Spider-Man & Wolverine #6: Horror on the Train

Following the somewhat disappointing conclusion to the first arc of Spider-Man & Wolverine, the creative team seeks to regain its footing by positioning issue six as a thematic epilogue to the preceding installment’s final attempt at exploring depth through the concepts of power and responsibility, particularly as they pertain to matters of life and death. The effort to frame these stakes beyond the conventional “damsel-in-distress” or bystander scenario is commendable; however, there remains a limit to how effectively such themes can be developed within the confines of such a middling issue.

Much of this installment’s narrative feels functionally repetitive, relying on familiar team-up imagery that lacks the sense of earned camaraderie it strives for. From the routine bar banter to the perfunctory use of Vermin, the issue seems primarily interested in positioning Wolverine as the moral center of the story—a stance that stands in direct opposition to the dynamic tension that makes their partnership so compelling. These characters are at their best when they challenge one another’s worldviews beyond the bounds of comfort, only to converge in pursuit of a shared ideal. Peter’s weary acceptance of Logan’s pragmatic philosophy regarding the act of killing feels discordant, especially when measured against the more engaging, if occasionally overwrought, conflict of the earlier issues. Ultimately, there is little substance to be found here—it serves as a languid addendum to the pacing missteps that undermined the first arc.

That being said, Gerardo Sandoval returns with a strong visual performance, elevating the material through his controlled approach to the exaggerated, nineties-inspired musculature that defines much of superhero art. His restraint pays off in the conversational sequences, where subtle shifts in perspective maintain visual rhythm before the narrative bursts into moments of energetic action. His dynamic paneling and inventive layouts inject a much-needed vitality into an otherwise uninspired script. Yet even Sandoval’s skill cannot fully obscure the creative exhaustion at play. Spider-Man & Wolverine #6 feels less like a culmination of ideas and more like an obligatory afterthought—a technically proficient, visually engaging entry that nonetheless underscores the creative stagnation of a series struggling to justify its continued existence.