Review by Ian Keogh
With the turmoil of Gang War over, Zeb Wells turns the page and begins digging around in the lives of people not seen in Spider-Man for a while, some housed in the Ravencroft Institute for the insane. The problem of elderly Anna-May Watson is relatively easily solved, and it’s a sweet story showing Peter Parker caring out of costume as much as he does as Spider-Man. However, it’s a sneaky prelude to the main event, which is the return of united villains the Sinister Six.
There have been assorted incarnations over the years, but the classic line-up is the first: Doctor Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, the Vulture, Mysterio and Sandman. Their problem is that Sandman is also in Ravencroft, and is the team complete without him? Numerically, obviously not, but it becomes irrelevant as Breathe turns into rather the hodge-podge collection, not least for Sandman’s rapid change of heart rendering a touching scene irrelevant.
Just as we come to terms with the idea of the Sinister Six they’re sidelined for a continuation in following volume Going Green. Instead we shift to the activities of Ben Reilly, formerly the Scarlet Spider, and now a somewhat addled demonic presence under the control of the Goblin Queen and calling himself Chasm. It’s a dangling plotline that needed dealt with, and Wells comes up with a neat solution that ought to satisfy everyone.
Breathe then closes with that contemptuous trademark of 21st century Marvel collections, the single chapter from a crossover. It bulks out the book, presumably justifying a higher price, but makes little sense in isolation. If you want to see Spider-Man take on vampires, pick up Blood Hunt, which gathers the entire story.
The redeeming factor is pages from John Romita Jr rounding off a strong artistic collection. Carmen Carnero and Tood Nauck are credited as guest artists, and Ryan Stegman only draws an eight page interlude, but all deliver great action and resonant character moments. Romita’s also the artist on a Tombstone short that’s more a teaser than anything else, and so inconsequential. The same applies to the few pages starring the Gold Goblin, although it’s nice to see Ed McGuinness’ homage of a classic Spider-Man cover.
