Review by Ian Keogh

After the cosmic re-arrangement concluding End of the Spider-Verse all was put right again, and heroes returned after being wiped from existence. Welcome back Spider-Man! Welcome back Spider-Woman! Welcome back Spider-Boy! Who? Well, no-one remembers.

That’s because the likeliest version of his origin is that a Marvel corporate suit belatedly realised that while the company had trademarked Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-Girl and even Spider-M’am, Spider-Boy had never been seen. Why, the very foundations of the universe would crumble should DC cotton on and create a character with that name! Just think of the confusion!

Thankfully the creation of what might have been a soulless derivative was allocated to Dan Slott, the most consistently creative writer at Marvel in the 2010s. He exemplifies that in the opening chapter, which is almost all set-up, but with a strong emotional pull, an insight into a merciless villain and creative use of previously introduced technology for research. That’s all before we even see Spider-Boy. It’s all drawn with customary proficiency by Mark Bagley, who ensures the sympathies transmit.

There’s greater uncertainty about Spider-Boy, both as written and drawn. He’s given a definitive age of ten and talks about working with Spider-Man for years, but his dialogue is that of someone half his age again, which just isn’t convincing. Slott’s innovation of Spider-Boy being somehow psychically attuned to Peter Parker, a neat idea not further explained, and just as the powers Miles Morales has differ from Peter’s, Spider-Boy has other interesting possibilities. And yet, as intriguing as they are, they’re not the best part of Who is Spider-Boy?, which is the way Slott has a recurring role for a fireman as the voice of common sense.

It’s the final chapter before a revised continuity is revealed, one where Spider-Man and Spider-Boy were partners. Slott addresses some illogicalities, delivers some fun adventures and funny mistakes.

Given a Spider-Boy is apparently necessary, this is a decent shot at the character, other than the problem of his never sounding like a ten year old. This is rectified by Slott when he moves into his own series, beginning with The Web-Less Wonder.

PS. Feeling mischievous DC? Why not copyright and trademark characters whose names are typos like Spidder-Man, Daredebil and Tohr?