Spider-Man - Life Story #1 // Bonus Review
If great responsibility comes with great power, what responsibility do the powerful have during a morally-questionable war? Chip Zdarsky and the legendary Mark Bagley, with inker John Dell, colorist Frank D’Armata, and letterer Travis Lanham from Virtual Calligraphy, examine this question against the backdrop of the start of the Vietnam War, and, free from continuity constraints, carve a shocking path that still feels perfectly in line with its Silver Age cast. While the stunning cliffhanger has made headlines, the true success of the book is how quintessential these incarnations of the character feel, in no small part to the excellent choices of the art team.
Chip Zdarsky, using the ambiguous moral grounds for US involvement in the civil war in Vietnam, pushes Spider-Man and other Marvel icons in shocking ways, while staying true to the question of what “great responsibility” really means. Peter, set against not only the looming conflict but also the revelations of Norman Osborn’s double identity, is forced to make difficult choices that stand in stark contrast to the classic stories of the era, yet never feels inauthentic. This allows the story to feel both universal to the character and totally fresh.
Of course, it helps that Zdarsky has Mark Bagley on pencils. Bagley is one of the most famous Spider-Man artists working today, as he was both a long-running artist on the character in the ‘90s and had a record-breaking streak on Ultimate Spider-Man with Brian Bendis in the ‘00s. For many, he is the artist to draw Spider-Man, so having him pencil this fresh-yet-classic look at the character is an inspired choice. He excels at all elements of the character, from the bombastic superhero action to the out-of-costume drama of Peter’s civilian life. His pencils are complemented by clear, clean inks from John Dell and fantastically controlled colors by Frank D’Armata. D’Armata’s coloring gives the book an understated feel that helps sell the period-drama quality of the work, while still knowing when to hit readers with bright, vivid colors. It all gives the book exactly the right tone, making it feel both timeless and modern.
“Spider-Man - Life Story” has the potential to be a classic for Marvel, and it’s not hard to imagine it being a contender for the Eisners and other comic awards this year. A lot will depend on the execution down the line, but with a book firing on all cylinders like this, that hardly seems like it’ll be a problem. Don’t miss out on what may go down as a modern classic.
Grade: A+
