Review by Frank Plowright
The paperback Spider-Verse graphic novel clocked in at 650 pages alone, and with all the extras surrounding it, plus a sequel event, it’s easy to see how this Omnibus falls just short of 1500 oversized pages.
However, it may be complete, but suffers from the same problem that the Spider-Verse paperback demonstrated as the two core stories offer considerable fun, but they’re surrounded by so much that’s patently filler. Dan Slott and Christos Gage mastermind both events, which stem from the idea that with an infinite number of alternate universes, Spider-Man hasn’t always been the result of bespectacled high school student Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive spider, and developing along the same lines. This isn’t a new idea. Peter Porker: Spider-Ham had his own comic, as did an Indian Spider-Man, and events such as Marvel Noir added other alternates. Not every Peter Parker seen in What If? during the 1970s and 1980s appears here, but some probably do.
J. Michael Straczynski’s groundbreaking run on Spider-Man introduced Morlun, a form of energy vampire drawn to any being with spider-based powers. Spider-Man barely defeated him, so the threat in ‘Spider-Verse’ is there being an entire race of similar beings called the Inheritors able to track down Spider-Man in any alternate universe. The art is shared between Guiseppe Camuncoli and Olivier Coipel (sample art left) and the core story offers neat revelations and a tidy solution. Jorge Molina (sample right) takes on the art for the revived threat of ‘Spider-Geddon’ and is very good on the core story, but this is a more sprawling event. The Peter Parker of Earth 616 has a smaller role and Slott’s contribution is also smaller, while Gage’s is greater. There are surprises, neat ideas and a largely different set of characters in the spotlight, but it doesn’t match the thrill of the first time.
This hardcover is exhaustive in collecting the assorted tie-ins, but they’re extremely variable in quality, some being poor, and others matching the main event, and despite Marvel attempting to spin out the assorted characters in their own series few have caught on. Spider-Gwen has been the most successful, and her introduction from Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez numbers among the best of the shorter inclusions. However, it’s extremely rare that the art is a letdown, which makes this format with oversized pages a treat for art lovers.
