Miles Morales is in Puerto Rico! Meet some of his relatives in Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 by Marvel Comics!

MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1

Writer: Cody Ziglar
Artist: David Baldeón
Colorist: Dono Sánchez-Almara
Letterer: Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Groneman
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: August 21st, 2024

Previously in Miles Morales: Spider-Man: Miles Morales was bitten by a genetically altered spider and gained arachnid-like abilities. Luckily, he has a great support system around him. However, his abuela, Gloria Morales, is the definition of tough love.

TOUGH AS NAILS

This book contains several stories, but this review will focus on the first.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 takes the perspective of Miles writing in his journal. We quickly learn that Miles has helped his abuela unpack, promising the rest of his family will arrive in a week. He is apprehensive because Gloria Morales is tough to please, as shown when she yells at him for eating some street food before coming to visit.

Miles meets the rest of his extended family before heading to the market. During this time, someone steals a piece of bread and runs from the bakery owner. The thief is nearly run over by a truck, which then veers into the market. Miles quickly moves and activates his camouflage before stopping the vehicle. Many locals view this as if a spirit had come to help. As the adrenaline fades, Gloria reconciles the thief and the baker.

Back home, Gloria says the situation reminds her of Miles’ abuelo, Jaime. The pair communicate, acknowledging that perhaps she is too hard on him and that Jaime would be proud.

A HEARTWARMING CONCPET

This is a sweet story, and I appreciate that the focus wasn’t on Miles in costume doing something superheroic. While Miles is a hero, this was a simple incident between two people. However, I don’t think Abuela was as tough as the story wanted to imply. There wasn’t a misunderstanding between kids and adults that I noticed and expected. So when they reconciled at the end of the book, it didn’t have the emotional weight it could have. In other words, Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 needed two more pages to better establish Gloria’s toughness and how Miles reacts to that toughness. I think the story would have been much more potent if that had been managed.

The art in the book is excellent, too. I was engaged with every page; perhaps the best moment was watching the fireworks at the end. The creative team’s linework and colors are fantastic.

BOTTOM LINE: GOOD OVERALL

Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1 is an excellent and cozy book. While I wanted more context, I don’t think this book is designed for that. With that in mind, this book deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

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