The Spider #15
Written by David Liss
Illustrated by Ivan Rodriguez
Colored by Vinicius Andrade
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Covers by Colton Worley
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: October 23, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99
The law is not only after the masked vigilante known as the Spider, but The Spider #15 opens with the Spider’s alter-ego, Richard Wentworth, a wanted man!
Furious about his situation, Richard sinks even deeper into his vigilante persona. As the Spider targets members of the Red Hand gang, he also transforms his one-man-struggle from a battle for justice, into a half-drunken journey of revenge.
Once again David Liss brings us a strong character-driven story. His iteration of the Spider is a dark hero in New York City, but one that is readily relatable as he takes out thugs who would otherwise injure the innocent. But with this issue, the Spider’s quest for justice becomes more unhinged. Not only has he lost much of his fortune, but he’s also lost most of his friends.
This issue is setting up some major repercussions for our hero. In fact, David Liss seems to have shifted the Spider from a violent hero, into an anti-hero of sorts (which Liss does so with plenty of wit in his script).
Ivan Rodriguez brings a strong sort of “modern-noir” flair to the title, which fits this pulp-hero’s book well. My only qualm with Rodriguez’s art is the roundness of his street-clothes characters. They just seem slightly off. But, when the Spider is suited up and pummeling/face-shooting bad guys, Rodriguez brings his A-game!
There’s been a recent resurgence across in comics to breathe new life into pre-WW2 comic characters. Some work. Some don’t.
The Spider doesn’t just work…its stories stand toe-to-toe with anything else on the racks.
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