So far, I like the set up for this arc more than I did the last one. This is a mostly pretty dark issue, so I hope that the plot later allows Jason Keith to branch out a bit more. It’s a shame that they didn’t do more with it. A visit to Doctor Strange’s crib seems like a good way to get weird with the visuals, but it’s just flipped ninety degrees, and honestly, I just found it made those pages annoying to read. In panels with more space, it’s impressive that faces show so much emotion while being less detailed than closer shots. Physiques have otherwise constant precision. Hands can look a little wonky, but they look good more than they look off, and it’s a nitpick at worst. The art itself is strong for the most part. Obviously, these aren’t make or break features, but they’re fun little details that will please readers of all types. Captain America is bearing a pretty strong resemblance to a certain someone in a certain blockbuster movie in theaters now. I love that Adam Kubert is carrying on the tradition by dressing up Gwen Stacy in a Spider-Gwen themed outfit (or I guess it’s more accurate to say Ghost-Spider). I’m ashamed to say I missed the cool easter eggs that Joe Quinones left in the previous arc, namely the two Peters being dressed like their cartoon selves, or Peter wearing Tom Holland’s “Find X.” shirt. Things are looking tough, but this still a Zdarsky book, so thankfully the story isn’t taking itself too seriously. Being such a bleak new present that they’ve arrived in, Zdarsky reels in the comedy to the point that I would say is right where it should be. The results of Peter and co.’s meddling in the past invite complicated relationships that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Either way, it won’t break the plot, and Zdarsky has used it to pave the way for a Spider-Man story that is fundamentally true to one of Spider-Man’s greatest flaws – his overreaching and trust issues – despite being about something that’s a bit bigger than his usual neighborhood. I’m in agreement with the admittedly pretty funny recap page: these time travel stories read a lot better if you don’t think about the rules too much. We’re still dealing with time travel, but can this story work out the kinks the book had before? Signs point to maybe. Which means we have a pretty interesting set up for the next arc in Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Messing up someone else’s timeline in order to fix your own sounds pretty irresponsible, Peter.

Zdarsky spectacular spider man