Snapshot! Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #4

Writer: Peter David
Artist: Greg Land

Hello, fellow Crawlspacers…what’s that you say? Worried your geek-cred is going to suffer when your non-comicbook friends learn you’ve never read an Eternals comic…well good news. Peter David can restore your honour. Quickly, this way…

Depth of Field:
Spider-Man and Brian (nee Hulk) continue their cosmic road trip to visit future MCU favourites, and accidentally team-up ready for the big finale next issue.

Focal point:
Spider-Man and Brian (a Hulk persona made flesh by the Norn stone) have travelled into outer space. They are attacked by Kro and his Deviants. Spidey and Brian get a cosmic history lesson, regarding the Celestials and the Norn stones. The Norn stone in Brian’s possession is the Matrix Stone and he begins to realise the true power he has been given.

Meanwhile, Kro’s enemies, the Eternals are slowly sneaking up on Kro’s ship. They have learned through some sci-fi convenience that Kro has access to the Norn stone and are on the way to his ship to stop him from gaining this power.

Two of the Eternals, Ikaris and Thena, storm the shape to obtain the Norn stone. As a skirimish ensues Karnilla’s hareem of warriors also arrives through a portal. Everyone is fighting everyone for control of the stone. Karnilla herself arrives and snatches the stone from Brian causing him to revert back into a confused Hulk.

Karnilla opens a portal to escape, but is pursued by Spider-Man, Hulk and Ikaris. And so we reach the final destination of this bizarre cosmic road trip. The trio of heroes arrive in Karnilla’s realm. She is now in possession of Norn stone, and warns the heroes she has become more powerful than Odin.

The issue was fast. There wasn’t much plot. Though it was a nice intro to the Eternals, who I know very little about. The issue really served to get us where we needed to be for the finale. Hopefully it was worth it.

Art wise, I started this series with a disinterest in Greg Land, though I am starting to really enjoy his art. Its pleasurable to pick up a series with a consistent artist.  Black Cat looks great and Ikaris looks formidable. That being said Thena looks very awkward in this panel, so he needs to try a bit hard to fine a model for her. I believe Angelina Jolie is available.

B Roll: Black Cat visits a local magic shop, at the request of Doctor Strange, to purchase an item he needs for a spell. After preventing a robbery the store owner is more than happy to help. This gave me flashbacks to Buffy/Angel where any probably can be solved by a quick trip to local magic shop. I have a few of them near me, though mostly they sell incense and dream catchers. Though if I do get the Doctor Strange/Black Cat team-up series I’m craving, a Buffy-mix of horror and comedy would be welcome.

Photobombed: If you’re like me, you will often be asked “is that how it happens in the comics”, or words to that effect. I know precious little about the Eternals, so thank you Peter David. By the time the movie comes out I will have seen Icarus, Hulk and Spider-Man team-up against an Odin-level theat. The issue also included Thena and Kro who are also due to appear in the movie.

Negative Exposure: This issue was a little sparse on plot. In the eventual trade this will be seen as a fun action filled chapter, but by itself it felt a bit hollow. That being said all of the pieces are in place for the finale, and I’m ready to see this epic battle, as I believe David can wrap this up in a satisfying way.

Grade: C. An okay chapter. Probably read better when binged with the other chapters.

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

Adam