Mariko Tamaki, Vita Ayala, and Gurihiru bring out the fun factor for Peter Parker and Miles Morales in Spider-Men: Double Trouble #1.
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Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble #1
- Writer:
- Mariko Tamaki, Vita Ayala
- Artist:
- Gurihiru
- Letterer:
- Cory Petit
- Cover Artist:
- Gurihiru
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- 3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-11-30
- Colorist:
- Gurihiru
Marvel’s Double Trouble series has been a goldmine for younger comic book fans seeking comedy and easily accessible storylines. Now, it’s time for the next adventure where the Spider-Men combine their spider-sensibilities in Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble #1. Written by Mariko Tamaki and Vita Ayala, drawn and colored by Gurihiru, and lettered by VC’s Cory Petit, this new issue carries on the tradition and loose continuity from the previous installments in the Double Trouble section of the Marvel Universe.
Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble #1 kicks off with Miles meeting Peter at his apartment, where Venom is the pesky and messy house guest who won’t leave. However, the two Spider-Men aren’t there to deal with the symbiote’s manners and strange smells, as Peter takes Miles out on what he calls “Take Your Sidekick to Work Day.” It doesn’t sit well with Miles to be referred to as a sidekick, but he ignores it as the two of them swing across town to Peter’s hangar, where he needs to drop off an item he repurposed from a supervillain. Yet, this pit stop isn’t as quick as either of them assumed it would be.
Tamaki and Ayala liven up this world with quippy dialogue and hilariously penned situations. This isn’t quite at the wacky level as something like Teen Titans Go! or Steven Universe, but it has a smirking sense of humor that tickles the funny bone with good one-liners and slapstick shenanigans. It feels very much like it’s written to be an accompaniment to a Saturday morning cartoon, and it doesn’t try to shy away from being a good time first and foremost.
Simultaneously, Tamaki and Ayala’s story isn’t bogged down by the intricacy of the main Marvel Universe’s canon. Within the first few pages, it’s abundantly clear what needs to be known to enjoy Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble #1. It doesn’t force the reader to dig through the archives and hire a team of researchers to figure out where this fits in continuity. In fact, it’s such a simple and effective approach that it could do wonders in other books as well.
Gurihiru’s art is equally as playful and fun as the writing. It’s a cartoonish style that’s easy on the eye, appealing to a wider audience, and hardly overwhelming to the reader. The colors pop in a pulsating and enticing way, as all the brightness and explosion of colors complement the entire mood of the book. With so much action and excitement on the pages, though, it’s surprising that Petit isn’t freer here. While there’s nothing wrong with the lettering, there is a lingering feeling that it could have gone a little more over the top for added oomph and emphasis.
Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble #1 continues the excellent work done in the previous Double Trouble books. That said, this is a series that has its built-in niche audience and appeals more to a younger crowd. It’s highly unlikely to usurp or surpass any of the main Spidey titles in the near future.
