There’s a new Spider-Girl, and she’s not the only new superhuman in town. Even worse, the town is… Madripoor! Your Major Spoilers review of Spider-Boy #13 from Marvel Comics awaits!
SPIDER-BOY #13
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Paco Medina
Colorist: Erick Arciniega
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Ellie Pyle
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Previously in Spider-Boy: The world once more remembers Spider-Boy and all his exploits after Bailey was restored to the Web of Life and Destiny. Unfortunately, that means Bullseye is now after Spider-Boy and his old mentor, Daredevil. Years ago, the duo defeated the mercenary at an underground fighting tournament and claimed the coveted prize: One of the legendary Fangs of the Gaping Maw! Daredevil barely managed to save Spider-Boy’s life, but Bullseye and his newly revealed apprentice Spider-Girl, made off with the Fang. To stop them and reclaim the artifact, Daredevil and Spider-Boy are off to the most dangerous city in the world.
DATELINE: MADRIPOOR
Spider-Boy #13 opens with two very different flights to Southeast Asia. One, a luxury affair, has Bullseye and Spider-Girl enjoying champagne and gourmet treats as they psychologically torture air hostesses. The other is a spartan affair in the baggage compartment, with Daredevil attempting to meditate and Spider-Boy calling his mom to tell her he’s going on “a superhero adventure,” something with which she is decidedly not cool. Upon arriving, both duos make their way to a hidden dojo to participate in The Challenge of the Golden Dragon, a two-on-two fighting tournament that seems to require an adult and a child. Since Bullseye stole their Golden Fang, DD and Bailey have to play dirty pool and steal another, forcing them to square off with Enormo (a sumo wrestler of some repute) and Hulkette (a gamma mutate, less so). Their fight ends off-panel, but the issue ends with the final team arriving: The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen and his squire, The Spider of PS 13 in The East Village!
HOW MANY NEW CHAMPIONS ARE THERE?
We also get an origin of Spider-Girl that seems clearly drawn by (but not credited to) Humberto Ramos, explaining how a young AAPI girl named Makawala Akana discovered her ability to mimic the skills, abilities, and powers of those she encounters. It’s a really fun sequence, probably my favorite part of the issue. The Hulkette reveal is a bit puzzling to me, as The New Champions series hasn’t even debuted, and the team is already up to something like thirteen members. The main narrative is a compelling use of Spider-Boy’s “lost history” to showcase unfinished business that the readers haven’t actually seen, even if it feels a bit like a redux of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven arc from Iron Fist. (There’s even an ersatz Fat Cobra in Enormo.) The script balances breezy, fun adventure with Serious Business, putting Daredevil in a role that he’s perfectly suited for, but not so often seen in, that of teacher/mentor.
BOTTOM LINE: I LIKE IT
All in all, Spider-Boy #13 is a fun outing, but its greatest weakness is Marvel’s age-old problem of continuously returning to the well a few too many times in trying to duplicate Bailey’s gimmick with the New Champions, but fun art and story leading to 4 out of 5 stars overall. What I’m really wondering is, what happens when that stone dragon inevitably comes to life?
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
SPIDER-BOY #13
The sequel to a story never told, because of Spider-Boy's "erasure" from reality, featuring a cute riff on 'Enter The Dragon', two new young superhumans, and a Bullseye that I (almost) don't want to see thrown off a rooftop.
-
Writing7
-
Art8
-
Coloring8
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.