Spider-Verse: Spider-Zero

Spider-Verse #3

by Jed MacKay, Ryan North, Taran Killam

Miles Morales has finally started to feel like he has a handle on all this Spider-Man stuff...so of course, he suddenly falls through a portal and into a brand new multiversal adventure! Wait, wasn't the Web of Life and Destiny destroyed? Maybe not, True Believer. But who spun this new web? And why? Whatever the answers, the entire Spider-Verse is in big trouble - and it's time to come together once again! Featuring wallcrawlers familiar and new, including a world where Aunt May got the spider-powers, and the return of fan-favorite Peni Parker, aka SP//dr! Plus, some of the scariest villains in Marvel history - and #SPIDER-SONAS from some of the biggest Spidey fans and creators out there!


Collecting: Spider-Verse (2019) 1-6

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2020

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good. It's a flimsy and unnecessary premise in the bookends about Annie May Parker being missing. Miles Morales gets flung around the Spider-Verse helping out various alternate Spider-People. My favorite was the Spider-Man Noir story. Juan Ferrerya's art is so damn good. I love how it's all black and white except for Miles. Marvel actually brought in a lot of its new young guns on this project. My only complaint was Ian Herring's coloring over Dike Ruan's pencils on the Peni Parker story. It looks like he used markers. It's dark and ruddy, obscuring the artwork. The rest of the book is golden.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spidey (Miles) goes for another jaunt through the multiverse and encounters some old friends and some new ones, too. Let’s be honest, the plot, what of it there was, was paper thin; basically just an excuse to showcase some alternate-Spideys. The artwork, though, was really nice.

Story: 2 stars
Artwork: 4 stars
Overall: 3 stars

P.S. - My rating is in absolutely in now way influenced by the fact that I found out about this book too late to design my own alternate Spidey... but I AM jealous... really, really, REALLY bloody jealous... Hmph.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Web Of Life and Destiny is broken, but maybe it can be repaired? Miles Morales goes on a cross-dimensional trip to find Annie May Parker, the one person who could possibly re-weave it, and comes across some familiar (and unfamiliar) Spider-people along the way!

This really doesn't have the right to be as good as it is. It's nuts. The story is bookended by two issues that set up and end the overarching plot, and the middle issues are literally filler diversions, but they're all so damn good that I can't help but love them.

Let's do the obvious ones first. Rebuilding the Web Of Life and Destiny is a good idea for a mini-series since it opens the Spider-Verse back up after having it fall away during Spider-Geddon, but with the popularity of the characters it makes sense to bring the ability to see them again back. Jed Mackay writes these two issues, with art from Juan Frigeri and Zé Carlos, drawing on all of the Spider-Verse continuity so far to craft a satisfying framing sequence that has a surprisingly emotional ending.

Then there's the middle issues. Issue 2 is by Ryan North and Pere Perez, and focuses on the Spectacular Spider-Ma'am, one of my favourite alternative Spiders, as she faces off against parallel universe Venom and Carnage symbiotes. Seeing Aunt May kick ass always makes me smile, and this has some real anime teamwork beats to it that threaten to break my face with happiness.

Issue 3, from Jed Mackay and Dike Ruan, returns to Peni Parker and Sp//dr's world for another Goblin/Venom inspired story that ends on a cliffhanger and practically begs to be revisted, while issue 4 features a cowboy Spider-Man and a story by Taran Killam and Juan Gideon. Both of these issues are surprisingly good, given that one character is brand new, and the other only has maybe two other proper appearances. I'd love to revisit both of these worlds again at some point.

And then issue 5 features the return of Spider-Man Noir, in a story by Margaret Stohl and Juan Ferreyra which acts as both an integral part of this mini-series and a springboard for his upcoming mini-series as well (by the same creative team). Ferreyra was born to drawn this kind of story, I swear - it just looks amazing.

Spider-Verse: Spider-Zero looks like a throwaway anthology book that you can safely avoid at first glance, but I'd highly recommend giving it a chance, because it'll genuinely surprise you with how good it is.

[Clare rushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The Spider-verse is so cool and it was awesome seeing so many different Spider-Man’s.

[Talon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun to see all the different Spider-sonas in this one, but unfortunately...there's not a whole bunch to it than loosely related standalone stories.

[chiquinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[ina m · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was fun!!!!

[Jessica Maggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can't believe her name is Annie May

[Chukwudima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, there was nothing memorable about this whatsoever. The art was nice though, for what it’s worth.

[Nicholas (was Allison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars
Notes: This comic has got to have one of the best animated type of art styles that I have seen for a long time. It essentially looks almost as if it was a Spider-verse movie turned into comic format, from how detailed almost every single page is. From that, it took me several hours of reading and paying as much attention as I can, to just absolutely tell that there is just so much stuff going on in this, which ends up making the actual storyline to be entirely so extraordinarily complicated to literally no extent. I would further put in to please re-watch one or more Spider-verse movies if you’re not too familiar with them already, because of how many different plots are even in here with multiple Spider-Man variants having to do so many different things in different universes and timelines, this is really going to get into high stakes mode to say the least. So, that is why it took me so long to read through and with even re-reading several pages, there’s just a whole bunch of events that make this one valuable memorable story I’ll most likely not forget anytime soon.

This all starts with Miles Morales having what may be called a slightly normal (however also not quite totally normal) day, and then with a turn of events he becomes more aware of the Web of Life and Destiny, and its importance and several roles it has in the multiverse. Before I put in anything more, for those who aren’t aware of what the Web of Life and Destiny is from past Spider-Man research, it is a cosmic (potentially sentient) thing that can teleport one or more Spider-Man variants to different fictional alternate universes, and that’s only one thing it can do. It in all technicality, is actually this severely complicated idea, of which I have been trying to comprehend slightly for years. It is really very important and has many other different meanings and abilities, so to even try to describe it in a few sentences is beyond difficult by any standards. I’ll just further include that, I’ll be glad I was doing extra research before going through this comic, because even with the research I’ve already done on so much stuff even related to Peter Parker, or Miles Morales’ character, trying to understand everything that happens here with a one-time read through literally requires immense concentration and mental focus to no extent.

The experience I got to have reading this was worth it, because this is not a story to be missed by any means, and if I was to include in any more I will automatically be running the risk of potential spoilers. Without putting too many extra details in, there are quite a few fight scenes, and I’ll also again add in that the years, places, and countries will change to give an example for how difficult this could be to understand with less knowledge of Spider-Man characters in past comic stories, besides the movies. If you are a massive fan of Spider-Man like I am, reading this will be an absolute total joy, also from the additional references that are thankfully written in in so many various scenes, so it was also a bonus to get to read that as well. There’s also loads of Spider-Man variants that appear too, some of which are far from typical ones, so there was definitely a ton of creative effort just put in. Every page has a massive amount of detail, so the only way I can describe the quality of the artwork overall is that it technically reads more like a movie at times from how well it is actually carefully drawn.

The plot lines that are intertwined are all there for a reason too, everything that takes place happens for several occurrences later on to set them up as well. Miles has to comprehend a ton of many different things he is not even slightly accustomed to thinking about, given as any story that explores the multiverse concept can do that to someone. There are a lot of new ideas that I didn’t even think it was possible to read about for a really long time, so I’m glad I got to in the first place. This story was just so worth it to read when I completed it, as I was waiting for when I could completely understand and know what was going to happen, as the cover even looks complex in itself, as the story definitely was too. I would recommend this to major fans of Spider-verse, as it is also totally alright if you can’t understand everything in this comic, since this is more on the extraordinarily creative complicated side of Spider-Man stories that I have ever read. Every page is still so very much worth it, since I literally couldn’t stop reading this for even a second, and will remember it for a while.

[Reeds Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good. Miles Morales gets flung around the Spider-Verse helping out various alternate Spider-People.

This really doesn't have the right to be as good as it is. It's nuts.

The story is bookended by two issues that set up and end the overarching plot, and the middle issues are literally filler diversions, but they're all so damn good that I can't help but love them.


Rebuilding the Web Of Life and Destiny is a good idea for a mini-series since it opens the Spider-Verse back up after having it fall away during Spider-Geddon, which now is being explored again by Dan Slott and Mark Bagley in the adjectiveless “Spider-Man” title.

The issues and characters sandwiched in the middle of this book see Miles Morales mix it up to save the day alongside Spider-Ma’am (always great seeing Aunt May kicking arse).

Peni Parker and Sp//dr's world for another Kraven/Mr Sinister inspired story that ends on a cliffhanger and practically begs to be revisted. Give us more of these characters please Marvel!

A cowboy Spidey is up next and is perfectly fine and quick witted as all great Spider-Men are.

The final team up sees the return of Spider-Man Noir and some beautiful artwork by Juan Ferreyra who’s art style is perfect for this characters world.

The ending sees the return of Annie May aka Spiderling (from the Renew your vows books) to bring this story to a close.

The only downside is that other than Spidey Noir nothing much has materialised from this series.

Overall a fun story. Not universe altering (although it is Spider-Verse altering) Recommend for any fans of the Spider-verse.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not to be confused with the 'Spider-Verse' crossover, this book actually takes place after 'Spider-Geddon'. Miles Morales is pulled out of his reality by Spider-Zero, who needs his help to rebuild the Web of Life and Destiny by finding the lost Spiderling, the Patternmaker. He then has to skip across universes, helping and being helped by other Spider-Men and -Women.

If the synopsis I've given above seems a bit of a mess, that's because that's exactly what this book is. I've not read the original 'Spider-Verse' or 'Spider-Geddon', but I'm familiar enough with what goes on in them to have confident dipping into this sort-of-sequel.
Unfortunately, instead of a cohesive story of Miles passing through alternate worlds on his over-arching quest, this is little more than an excuse to very-briefly revisit some famous alternate spider-people and also throw a few more variants (to use the MCU parlance) into the mix. The plot that's supposed to unite all of this is laid out at the beginning of the book and very quickly resolved at the end, without impacting the stories in-between very much at all.

I'll grant that it was nice to revisit the likes of Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Punk (not to mention meeting a Carnage version of Aunt May) but that's probably not enough to make this messy jumble worth your time.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma nova aventura multidemensional dos Homens-Aranha da Teia do Destino. Depois do sucesso que foi a animação Homem-Aranha: no Aranhaverso era certo que a marvel iria capitalizar mais em cima destes personagens. É verdade. Depois que a primeira aventura do Aranhaverso focou em Peter Parker e a segunda aventura, Aranhgedom, focou no Doutor Octopus no corpo de Peter, o Aranha superior, este terceiro encadernado tem como Miles Morales o protagonistas desta aventura chamada Aranha-Zero. Depois que Teia do Destino foi destruída e o Tecelão fi morto outras pessoas tiveram que suprir seu lugar. A Aranha-ero é a nova guardião da Teia do Destino, mas parque ela renasça outra vez, é preciso enviar Miles em diversas relaidades e se encontrar com alguns Homens e Mulheres-Aranha para cumprir este feito. Primeiro ele encontra a Tia May Aranha, a Madame Aranha, depos Peni Parker, a AR//nha, depois o Pistoleiro Aranha e, por fim um renascido Homem-Aranha Noir. Tudo isso para restaurar a Teia do Destino. Mas, na verdade sdabemos que é uma tentativa da Marvel de apresnetar mais Arnhas e lucrar com isso. Uma aventura bem divertidinha, que vai ganhando mais fôlego conforme vamos avançando no encadernado. Quem curtiu a animação deve gostar também da HQ.

[B. P. Rinehart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't say that I am too familiar with Marvel Comics' Spider-Verse stuff. I only read the parts of the original Spider-Verse-stuff that concerned Miles Morales. I skipped the sequel Spider-Geddon (though I may read a tie-in written by Christopher J. Priest). This is a small side story a la Rogue-One concerning Mile Morales. IT is okay and decent-enough on my own for small kids or people who know nothing about Spider-Man, but for me it was rather just ok. I would love something like this starring Miles that had some stronger writing on it, but besides what Eve L. Ewing is doing with him in the Champions Outlawed crossover event I will not be holding my breath. Everybody wants to write him, but like with Wonder Woman few people know how to.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Spider-Zero has summoned Miles Morales to help fix the Web of Life and Destiny. Recently regrown and spun by the Spider-God, and attended to a fixed by Spiderling (Annie May Parker), Zero needs help because Annie has gone missing! Slinging him around the Multiverse:
- Helping Spider-Ma'am put down evil Peter, Ben and May-Carnage
- Saving SP//dr from Kraven and Sinister
- Riding along with Ponderosa Parker to stop a rampage from El Scorpion
- Tracking a Spider Idol with Spider-Man Noir and getting it away from Madame Swarm

... eventually leads back to the Web itself where Annie is trapped in a knot in the web, which they help her out of.
It's good to see Miles interact with the Spiders we met back in Spider-Verse. I really enjoyed the one shot art/story paragraph combo that happened between each issue... almost like anyone can make their own Spider.
Overall a fun story. Not universe altering.
Recommend.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects Spider-Verse (2019) issues #1-6

I was surprised when I noticed that I had never logged this collection as "read" on Goodreads. I read it a little over a year ago, in the original comic book issue form, so I'm not positive exactly what date I finished it on (I gave an estimate for the "date finished"). Taking this confession a step further, I can't remember exactly how I felt about this book. I double dipped, and purchased this as a collection, on top of the issues that I already owned, so I just flipped through the pages to jog my memory. It looked pretty cool, and I can see that it is a follow-up to some other "Spider-Verse" stories that came before it. Annie Parker from "Renew Your Vows" is in this book. I'll cautiously list this as a 4-star read, though I'll have to read it again to be sure.

[Robert 'Rev. Bob' · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s nice to see some alternate spider-heroes again, but the “main plot” to this series is practically nonexistent. It serves the very basic function of sending Miles to different universes for single-issue adventures, but none of those really do much in terms of connecting to the main plot. In short, it’s an anthology series with a framing device. Not bad if you want that, but if you’re looking for something more cohesive – like Spider-Geddon or the original Spider-Verse story – you’re going to be disappointed.

I guess you could say this is more like taking the Edge of Spider-Verse books and dropping a scrawny plot arc onto them. Not inherently a bad idea, but certainly not what I thought I was getting.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty cool story and my favorite part is that they allowed fans to submit their own spider-men and they are now canon to the Marvel Universe. That is probably one of the greatest things for any fan to have, knowing that their own characters are canon. The story is ok as Miles go through the multiverse helping various Spider heroes with various issues. I originally thought this was going to be a spider man version of Dark Nights Metal as we do get to see some evil spider men and that would have been cool but it really isn't but I am happy that they did not bring back the Inheritors as the villains as their really is not a villain just a collection of stories in the multiverse.

[Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 ⭐️

This was fun but not very deep. The story fairly simple and Quantum Leap inspired as referenced in issue #4. Easy to read and traveling to the different universes was a ton of fun.

One of the best parts was the inclusion of fan made Spider-Verse characters. An easy recommendation if you have so much of heard a Spidersona.

The art was hit and miss depending on the issue but nothing terrible. Issues #3 and #5 clear standouts with art by Dike Ryan and Juan Ferreyra respectively, both issues having amazing art and atmosphere.

If you’re looking for fun read, new spider-people, and love Spider-man lore then sit down for an hour or two and give it a try.

[Sam Whale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun enough read. While I think the overall plot was incredibly weak, using it as an excuse for Miles to have a bunch of Marvel Team Up style one of adventures with various other spider people was really great. The Team ups with Spider-Man Noir and Web Slinger (Cowboy Spider-Man) were especially excellent as I loved seeing more of their worlds and rogues galleries and they both had a great dynamic with Miles too. The team up with Spider-Maam and Peni Parker were good fun too so it's really the wider plot mostly covered in the first and last issues which let the book down.

[Qamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent job reading Spider-Verse: Spider-Zero,  by Jed MacKay. We’re beaming with pride. “You have learned about courage, you have learned about difference; and today you’ve also learned a very important lesson: You need to stick together.” In short, the story tells us that heroes might be literally anybody and can do pretty much anything if they partner with others You can take this lesson and learn to be brave, value the unique skills that others bring to the table, and cooperate with others when trying to reason something out.
Love,
Mom and Dad

[Arian Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. Spider-men from different dimensions getting visited by Miles Morales, joining their fun in action is exciting to read but does not create much depth story-wise. Miles looking for Spider-Zero is definitely thrilling and the things he does while travelling through dimensions is fun and all but the climax is where it does not bring me any closure at all. The ending feels a bit abrupt and begs the question whether it was satisfactory or not as it turns a bit chaotic (not in a good way). It makes me want more as it feels rushed in the end.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first quarter had me confused because they were talking about multiverse and I was so lost. But the stories were great and the art in some of the stories were top tier. When it said that artists from all over the world were being featured I got excited but then was disappointed that many of the art was from the United States with such a small part from other countries. But again, the art was amazing.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. I pretty much always enjoy a Spider-Man comic, but as is usual for me, the Spider-Verse multiverse breaks my brain and leaves me confused, which does slightly lower the overall effect. Purchased this one specifically for a single character, though I may have missed that character’s part in the story. (I’ll have to double-check with the source of my original information, in case I made an error there.)

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really good trip through the spider-verse. Glad to see some favorites back and the introduction of some canon Spidersonas. I especially loved Sun Spider, and V.

The return of Spider-Man Noir has been a long time coming. Dropping in on Spider Punk and Web Slinger was awesome too!

It's a quick read. I do think the inciting events are kind of weak. It all boils down to just having Miles take a swing through the spider-verse. A fun romp, and a quick read.

[Justin McFarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming between “Into the Spider-Verse” and “Across the Spider-Verse” movies, this is the TPB collection of a 6-issue Miles Morales Spider-Verse series. Jed MacKay writes 3 of the 6, and the alternate web-slinger heroes are colorful, fun, and powerful. Love the Mad Max-inspired Lord Spider, and Aunt May’s Spider-Ma’am. The fan Spider-creations / Spidersonas are also terrific, and a few of them appear in issue 6. Carries the spirit of the animated movies on every page.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 100/101 for 2024. I gave this five stars partly because I'm feeling generous. Today is Stan Lee's birthday and the legacy of Spider-Man lives on! This was a fun book to read on The Man's big day! But it also got five stars because it really had everything I love in comics - wise-cracking/never-say-die heroes, multiverse shenanigans, positive fandom contributions, the whole arachno-kit-and-kaboodle.

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One-shots are rarely very successful with me. Short, mostly throw away and gimmicky stories that just wrap up whenever it makes sense from an issue standpoint. Some good art, some funny moments (I did like learning more about Spider Noir who I've actually never been very interested in before this). Anyways, this is mostly forgettable, if still a little fun for big fans of the Spider-verse.

[MrColdStream · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an average volume at best. There's not much of a story and the climax was pretty meh, but the Western and Noir issues were great. I also like the way different artists brought the different realities alive and seeing some of the reader-contributed Spidersonas at the end of every issue was a nice treat.

[Dorn Permenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, I incorrectly assumed Spider-Zero implied this was the first Spider-Verse series. I really enjoyed some of the worlds Miles was dragged through. Others, not so much. There were some moments I genuinely giggled but the duller spots seemed to outweigh those. Not sure what I was expecting but, this doesn't make me want to go to the beginning as I'd originally sought to do.