Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #9

Background

There’s a new Inhuman who can see the future, and he what he saw for Miles shocked everybody. Ever since, Miles has been in hiding.

Story Details

At Miles’ family home in Brooklyn, Jefferson hears commotion coming from down the hallway. He investigates and finds Nova and Ms. Marvel looking through Miles’ laptop. They inform him of the situation, as well as Miles’ unknown whereabouts. Meanwhile, Goldballs and Bombshell also conduct a search for Miles, keeping their eyes on the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Ganke visits Danika Hart, an internet star and vocal fan of Miles as Spider-Man. He asks her if she has any news about Miles’ location, but she insists on her ignorance. She releases a video urging her viewers to be on the lookout for Spider-Man, while she takes Ganke to a rooftop to watch for Miles.

Jefferson visits S.H.I.E.L.D. to speak with Director Maria Hill. He demands that she keep away from Miles, but she insists that she is well-within her right to act as she has. Miles is eventually spotted in Washington D.C. on the steps of the Capitol Building, and everyone flocks to his location, prompting concern from his loved ones.

General Comments

I am generally not a fan of comics where the main character is absent from the story. When I pick up this issue, I expect to see the adventures of Miles Morales, but instead it’s a book devoted entirely to his supporting cast. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s always a bit jarring. Plus, I feel I should note that the cover depicts Miles battling Venom, yet no such encounter ever occurs. It feels like a bit of false advertising, but Marvel has had false covers many times before, so it’s not exactly a first-time offense. All of this is not to say that the issue is terrible, but I do feel it lacks something without its star.

The highlight of this issue for me was Ganke’s response to Miles’ disappearance. It strengthens the brotherhood between them, and we can see just how deeply Ganke truly cares for his best friend. They have had their differences throughout this run, but that doesn’t mean either one wants to see the other get hurt. The lengths that Ganke goes to in order to locate Miles are things he even admits are last resorts, but he doesn’t care. It’s a touching sentiment, and it’s a nice one to include in the issue.

Jefferson’s scene with Maria Hill is a pretty strong one, but I do feel it comes as a bit of a surprise. Jefferson’s role in S.H.I.E.L.D. has only been referenced once before in this series, so it’s a bit of shock when we all of a sudden remember that he is secretly an agent. That being said, his emotion is expressed very well through the dialogue he is given. He behaves the way I would expect a father to in this situation, and I think that is the strongest selling-point of the whole thing.

The one scene that doesn’t work for me was between Goldballs and Bombshell. I feel that the humor is a bit overdone, and nothing important really comes out of their moment together. It feels like you could eliminate that scene altogether and expand on the other characters more.

Lastly, Leon and Gracia deliver very high-quality artwork once again.

Overall Rating

This issue does feel a bit emptier without Miles, but it still has its merits. We get some solid material from the supporting cast, even if there isn’t a whole lot of plot development. It’s not great by any means, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read.