The Amazing Spider-Man & Silk: The Spider(Fly) Effect #1
Written By: Robbie Thompson
Art By: Todd Nauck
Release Date: 3/3/16
The Amazing Spider-Man & Silk: The Spider(Fly) Effect is another Marvel infinity book starting it’s print run. Last week I reviewed X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever, a Marvel infinity printed book I really enjoyed. Now let’s see if this Spider-Man and Silk mini series had the same effect.
Plot
Silk takes a break from her undercover super villainy to help Spider-Man defeat a time traveling dinosaur villain named Rex. Spidey and Silk get thrown into a time traveling vortex, which leads Cindy and Peter into their past before they were bitten by the radioactive spider.
Story
Since I really enjoyed X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever last week I was looking forward to reading another Marvel infinity title in print, but overall I was disappointed with the first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man & Silk: The Spider(Fly) Effect.
The time traveling aspect felt very heavy handed, which I probably should have expected since the mini series is called the Spider(Fly) Effect. The story took most of it’s time over explaining the consequences of time travel, and then finally when the issue was finished talking about the rules of time travel the issue was already over.
My biggest problem with the story was that it didn’t feel like it had a lot of substance. Silk and Spider-Man run into a villain, they fight the villain, they time travel, they run into more villains, they fight those villains, and then comes the predictable Spider-Man cliffhanger.
Personally, I would have rathered seen this team up explore more of Spider-Man and Silk’s relationship. Since they had a pretty weird one when Silk was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man a few years ago. That doesn’t mean they won’t explore more of their relationship in future issues, but I wish we saw more of it in this first issue.
Art
The artwork felt a bit rushed, especially in the beginning of the issue where Silk and Spider-Man are running up the stairwells. In this scene the artist gives them small lines for eyes, which gives the vibe of the rushed artwork.
But I will say that the artwork improved as the issue continued. I really enjoyed the time traveling panels where we saw Silk and Spider-Man’s past in the background as they traveled through the time traveling vortex.
I read this printed, but the artwork probably pops a lot more when you read it digitally with Marvel Infinity because the story was meant to be read in a digital format. You probably lose a lot of the magic when you read it printed.
Verdict
I was pretty disappointed with the first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man & Silk: The Spider(Fly) Effect. I hope the second issue focuses more on Silk and Spider-Man’s relationship and less on the time traveling mumbo jumbo.