SPIDER-MAN

There’s room for everyone under the multiversal spider-tent.

A mysterious variant of Doctor Octopus is pulling strings across the multiverse in order to antagonize multiple Spider-Heroes at once! Will the plucky Araña reunite with her friend and fellow superhero, Miguel O’Hara? That question only covers the bookending entries of this wide-ranging selection of stories about different heroes who spin webs to help others, from keeper of stories Kwaku Anansi to the fabulously queer Cooper Coen, aka Web-Weaver. The characters all fully inhabit their chapters, which come complete with full-page illustrations to show off their costumes. References to the larger Marvel cast abound for fans to catch or let fly overhead. As an anthology, this book represents a string of successes when it comes to representing each protagonist’s community. Foiling villains is but one part of Miles Morales’ and his mother’s visit to Puerto Rico, where his abuela was born. Pavitr Prabhakar celebrates Navaratri in Queens by participating in a garba dance. Zarina Zahari enjoys a British Eid breakfast of her favorite beans on toast. The heroes all feel fleshed out to the point of demanding their own novels, or at least an encore crossover to reunite so many talented web-slingers (and their respective authors).

An appealing anthology that zooms in on various walks of life while playing with the larger Marvel universe.