Snapshot! Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #2

Writer: Peter David
Artist: Greg Land

The untold tales of Spider-Man and his symbiotic life-partner continue in this fourth mini-series by David and Land. David teased some of this issue in recent and candid interview with the Crawlspace, if you haven’t listened I recommend it.

Depth of Field:
Spider-Man joins the Hulk in the Crossroads, a supernatural reality currently acting as the latter’s prison. After a quick game of pass Norn stone, they get released into what I assume is a parallel reality, and home to some popular Jack Kirby creations.

Focal point:
Starting with the cover, is it misleading, yes. Spider-Man and Black Cat don’t get a scene together this issue. But look at that cover, it’s stunning. I didn’t consider myself a Greg Land fan, but I might be becoming one.

After Spider-Man disappeared from the history museum; Black Cat races to Dr Strange’s Sanctum to ask for help. She quickly catches Doctor Strange and the reader up with the events of the previous issue. Black Cat mistakenly misremembers the names of some of the players, which I found realistic and quiet funny. Magic is not Felicia’s world, so of course she rationalises these weird names into something more common place. I also liked that there was no contrived explanation about how Black Cat knew where to find Doctor Strange. For comparison please see my latest review of Non-Stop Spider-Man. Anyone know why my close personal friend Stephen is appearing in so many Spider-Man books lately?*

Meanwhile in the Crossroads; Hulk and Spider-Man are following the Superhero Handbooks SOP for a team-up. Beating on each other. Though Spider-Man does has the advantage, as he goes full Gollum while fondling the Norn stone. The symbiote absorbs the stone, and transforms Black-suit Spider-Man into full Venom (for lack of a better name). This increases Spidey’s resilience in the fight and allows Spider-Man to get the upper hand. It’s a well paced sequence, with lots of momentum and big punches. Again, when Land isn’t being asked to draw human faces and emotion his art really excels. Land depicts this fight between these two monsters in excellent detail.

Spider-Man and Hulk fall through a portal and arrive in what appears to be caveman times. A gang prehistoric ape men attack, separating Spider-Man from the Norm stone. In the confusion Spider-Man is thrown into a sink hole, while the Hulk merges with the Norm stone. The stone reverts Hulk to Bruce Banner who is surrounded by the savages. Meanwhile the swamp is slowly pulling Spider-Man in, but before he meets a slow gruesome death a surprise cameo arrives.

This book has a number of great action sequences, as I’ve mentioned, showing David knows the strength of his artist and leans into it perfectly. I also like how David treats this as though it is coming out in the 80’s, with editor’s notes referencing Incredible Hulk #300 and Amazing Spider-Man #217. I’m giving David the credit, though the issue credits the notes to editor Danny Khazem. Either way it’s an welcome touch.

Photobombed:
Like issue one, this issue ends with a splash page reveal of a new addition to the story; this time Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur who arrive just in time to save Spider-Man from his fate. Like the previous series which include Kang, Rocket Racoon and Captain Marvel, David isn’t afraid to bring in some wider elements of the Marvel universe. It really makes the series feel like anything could happen.

Negative Exposure:
It’s a pretty enjoyable issue to be perfectly honest. Not a lot I didn’t enjoy. The only issue I have really is that I prefer Spider-Man stories set in street level adventures, but the burden of this series is that David has to find new ways to prolong Peter and the symbiotes partnership. Whether that’s sending him to alternate realities or into space. It allows David to tell more symbiote stories without disturbing the established continuity. David’s not able to use the supporting cast from the time, I assume, without disturbing the sub-plots that were in progress, but as a reader I wonder how many more times Peter can go full-Venom without it causing an issue.

Development Tank:
Doctor Strange and Black Cat have a subplot where they investigate Spider-Man disappearance. They have a charming back and forth together, and it adds a lighter touch to the story and breaks up the fight scenes. I look forward to seeing where this goes in future issues.

Grade: B+

A fun Spider-Man story, action packed and well crafted.

*I feel bad, I’ve made fun of this scene from the trailer in both my reviews this week. Honestly, I just need to get this off my chest, Spider-Man calls Doctor Strange “Doc”. Why can’t MCU-Spidey manage this? It was a funny call back to Infinity War, but not in character for Spider-Man.

Zoom In:
What did you think of Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads? Let me know in the comments!

Adam