Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12 // Review
Spider-Man comics are always at their best when they’re about interpersonal drama. When Spidey has to wrestle with the problems of his friends and family. And when those problems intersect with his life as a costumed adventurer. The current run of Miles Morales: Spider-Man has done such a great job of elevating Miles’ supporting cast so that that kind of Spider-Man story can be told, and issue #12 is the result.
The issue centers around Miles trying to prevent his uncle Aaron--aka the Prowler--from carrying out a hit on a mob boss. Complicating matters is that the hit is part of the debt Aaron owes for a suit upgrade, which he needed to rescue Miles a few issues back. Their argument leads to a fight with classic b-list Spider-Man villain Man Mountain Marko, and then the real consequence of Miles’ interference is revealed.
Writer Saladin Ahmed does great work ratcheting up the tension as Miles and Aaron first fight each other and then fight Marko. It’s always clear that these two men love each other, and that they wish they could be doing anything other than fighting, but it’s a natural step for precisely what’s happening in their situation. Ahmed understands these characters’ voices and motivations so well, and it shows on every page.
After an off-issue with fill-in artists, the series regular artist Javier Garrón has returned, and the surge in quality is noticeable. Garrón’s action staging is terrific. Even more impressive is how well he conveys the two main characters’ emotions, although they’re both wearing full-face masks for most of the issue. The coloring by David Curiel is bright and poppy, and the lettering by VC’s Cory Petit is effective as well.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man remains one of Marvel’s more consistent titles, and the return of Garrón means a return to form for this issue. The final page of the issue promises an even more exciting adventure next month.
