Spoiler Warning!
Initial Thoughts
Pop goes the Spider-Man, as Miles Morales: Spider-Man #2 ends on an explosive cliffhanger: Revenant gets a leg up on Spider-Man, and Miles Morales’ head is somewhere else, not on the mission at hand. In the second issue, we continue with a smaller-scale story that focuses on Miles Morales and his personal circle. I like that. As I mentioned in my review of the first issue-- comics can get massive in scale. So having our hero focus on those around him, in his smaller circle, is a refreshing change of pace — especially for a Spider-Man comic book. So far, that smaller scale is working for me.
Although the story template seems pretty standard—hero tries to have a regular life, girlfriend, but can't because a big bad is after him—there is still enough difference and fun that this already feels like a worthwhile issue. That makes this new iteration of Miles Morales interesting enough for readers to invest their time in this series. This Miles Morales is talking, acting, and moving like a real teenager in his interactions, which makes him a relatable character, something Spider-Man has always been. Overall, I think this issue successfully moves the story forward while giving us something to be excited for.
Blast From The Past
In the first issue of this series, we got a glimpse of the Revenant's origin. In Miles Morales: Spider-Man #2, we got the full story of why Martin Moore, AKA Revenant, is after Jefferson Morales and his family. And to be honest, I kinda get it. Now, would I pump my body with an unknown substance and make it my life’s mission to hunt down the man that did me wrong? I don't know if I would, but I get where Moore is coming from. We found Moore's motive; now we need to find how Martin got his powers, and I think that will set us up for something bigger and our next arc in this story.
I'll be the first to say I haven't read much about Miles Morales before, so I don't know if this is common, but I like this angle: someone from Jeff’s past is here to torment his family in the present. I like that angle, and I like that someone’s father’s past is here to haunt his son’s present—even if it’s unbeknownst to the big bad guy. I think the Revenant is the most interesting thing about this series so far, even if he will be short-lived. However, Moore gets to shine for an entire issue and make Revenant a legitimate adversary for Miles.
Small Scale Story in a Big City
The best part of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #2 was the flashbacks to Jefferson’s past life as a S.H.I.E.L.D. mole. The Jeff Morales story adds hometown flavor and feels more like The Wire than The Clone Saga. Writer Bryan Hill tries to make a more “down-to-earth” Spider-Man story, and nothing says close to home than you trying to fix your old man’s problems. As much as this story is about Miles, it's also about his father and how his past is affecting his family’s present. I feel like all of us have dealt with something like that in our lives, so it's a great allegory for everyday life.
I know we have a full picture of who Revenant was and his intentions, but I hope we can still get those glimpses back into Jeff’s past and how that shaped his and his family’s present. There is still enough about this villain that I want to learn, and while mystery is a great way to sell a bad guy, The Revenant is a cool villain I want to keep learning about. If we can keep that part of Jeff’s life open, I think it could still create a great opportunity for strong storytelling.
Two for the Price of One
The contrasting art from Valentine DeLandro (flashbacks) and Nico Leon (present) works well together; each has a distinct look, and that contrast strengthens the story. The current timeline looks fresh, sleek, and very on-brand for what we consider the Marvel house style. The flashbacks feel like a darker, throwback version of New York. The art style feels like a crime thriller, putting us right in the middle of the grittiness and inner workings of New York City's crime syndicate. The art's dichotomy mirrors Jefferson’s world at the time.
The colorist, Bryan Valenza, has a tough task coloring for two different artists without making it completely obvious—and he pulls it off. I really enjoy the coloring in his flashbacks, as Valenza's noir inspiration adds an element of mystery. His shadowing work with DeLandro’s art complements it so well, making it look grim, noir, and mysterious. In the present-day timeline, Valenza’s coloring is also fantastic: it's shinier, slicker, and pops much more than the flashbacks. It presents a modern New York and takes us out of NYC's dark alleys and into the bright lights of the Big Apple. Two distinct art styles and color palettes, but both are just as effective.
Final Verdict
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #2 wasn't groundbreaking, but it was effective because it does the good things well and handles all the necessary elements perfectly. The shift in storytelling, now that we have a clearer picture of our big bad, helps us connect with Martin Moore (The Revenant) and makes him more sympathetic. The second issue was a great plot-progressing chapter that shows what's in store for Miles and his dad as the story moves forward. While nobody really believes Miles was blown to bits, it gives us a great sense of scale for his newest villain, the Revenant.