The problem with Spider-Man’s popularity is that Marvel are constantly putting out zillions of books featuring him all the time - Amazing, Spectacular, Team-Up, Superior, etc. - so the quality tends to get watered down. And, if you read enough crap, then it’s easy to dismiss any new Spider-Man book as not worth reading, particularly if you’re not a big fan of the character. I think that’s why I missed this gem when it came out a couple years ago. So I was really pleasantly surprised to find that Tom Taylor’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man isn’t just good but is also one of the best Spidey books of the last few years.
This title takes a street-level approach to Spidey, focusing on NYC specifically and the people in Peter’s life - his neighbours, his friends and family. But you’ve gotta give Spider-Man something to do so weird toughs from the 1940s and an old lady superhero are thrown in! And here you could criticise that Taylor underdevelops the main story of this book - how is there an entire glowy copy of NYC underground, who are these orange-skinned people, etc. - but I liked how this was left unexplained, because it didn’t really matter.
The characters - Spidey in particular - are written so well, and are clearly the focus, that peripheral story elements like this don’t need to be fleshed out entirely, particularly if they’re only going to be used for this one-and-done tale. Breezing over it means that it doesn’t slow the story down with unnecessary exposition and gives the narrative a cool swagger that plays into its light-hearted style. Plus it’s Marvel - of course there’s an underground city full of orange people a few miles beneath NYC!
And the whole idea of Under York and the rich orange-skinned businessman is more about the book’s theme of community, tolerance and acceptance vs anti-immigration sentiment, segregation and the entitlement of the 1% (as well as that obvious visual jab at a certain former president). So I get why Taylor didn’t get hung up on that part of the story and just kept focus on the characters - which was the right choice.
I didn’t love the art of the issue #1 backup story but I can see why that backup was included - so that the B-story, of May getting a cancer diagnosis, didn’t come out of nowhere later on. And I loved how Taylor struck the right balance in tone throughout - Spidey wasn’t overly quippy, and there’s the right amount of humour to keep the serious stuff from being overwhelming. And that final issue too - all I’ll say about that emotional gut-punch of an issue is if you’re not dabbing your eyes at the end of that one, you’re made of stone, buddy! I mean, wow - I’ve never cried after reading a Spider-Man comic before!
Hats off to Juann Cabal for drawing such a perfect-looking Spider-Man comic. It’s the least-populated NYC you’ll ever see but I loved the bright, clean aesthetics, the neat, polished lines - expert, gorgeous art from Cabal. Yildiray Cinar only draws the fifth issue but beautifully captures the human frailty in the characters’ expressions as Peter and May go through a difficult scene - the emotional power of the moment is there on the page.
The main story is called “Mother of Exiles” which is a way better subtitle than “Secrets and Rumors” - the old lady superhero is called Rumor but still, that subtitle just makes this book seem that much more bland and indistinct, which is a real disservice. Still, that and not digging the backup’s art isn’t enough for me to give this one anything less than the highest rating - this is an excellent book.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Volume 1: Secrets and Rumors is superhero comics at its best, telling great stories with wit and heart and showing you the full range it can go: from impossibly fantastical sci-fi to the relatable everyday. And it reminds you why people love this character so much - easily one of the best Spider-Man books I’ve ever read!
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