Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 gives readers two Spider-Adventures for the price of almost two. First, Miles Morales and Misty Knight raid a Rabble Tech warehouse, but Venom horns in on the action. Second, relive the night Miles’s mother dies in a reprint of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22.
Is Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 Good?
“Wait! What? A reprint?” you might wonder. Yes, that’s right. Despite what the title suggests, Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 is one standard-sized comic with Misty Knight and Miles Morales fighting the latest Venom, Dylan Brock, and a reprint of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 from April 2013 filling out the second half. Whether or not a mix of old and new comics packaged together is worth the cover price is up to you.
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Cody Ziglar’s one-and-done story centers on Misty Knight giving Miles Morales a chance to prove himself by breaking up a gang-controlled weapons warehouse owned by Black Obsidian. Black’s gang is stocking up on Rabble’s advanced weaponry. When Miles tries the stealthy approach, the party is crashed by Dylan Brock/Venom, who is out for blood against the gang who hurt innocent bystanders in a nearby shootout. Miles and Venom tentatively work together to subdue the gang and confiscate Rabble’s weapons. When Venom’s bloodlust gets out of control, Miles fights Venom to get the symbiote to calm down and give Dylan a chance to reassert control.
The second half of the issue is a reprint of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 from April 2013, which recounts the death of the Ultimates version of Venom and Miles’s mother.
Admittedly, paying extra money for a “giant-size issue” feels like a cheat when you only get a standard-sized, original story. You may feel differently.
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What’s great about Giant-Size Spider-Man #1? If you’re into Miles-Morales-versus-Venom fights, you get a double helping here. Ziglar delivers plenty of action in the original story, setting up a rematch in the near future and planting seeds for a partnership between Rabble and Hobgoblin.
What’s not so great about Giant-Size Spider-Man #1? The sheer difference in hard-hitting storytelling between 2013 and now is Stark with a capital ‘S.’ In comparison, Ziglar’s take on Miles and Venom feels lighter, quippier, and much less dramatic compared to the included reprint written by Brian Michael Bendis. Without intending it, Marvel is almost showing you how good Miles (and Bendis) used to be by placing it next to the weaker, modern version. Ziglar’s one-shot is fine for what it is but altogether forgettable.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces
Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 is half original story pitting Misty Knight and Miles Morales against Dylan Brock/Venom and one-half reprint of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 from April 2013. Ziglar’s original story is a perfectly serviceable one-shot that sets up bigger things down the road, but placing the modern Marvel quality against 2013’s much higher standards may prove to be a mistake.
6.5/10