Snapshot! Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #4

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Pasqual Ferry

The penultimate issue of this extended What If…is here. I don’t want to spoil the review, but I will say I’m happy this series was extended to five issues. At the moment I feel like I could read another thirty issues from this creative team.

Depth of Field:
Peter realises he’ll need Mister Fantastic’s help if he is going to defeat his former symbiote. Unfortunately the symbiote had a similar idea and has taken over the Baxter Building…and the Fantastics inside?

Focal Point:
The issue picks up immediately from the previous cliff hanger. Peter, MJ, Black Cat and Jonah are in Peter’s apartment surrounded by police. Peter is concerned for everyone’s safety, and can feel the suit is still after him. He asks Black Cat to protect Jonah while he escorts MJ to safety.

On the way to MJ’s apartment Peter sees that the Baxter Building has been engulfed by the symbiote, he and MJ agree to head there to investigate. This summary massively down plays the epic awesomeness of this moment. If you are a Peter and MJ fan and you are not reading this “because it’s not canon” you have missed out on one of the best Peter/MJ scenes since JMS. I was tempted to include the full page in this review, to show how powerful it is. We have Peter in full guilt and despair mode, and in a few panels MJ is able to convince him he can still be a hero. Still be Spider-Man. MJ recognises Peter has faults, but those faults have never stopped him from doing what is right. Yes, it’s not “canon”, but I’m happy to believe Peter and MJ have had similar conversations in 616, and this is what I am hoping Nick Spencer can bring to his final arc. An acknowledgement that Peter needs MJ to be the best version of Spider-Man. The emotional Peter and MJ feel in the scene speaks though the art, the words are just a bonus.

At the Baxter Building; Susan Richards, Johnny Storm and the Avengers have assembled to discuss the problem and find a way inside. There are some skeptics who feel Spider-Man has no place there, but Peter is able to convince Captain America that he is best suited to take on the symbiote. Cap agrees to let Peter try. And I’m crediting MJ’s pep talk for giving Peter this confidences. Peter prepares to enter the Baxter Building and MJ and Johnny Storm sneak in to help.

They discover the symbiote has taken control of the security guards, the Thing and Mister Fantastic. Panicked, MJ arms herself with one of the security guards guns. I think in the past arming MJ has been controversial amongst fans. I have a limited tolerance for MJ with a gun, but being trapped in an office block with an alien falls within that tolerance. I don’t think this moment was used for shock value, or to glorify guns as in some previous depictions, and Zdarsky quickly shows the gun’s limited usefulness. Hopefully there is a nearby lamp or baseball bat she can use instead.

To get to the source of the problem; Spider-Man must fight a symbiote possessed Ben Grimm. This is another awesome moment, and we get a great shot of Peter moving quickly to web and incapacitate the Thing. Similar to how Romita Jr. would depict Spider-Man fighting the Juggernaut or Morlun. This issue feels like a greatest hits album in some respects. It may not be adding anything new to the lore, but it’s reminding us of what a good Spider-Man story can do.

Using Mister Fantastic as a host, the symbiote has been able to overcome its weaknesses and plans to unleash more symbiotes across New York. The Baxter Building goes full Ghostbusters, as the roof blows and masses of symbiotes descend into New York, taking the Avengers as hosts. The logical conclusion to all symbiote storylines? Everyone gets venomized.

Throughout the series Ferry has been leaving panels blank, or have them off to the side. It’s only this issue it’s really stood out to me, and it gave me a feeling of how out of control this situation is. Like it’s moving so fast, in unexpected directions that the panels aren’t able to depict everything. Does anyone else have a thought on this – or is it just artist licence?

Photobombed:
There’s a number of guest stars in this issue including Avengers and X-Factor. It’s a little disappointing they don’t have much to do, other then be cannon-fodder and symbiote hosts but I think the art is excellent. I really like how Ferry depicted the 80’s era Avengers. Their costumes are so simple. I particularly like Captain America and She-Hulk. Very clear lines, not a lot of pockets, armour or extra straps and buckles that distracts from the character.

Negative Exposure:
My praise for the art, unfortunately doesn’t carry over to the design for Venom Reed. Ferry gave us a very creepy Spider-Venom in those early issues, so to see his Reed be given an overly complicated design is disappointing. He looks awkward, and a bit too much like a Final Boss. Making him bigger and more armoured so that the level is harder to finish. Zdarsky did give some in-story reason for the design (to protect the symbiote) but I can’t help feel this has moved the story from Body Horror to Campy Sci-Fi. If MJ’s hair can’t be read, because of the moody shadows, how can the symbiotes face now be bright red? (I’ve made my peace that the atmosphere of the scenes has cast a shadow over MJ’s signature look….really…I’m okay with it).

Developing Tank:
Eddie and Kraven were ominous in their absence. I hope they return next issue. I hope the supporting cast (including Black Cat and Jonah) get suitable epilogues next issue.

Grade:
I’m going to give it the A-. This series has been solid, and I thought this issue was particularly strong. The minus is for the costume design for Venom Reed, other than that this was incredibly enjoyable.

Zoom In:
What did you think of Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow? Let me know in the comments! Only one to go!

Adam