Review: Is ‘Spectacular Spider-Men’ #2 Starting A New Clone Saga?

Say the word clone to a Spider-Man fan. I dare you. What reaction did you get? If it was anything but a cringe, you’re lying. Well, Spectacular Spider-Men is only on its second issue, and it’s going to give the Spider-Trope a try.

Greg Weisman, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, Edgar Delgado and Joe Caramagna continue building a uniquely shared world.

Peter and Miles might be working together more closely, but that doesn’t mean their world is any less chaotic. Something is brewing at the ESU campus, giving people their wildest dreams. But while that’s brewing on campus something else appears to be brewing under the campus — something connected to the Jackal. Are they connected, or have Miles and Peter stumbled into a situation bigger than even they could handle together?

Despite the clone-ness of it all, I really like this book. It’s got a foot in both Miles’ world and Peter’s world without being too beholden to either and centering itself on the friendship between them, not just their common ground as Spidey. The ESU coffee shop having a unique to this book cast helps a lot too, making it more than just a team-up book- there’s some of Peter’s supporting cast (hi Carlie Cooper!), some of Miles’ (hi Shift!), but then a group that’s entirely its own.

I also really like the plot. The clone stuff obviously has something to do with the Jackal, and the devious VR game is pointing towards Arcade (I mean, the name of the game is Arcadium). Weisman isn’t trying to treat either of those as a mystery box though. He’s giving them both just enough narrative tension that it’s not revealing everything, but he also knows his readers aren’t dumb. It’s honestly kind of refreshing, especially in the wake over Marvel’s over-reliance on the mystery box trope in the last two years.

I know Ramos isn’t everyone’s style, but I will always be one of his defenders. His energetic layouts and character movement continues to fit with Spider-Man’s world so well. He makes Peter and Miles distinct, both in body type and how they move. I already really love his character designs- the Vermin that the duo fights later in the issue are right on model with the classic Mike Zeck design, while being its own thing.

Olazaba’s inks give the pencils a light line, enhancing Ramos’s linework without taking away from them. Delgado’s color art is as solid as ever, setting place and time as much as he enhances the mood and tone, especially in the fight in the sewers. Caramagna also proves why he’s the Spidey office’s go-to letterer, handling the banter in the action just as well as in the slower moments.

Spectacular Spider-Men #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.