Spider-Boy, Vol. 2: Fun & Games

Spider-Boy (2023)

by Dan Slott, Paco Medina (illustrator), Julian Shaw (Illustrator)

At the mercy of Madame Monstrosity! Bailey Briggs lost his family when she made him into Spider-Boy - now she's taken his best friend! And as Bailey finds his way back to the woman who created him, the lives of his new family hang in the balance. And all of his amazing friends are showing up to help! Guest-starring Captain America, Thor, Squirrel Girl, the Toy Soldier, Miles Morales and Peter Parker! And featuring a major turning point in the life of Spider-Boy! His life (and this comic) will never be the same again! But just as Bailey is so close to reuniting with someone from his past, he must make his way through the perilous puzzles, menacing mazes and brutal brainteasers of Marvel's newest villain. Trust us, this is anything but fun and games! Collecting SPIDER-BOY #5-8.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Dan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.

Reviews

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.1/10
With this second volume we have the end of the first arc in Spider-Boy's saga. With the help of his superhero friends, Bailey defeats Madame Monstrosity. It's not exactly a happily ever after situation, but for now it's the best everyone can get.

The last issue, issue #8, introduces us a new villain, Puzzle Man. It's really fun and perfect for kids. If you want to give someone young to read something to get them into comic books, this one is great. I will say though that because Puzzle Man breaks the fourth wall, it did feel a bit disjoint from the rest of the story.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun volume of Spider-Boy the Webless Wonder. My only concern with this book is that its target audience seems to be skewing younger and younger with every issue… I don’t have a problem with books intended for younger readers, more power to them, but issue eight was like the sort of thing you’d get free with a Happy Meal…

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depois de termos um primeiro volume do Garoto-Aranha com uma proposta bastante divertida, mas com uma adaptação das piadas trocadilhescas bastante sofrível, agora chega o segundo volume do piá-aranha. Como alguns de vocês devem saber, ele é uma mistura genética entre uma aranha e um menino, mas diferente das outras experiências da Madame Monstruosidade, o lado humano sobrepujou o lado fera. Na primeira parte do encadernado temos Bailey Briggs unindo força com heróis da Marvel para libertar os experimentos da Madame. Na segunda parte, além de Bailey lutar contra o Homem-Passatempo, também temos o piá-aranha se unindo com Araña, Madame Teia e Teia de Seda para buscar a sua parte da teia da vida que fazia com que as pessoas não se lembrassem dele. Se o primeiro volume brasileiro do Garoto-Aranha veio aos trancos e barrancos, esse segundo foi mais redondinho, mais divertido, mais engraçado e não foi forçadaço como foi o primeiro. Destaque também para os desenhos de Paco Medina e Ty Templeton, principalmente este último em seu trabalho com os passatempos.

[Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

​​Анонс сайдкіка для Павука викликав у багатьох досить негативну реакцію, все-таки багато людей вважають, що в 616 живе забагато героїв з павучою тематикою, інші ж вважали, що Паркеру просто не потрібен сайдкік. Додавало масла у вогонь також те що представлення Бейлі більше спантеличувало ніж зацікавлювало. В результаті ж поява малого виявилася успішним рішенням і побувши в одній арці Павука Слотта історія Павучого Пацанятка продовжилася в його власному онґоїнґу. Тож давайте дізнаємося чи вдалося Слотту видати щось годне, чи ми отримали ще одного Альфу.

Бейлі Бріґс є сайдкіком Павука, однак проблема полягає в тому, що про його існування ніхто не пам'ятає, ним зацікавлюється божевільна вчена Мадам Монстросіті, яка усвідомлює, що Пацанятко є одним з її експериментів, але вона не може нічого про нього згадати й вирішує повернути його супі. Саме це і є головним конфліктом серії, паралельно ж ми спостерігаємо за тим як Пацанятко проводить тім-апи з різними героями. Взагалі мені сподобалося як у кінці ці історії з тім-апами вистрілюють. З цікавого Слотт тут також вибудовує галерою лиходіїв для Бейлі, що, як на мене є досить важливою складовою багатьох персонажів.

Мені серія дуже сподобалася, вона є максимально фановою й непогано розважає, сам Бейлі вийшов досить приємним персонажем за якого хочеться вболівати, особливо враховуючи його мотивацію. Щодо малюнку Пако Медіни то він вийшов доволі приємним. Взагалі видно, що серія націлена на молодшу аудиторію і, як на мене може стати для когось непоганим місцем для знайомства з медіумом.

Загалом я у захваті від цього коміксу. Видно, що й самому Слотту хочеться працювати над Бейлі, а не як з Альфою який повинен був бути персонажем на один раз, але редактори попросили приберегти. Дуже сподіваюся, що ця серія довго житиме і дуже раджу її прочитати.

[Sam Whale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still continuing to be the most fun of any Marvel book right now, Spider-Boy volume 2 sees Bailey do battle with his creator the villainous Madame Monstrosity and do battle across the Spider Verse for the first time (with how often these things happen these days it's good to start them young)!

Bailey continues to be charming, funny and relatable with lots of tragic backstory while still staying light hearted enough for a kids book.

The best issue has two me the one where he fights a puzzle themed villain and the book is actually filled with Word Searches, Crosswords and even a Where's Wally puzzle! I kept my pages unsullied with a pen but I can see a lot of young ones actually doing the activities and regardless it made for a very visually interesting comic.

Finally Peter sacrificing the memories of his life with Uncle Ben for End of the Spiderverse in order to stabilise Spider Boy and have everyone was really nice too and felt like a nice cap off to the last 2/3 years of Slots Spidey books. Can't wait for Volume 3!

(Also Ultimate Spider Woman was confirmed alive! It's only one panel but that alone would make this a five star book for me!)

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol 2 wraps up two stories:
- Madame Monstrosity is taken down (stolen by the High Evolutionary after she converts herself into a monster made from several different animals) and some of her human-animal hybrids are split back correctly
- Silk, Madame Web, and Arana mistakenly send Spider-Boy on a Spider-Verse adventure while trying to weave him back into the Web of Life and Destiny, which they do. Now the only people who don't remember Spider-Boy are us, the readers.

Overall, the Volume was a bit all over the place, but still a decent read. Not sure how much longer I will continue with this title, but it looks like it has at least one more Volume. We'll see how it goes.
Recommend.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume may be titled Fun & Games, but it's actually where shit gets real for Bailey as he faces off against Madame Monstrosity and her Mutanimals for the final time. Things get sad, things get emotional, there's a big team-up with all of Bailey's new superhero friends, and it's actually really kick-ass, honestly.

And then there's the brainteaser issue at the end which is just a complete palette cleanser, and one of those 'you could only do this in comics' kinds of issues that always make me smile.

I think this is an unsung gem, honestly. Spider-Boy's a lot of fun, but there's a big heart behind it all that Slott never forgets.

[Mr. R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another solid Spider-Boy adventure, though it doesn't hit the same highs as the first volume. The opening arc featuring Madame Monstrosity is entertaining and well-paced, but the later issues lean heavily into Spider-Verse territory, which, for me, is starting to feel overdone. While I still enjoy the writing enough to keep reading, Bailey is beginning to come across as more whiny than endearing. I'd like to see future stories pull back from the multiversal spectacle and focus more on character-driven moments, with his fun villains, that meaningfully show his growth.

Grade: C

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really seems to be targeted at a very young audience, but it is still kind of fun. Though junk like the puzzle issue I could really do without. And Madame Monstrosity is kind of glossed over, but what she's done is pretty terrible. And then more Spider-Verse hijinks--this is starting to get a bit over-played, to be honest. Good artwork throughout.

[Robby · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get a nice wrap-up to Spider-Boy's origin saga (for now) as well as a new reality-bending villain in the Puzzle Man! While I'm still confused as to why Bailey's disappearance and Peter's appeared to have different effects, it seems like most of the fallout from End of Spider-verse has been resolved here, and we can move on to exploring Bailey's future.

[Alex Sarll]

I'm beginning to suspect that Marvel won't let Slott stop doing Spider-Verse stories, and he's reached the point where he's just thrown his hands up and is seeing to quite what extent he can get away with taking the piss. Which is absolutely fine by me.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edition collects issues 5-10. More Madame Monstrosity and her Humanimals, including Boy-Spider. He also teams up with Spider-Man, Thor, Squirrel Girl, and Captain America.

It continues to be a fun book with some sadness mixed in. Still good for the kids.

[Steven desJardins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was on the fence after the first volume, dropping the series after this second volume. A bit too self-consciously silly and full of multi-versal Spider nonsense.

[Fazun · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see how this could pull in kids. But it’s a bit of a jumble to me.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's crazy that Slott is still out here doing his thing. how many times are we going to do the hostess spider-man? this does feel like a bit of a junior book.

but good.

[Minki Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ Lighthearted, kid friendly story. good resolution to the 1st arc
- Not much depth to the characters or plot

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The spiderverse stuff is great in the later couple issues.

[Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun series.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters that are in the MU, but clearly are meant for younger audiences...

-Squirrel Girl
-Ms. Marvel
-Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

and...
Spider-Boy

We finally get a full explanation of Madame Monstrosity and her...character? There's even an introduction to another Spider-Boy villain, Puzzle Man. That issue has about 1/3 of its content turned into Highlights puzzle knockoffs.

There's also the 'Quantum Leap' through the Spider-Verse bit...
umm...
yea

It's a good thing everythings hunky dory now, right? RIGHT?!