Spider-Boy #6: So You’re Now a Humanimal

Bailey Briggs and his best friend Christina Xu have been captured by Madam Monstrosity, the woman who created Spider-Boy. But what does the mad scientist have planned for the young Spider-Boy? Spider-Boy #6 (written by Dan Slott with art by Paco Medina, Walden Wong, and Julian Shaw and colors by Erick Arciniega and Fer Sifuente-Sujo) answers this question and also explores exactly what life as a Humanimal is like. The issue opens with Spider-Boy chained up and forced to watch Madame Monstrosity splice Christine’s genes with a pigeon. After the process is successful, Christine (now resembling a human-sized pigeon) sits down to watch a “So You’re Now a Humanimal!” short film to introduce her to what her new life is like. When the video ends, Christine finds herself transported to the Stillwell Farm, where she must conduct farm labor with other Humanimals. This sequence is absolutely fantastic and adds to the campiness of this comic. It’s a creative way to add plot narrative and the art in the video from Julian Shaw and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo is perfect for the format. The video even plays the famous “let’s all go to the lobby” clips that play before movies.

Meanwhile, Spider-Boy does his best to escape and save Christine, but Madame Monstrosity reveals her real scheme: Spider-Boy must tell her how to make everyone remember him in order to be with his mother. It’s a compelling plot, which came at the right time as I was beginning to ask how well Madame Monstrosity’s plan holds up. The focus on found family in this arc is really interesting and feels like an allegory for queerness in a unique way. This is expanded upon with the rise of Boy-Spider in this arc, who is a monstrous version of Spider-Boy. The fear of Bailey Briggs having the world find out the Humaninal he really is and hating him for it feels like a parallel to the fear of coming out. Having Spider-Boy’s mother be revealed in this issue and not wanting to be associated with him reflects this theme and makes the arc even more emotional. I also really like Madame Monstrosity as a villain for Spider-Boy because she is campy and quirky. Throughout the issue, she is telling jokes and puns while executing her devious plot, making her an entertaining mad scientist.

The art in this issue is incredible per usual, but what has really been a standout in the Spider-Boy ongoing is the colors. Every issue in this ongoing has been exceptionally colorful, and the design of Spider-Boy’s suit is striking and feels age-appropriate for a pre-teen superhero. The action sequence in this issue is really great with dynamic poses and emotional character faces. Paco Medina, Walden Wong, and Erick Arciniega do an amazing job of creating a colorful and lively world for Spider-Boy.  Each issue is a feast for your eyes and this issue is no exception.