Rhino crashes the party to stomp out Spider-Punk. What secrets lie under the community center that Spidey and his crew call home base? And how does it all tie back to Norman Osborn? Find out in Spider-Punk: Arms Race #2, written by Cody Ziglar, drawn by Justin Mason, colored by Morry Hollowell and lettered by Travis Lanham.
Things begin with Doc Ock reprimanding Justin Hammer over the giant robot’s failure to take out the Spider-Band. Hammer is being nonchalant about it, but Doc Ock ain’t having it. I sense danger in Hammer’s future. This forboding is enhanced by a couple of Justin Mason’s panels and Morry Hollowell’s gritty colors providing a close-up of Doc Ock’s glasses and evil grin.
Back at the Spider-Base medbay, Riri is recuperating after the Spider-Band’s encounter with the giant robot. Things literally go sideways presentation-wise as this particular page is turned on its side. It’s awkward if you’re reading digitally, but print readers will get a kick out of it.
Anyway, the Spider-Band is musing on the giant robot with the help of the Wakandan Design team. They manage to figure out that it was Hammer who made the robot, but not who he is working for. The Spider-Band starts to work out their next plan of attack with the help of T’Challa as the comic cuts back to Doc Ock and Hammer.
As it turns out, my gut was right about Hammer being in danger. Doc Ock has decided he no longer needs him. Doc Ock kills him and then goes after the investors that Hammer was trying to convince in issue #1.
Going back to the Spider-Base, the Spider-Band has traced the giant robot to Hammer’s factory. There is then a fantastic double-page spread of the Spider-Band jumping from a Wakandan airship, with a cute moment of Kamala Khan going “Whee!” and becoming a parachute to hold Mattea Murdock. Shout-out to writer Cody Ziglar giving this Kamala an infectious sense of humor.
When the Spider-Band lands, they come face to face with The Rhino. The next few pages are a fun time, especially after Kamala gets zapped by rhino’s horn. The rest of the Spider-Band rallies and delivers a serious ass-kicking, or rather face-kicking. Mattea and Spider-Punk finishing kick for the win! Travis Lanham’s lettering really pops on this particular page.
As the Spider-Band finally heads into Hammer’s base, the comic ends as they come face to face with Doc Ock. I have a feeling he won’t be as easy to beat as The Rhino. Good luck, Spider-Band!
Buy Spider-Punk: Arms Race #2 here. (Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, ComicsXF may earn from qualifying purchases.)
Latonya Pennington
Latonya Pennington is a freelance contributor whose comics criticism can be found at Women Write About Comics, Comic Book Herald, Newsarama and Shelfdust, among others.
