Edge of Spider-Verse #3 Review

Is this an intriguing outing? Or one that needs to be skipped? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

• What is the secret of Dr. Aaron Aikman, Spider-Man?!

• Who are the villainous Red Eye and Naahmurah? And can Aaron possibly live through Morlun’s arrival?

• Rising star Dustin Weaver (AVENGERS, INFINITY, SHIELD) makes his Marvel Comics writing debut in the most wildly imaginative story of the year!

I have to admit that I’m a sucker for multiple universes and different iterations of familiar pop-culture characters. And as this section of the House of Ideas prepares for what’s coming, another strand in this event’s tangled web gets the spotlight. It’s time to batten down the hatches because something downright evil is preparing not for war but rather extermination.

Dustin Weaver pens the script and there’s no doubt that the talent stands ready to present another version of the infamous wall-crawling menace. Right from the beginning Edge of Spider-Verse #3 focuses squarely on Dr. Aaron Aikman and the threat of Naahmurah. We’re given a text that instantly supports a more tech oriented and serious protagonist but, even without it uttered, he still adhere’s to the same doctrine: “with great power, comes great responsibility.” The overall experience is a thick read that has some predictable plot turns along the way, but the scribe managed to hold my attention with a hero worth rooting for.

The illustrations handed in by Dustin Weaver elevate the quality of this Spider-Man. Each page is lavished with precise details that simple accentuate a world that’s different from the one Peter Parker inhabits. What struck me most was the adherence to a pure cinematic style, that at times bordered on the suspenseful. He made use of the players involved, especially a particular villain that left me with a feeling of dread I haven’t experienced in a rather long time.

Edge of Spider-Verse #3 is a comic book that’s a joy to flip through. It may not be wholly original but it entertains from beginning to end, while still pushing the stakes for what’s to come. Recommended.