I read this middle school graphic novel over the course of 2 days. Day 1 of reading this book, I felt like I was in another world. I didn't understand the slang. The plot seemed to carry over from a previous story I wasn't aware of. Everything felt like it was a big mess.
I don't normally do this, but on Day 2, I found myself dreading having to read more of this book. New characters popped up that Miles Morales knew. But I found myself scratching my head over just who these new folks were. And then we get to the last chapter of the book- and the art was completely different!
For the past 40 years or so in comic book history, if the main artist needs someone to help fill in, the editors will say that such and such artists assisted on pages 5-9 or something like that. There's no such warning in this 2022 Marvel work from Graphix and Scholastic. To have the main villain look completely different in the final act is just jarring. Though I must say, that whomever was behind that last chapter's art did one heck of a job at stylizing the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Only, this one looks like a Miles Morales from another universe!
I choose to read this book because Into the Spider-Verse 2 is coming out soon and I wanted to get into the mood to seeing the film. (The fact that it's Black History Month is just a happy coincidence.) The artwork of main artist Pablo Leon ( captures the visual tone of the first Spider-Verse film amazingly well. Why couldn't the relief artist(s) keep with the vibe that was happening in the other 4 chapters?
It's not until you read the 'About The Author' page at the end of this book that you learn that this is the second volume written by Justin A. Reynolds. I'm thinking that the writer probably continues things from the first book into this volume with unwavering quality. And I probably would have liked this book better had I read the first book, titled Miles Morales: Shock Waves. But nowhere on the cover (front and back), nor inside this book are potential first time readers alerted that this is the second volume in a series until the back of the book!
An unaccounted for line-up change from the Marvel Bullpen. No indication that Stranger Tides is a continuing story. Plus the inclusion of the main villain who is an X-Men and Fantastic Four foe instead of Spider-Man (of any universe) foil! It's strike 3 for this book in my eyes. I've heard that editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski is doing such an awful job that the overall quality of work coming from the House of Ideas is severely lacking. But at least he's not the all-time worst EIC, Axel Alonso. But the rust is really showing on this book.
Young readers should enjoy this book. But only if you let them read Shock Waves first. To not do so will result in a lot of lost readers. There is some fighting. Miles, being around 14 years of age, sneaks out of the house at night to go on patrol as Spider-Man (but then again, when hasn't an adventuresome child in kiddie lit not gone behind mom & dad's back to save the day. I'm looking at you, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.) Stranger Tides for the most part was a wholesome read and there are some excellent sections about family and redemption that parents will love.
Unfortunately, I am not in that category and I think my interest in reading book 1 as well as what happens next is just about at nil.
Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.
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