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Posted October 27, 2013 by Mikael Angelo Francisco in Comics
 
 

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #5

Writer: Chris Yost
Art: Marco Checchetto
Cover: Paolo Rivera

The newest issue of Superior Spider-Man Team Up continues the over-arching plot hinted at by Chris Yost ever since issue 17 of the title’s former incarnation, Avenging Spider-Man (read a review here). All the pieces have been acquired, and the puzzle has been formed at last, with the Superior Spider-Man – the mind of Otto Octavius inhabiting Peter Parker’s body – serving as the central piece.

Despite a slight break in momentum due to the previous two-part tie-in to Marvel’s Infinity event, Yost manages to continue telling the story of the Superior Six, showing us once more that (a) Otto Octavius has yet to (and possibly never will) comprehend the true meaning of the original Spider-Man’s motto, and (b) the Superior Spider-Man isn’t as “superior” as he thinks he is.

The book begins rather explosively, with the first part of this issue centering on the first test run of Superior Spider-Man’s Superior Six, comprised of Octavius’s former Sinister Six associates (Electro, Sandman, Vulture, and Chameleon, plus the Hobgoblin-sanctioned imposter, Mysterion), as they try (rather unsuccessfully) to defeat the Wrecking Crew. Other heroes make appearances here as well – Sun-Girl, who will be joining the newest incarnation of the New Warriors (more on that here), as well as everyone’s favorite time-displaced wall-crawler Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man from 2099.

The book addresses exactly how the Superior Spider-Man (let’s call him Spock from this point on) managed to operate with the Superior Six without any of them immediately ripping his head off, and this issue does a nice job of setting up as many questions as it answers. The mastermind of the story is revealed rather brightly on the last page, and the next issue promises to be yet another violent brawl between the Superior Six and the Wrecking Crew (assuming, of course, that none of the Superior Six manage to kill Spock first).

One of the main selling points of this book is the gorgeous art by Marco Checchetto, and he continues to knock the ball out of the park here. His characters are lean and acrobatic; more cinematic than energetic, and certainly very expressive. It’s the same level of quality we’ve come to expect from him, and aside from the occasional disproportionate body part, the art is quite excellent.

Overall, it’s a decent book, and the Paolo Rivera-illustrated cover alone makes it well worth purchasing.

VERDICT8/10

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This review was sponsored by Druid’s Keep, located in The Fort. Join the group on Facebook (here).


Mikael Angelo Francisco