MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: Silk (2023) #4 REVIEW

I am thoroughly enjoying this current run of Silk, mainly because they are telling a heartfelt story about family, which turns out to be just as good as any Fast & Furious movie. On one hand, we have been diving deeper and deeper into Silk’s relationship with her brother, who is apparently willing to put his life on the line to save her from a demonic dreamworld with spectacular but terrifying scenarios and creatures. Consequences be damned! On the other hand, we’ve met up with very human, vulnerable, and relatable villains in the form of Saya and her brother. With this chapter, we learn of the frustrations of Saya, trying to live up to her family legacy and make a name for herself as the world’s tech leader, through whatever means available. She is trying to overcome the demons of her father’s legacy while her brother is simply trying to get by and break through the shadow of his sister that he has been living in… while at the same time, protecting and supporting Saya in all her endeavors. The family drama is just too juicy in this series, and I can’t see myself putting down the comic until this tale reaches its finale.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published:

August 09, 2023

Writer:

Emily Kim

Penciler:

Ig Guara

Cover Artist:

Dave Johnson

MONSTER MAYHEM! Silk escaped one danger but now faces an even deadlier challenge! Her nemesis Saya has gotten a power upgrade of fiendish proportions… …and she’s going to hit Silk where it hurts.

PROS:

• Finally, Saya is a scary threat to be reckoned with, and she looks the part as well. The sleep demon has entered the real world, and it has merged with Saya, creating a despicable, monstrous beast filled with hate and anger. With this new power, Saya looks to eliminate her scientific competition, with the likes of Reed Richards and Tony Stark, but literally killing them off so she can establish herself as the world’s number one mind. The depiction of Saya as a psychologically spiraling but physically powerful monster makes her a worthy villain in this fantastic narrative of two strong women fighting for what they believe in, while protecting their own family and legacy in the process. Saya has truly shown that she is not just a brain, but she can also be quite the imposing baddie when it comes to a skirmish.
• As mentioned earlier, the strongest aspect of this specific installment is the family dynamics going around, in all sorts of directions, with all the characters in the book. Silk’s brother seems hellbent on joining in on the dangerous escapades of his sister, with seemingly no regard for his health, life or sanity. Silk, on the other hand, is acting every bit of the protective sister archetype. It’s easy to juxtapose this with Saya, who is firmly set on proving her superiority in the world, unfortunately leaving her brother in her shadow, trying to find himself, but also trying to give his all to help his sister, because that is what gives his life meaning. After reading this issue, you can’t help but feel sympathy for everybody involved. And those are the best stories. We, as readers, find ourselves the most engaged with a comic book when it is not just a black-and-white battle between good and evil. If we can relate and connect to even the bad guys, then that makes the comic book all the more poignant.
• The stakes have reached an all-time high, as Saya looks to take down all the greatest minds of the Marvel Universe. When villains have missions like this, you know all the action is going to reach its boiling point very soon. Exciting times, ahead, indeed!

CONS:

• Maybe it would have been more satisfying to see more of the clash between Saya and Silk. Our hero ran away pretty early on, so that left me wanting more. Of course, the entire issue really built up the narrative into its final stages, where we are bound to witness an epic fight of the ages.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The past issues of Silk were wild, crazy and very cinematic in the weird situations that Silk put herself into, going from one dreamworld environment to another. Now, the last few chapters of this arc have to prove that even in the real world, the creative team can create an engaging conflict to end the story with a bang. But, for now, it is enough that we are getting a very sentimental and meaningful story about families torn by their pasts, but at the same time, stuck together because of their love for one another.