Spine-Tingling Spider-Man (2023) #1

If you’re tired of all the clone stuff, clap your hands. If you’re tired of all the clone stuff, clap your hands. What’s scarier? A scary clone? Or anything that reminds us of the clone saga? Probably both. Cause the universe sure loves to slap us back. But this is not the story. This is the classic-style prelude to a dark future.

Since this is meant to tingle our Spidey-spines, perhaps this indeed was the right decision.

Get your Spidey blankies and turn out the lights as things take a spooky turn. Because what’s scarier than clones? Your loved ones not-knowing who you are.  Things take a scary and dramatic turn very quickly. Peter has no one to run to and nowhere to go. And, of course, because it is told from Peter’s point of view, you’re right three along for the creepiest subway ride of your life. If you survive the experience. Is our bad guy back from issue 0, or is someone else messing with Peter’s life?

Just once, I’d like to see a comic where everything goes right for Spider-Man. But that is definitely not today, as Peter struggles to make sense of the new status quo without his powers or his support system. Because the second Peter mentions anything good in his life, we all know what will happen next. As with every first issue, there are more questions than answers, and nothing is clearly outlined yet.

The shift in the colors helps transition the space from battle to morning, to creepy evil haunted subway well, and there is a certain stylistic change that really carries the change in tone. Ferreyra does a great job of creating truly creepy entities to haunt our nightmares.  It starts like a stereotypical, brightly colored story that peels away the joy to reveal its creepy, dark, gray interior. The world is upside down. Will anyone ever give Peter Parker a break? Not today.