Review by Woodrow Phoenix

Spider-Man: Animals Assemble! is the first of three graphic novels starring everyone’s favorite web-slinger, created specially for early readers. The writer and artist Mike Maihack has experience writing for children: his previous six-book series Cleopatra in Space won a Florida Book Award, and was adapted into an animated television series. In these new stories his Spider-Man takes a few cues from the slightly awkward teen gawkiness of Tom Holland’s cinematic version, amping up the quirky comedy. The simple visual device of rounding off the corners and edges of Spidey’s usually angular form and increasing the size of his head makes him unthreatening and childlike, an ideal lead for the gentle silliness that follows.

When a super villain threat is detected in Central Park, Iron Man appears wanting Spider-Man’s help. But he doesn’t want assistance with battling the threat: he has a pet that needs taking care of while he’s busy handling the situation. “Watching this goldfish … it’s a big responsibility. Can you handle it?” he asks. No sooner has Spidey agreed to this job than Captain Marvel flies in. She has a pet cat that needs looking after. “Be careful of those tentacles!” she warns. It’s not long before Spider-Man finds himself tasked with pet-sitting for all the Avengers and Nick Fury too.

Maihack fills his panels with lots of funny details to amuse his young audience, but they’re also clever clues older readers will recognise, which adds to the fun. It starts like an aimless ramble through New York City taking in some familiar locations, but it’s actually tightly plotted and the arrival of one last special creature kicks off the second half of the adventure. Spider-Man: Animals Assemble! is light and funny and works for both the kids it’s aimed at and older Marvel fans too. Next is Spider-Man: Quantum Quest!