yet acrobatic chaotic ways. Things should feel like someone is bouncing around, dragging us around with them. Together they nail this atheistic as everything has the right fluid motion to keep us in the thick of all action.

Swirling around, adding to the vibe, are the darker color tones from Sifuentes-Sujo. Even in the fluorescently bright underground bunker, everything has a shadowy appearance. We watch characters cycle through so many emotions, many on the more negative side, and the looming colors add to the confining feelings. Around them are still flashes of more poppy or vibrant colors, keeping things firmly within the superhero space they inhabit.

My appreciation of lettering is something that grew tremendously once I began reviewing. One of the letterers that really blew me out of the water and helped me realize what it could be is Maher. Who just comes into any series and captures every single voice with such clarity and power, finding ways to make sure every emotion or volume change lands. Bringing in fun elements that shift the look of bubbles or captions to give lettering a unique visual rather than just standard black on white.

And those SFX, oh those are just delicious. Just sizzling with tantalizing energy, living in the moment. Making this world feel even deeper than it already is.

Spider-Gwen: Smash #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.