Hey there, web-heads! We’re building toward some big things for Miles Morales, and the end of an era (for better or worse) for Peter Parker. But first, we have a big story that is a step on the way for Brooklyn’s favorite son in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25, written by Cody Ziglar, drawn by Federico Vicentini, colored by Bryan Valenza and lettered by Cory Petit.
When we last saw Miles Morales, he and his girlfriend Tiana Toomes (Starling) were being joined by The Black Panther. Black Panther had been recruited by Misty Knight and Dr. Kwan to help Miles Morales manage his vampire powers and thirst.
In order to do so, Black Panther removes one of his gloves and cuts himself in order to trigger Miles’ vampire thirst and see how controlled it is. It works, as Miles can barely keep himself from launching himself fang first at Black Panther.
The fight that follows is wonderfully enhanced by Corey Petit’s dynamic lettering and Bryan Valenza’s electrifying colors. I particularly like the blue “WHAM!” in one panel as Miles’ venom blast collides with Black Panther’s staff. Thanks to his vampiric powers, Miles Morales can trade blows with Black Panther without breaking a sweat, though the bloodlust is still an issue. Black Panther snaps Miles out of it by slamming him hard into the ground.
After explaining that the combat was a “mystic vitals check”, Black Panther directs Miles to a box, where a new Spider-Man suit is revealed! It looks like a fusion of Black Panther’s suit and Miles’ original suit, due to it being infused with Wakandian tech (particularly Vibranium!). The tech in the suit will help Miles regulate the venom energy inside Miles so that it doesn’t trigger his vampire bloodlust anymore. The impulses are still there, but much fainter.
Meanwhile, The Vulture is tracking his granddaughter Tiana while ruminating on how much he hates Spider-Men. Kudos to Cody Ziglar for writing this perspective in a way that brings Vulture’s menace and twisted love for his granddaughter to light.
As the comic switches back to Miles and co, Black Panther explains that the new suit is only the first step to managing Miles’ vampiric affliction. Black Panther starts to explain that he will have to take Miles somewhere for the rest of the cure, but gets interrupted by the arrival of Vulture.
Misty Knight plans to give Vulture a beatdown with Starling and Miles, but Miles tells them this fight is between him and Vulture. The comic ends as Miles and Vulture prepare for a rematch and I have a feeling it will be much different from the one in the previous issue.
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.
