Edge of Spider-Verse #5

We just saw one SPIDER-VERSE tale get a (well-deserved) solo-story and honestly I think this is a setting that could sustain another one. Alternate universes have always, to me, felt like small pockets of indie comics in the midst of the Big Two as they aren't as tied down by things like massive continuity and a need to go back to the established status quo. There are also some delightfully cheeky references to the very clear inspirations for a lot of the setting and character designs that you don't even need to be terribly eagle-eyed to catch. This is a solid standalone, but what would be truly great is seeing it with the more even pacing of multiple issues. Read Full Review

Edge of Spider-Verse #5 is hands down the best issue of the series, and is sure to please fans of the mecha anime genre. Way, Wyatt, and Herring send off the mini-series with an incredibly enjoyable tale. Leaving SP//dr without it's own ongoing series would be criminal. Read Full Review

While a little less bombastic than what I thought it was going to be, SP//dr is still an amazing entry into the Spider-Verse as well as just a fun tribute to 80s cyberpunk anime. I can only hope Marvel will allow Way to come back and play in the sandbox more in the future. Read Full Review

The Bottom Line: This Edge issue offers just as much of a distinct character, artistic vision, and unique twist on our formula as the better issues of the series. The visual style is of simple but shaky/vibrant lines and large panels that are supplemented by series of smaller ones. It's realism but with a tinge of sadness and of weirdness, presenting a world to the reader without having to hold him/her by the hand. Intriguing and satisfying, it creates a great new character but maybe could have been integrated into the ongoing storyline better. Read Full Review

This is a fantastic issue that introduces an interesting world and character dynamics. It's really too bad it didn't have more time to flesh things out, but for what it's worth it's a great taste and a fun read. Read Full Review

All in all despite the few flaws Edge of Spider-Verse #5 was a fun read and I highly suggest anyone who is a fan of Spider-Man to go and pick up. Anime fans would enjoy this as this is a huge love letter to anime classics. It also leads into the anticipated story Spider-Verse which will have readers excited for it when it comes out this November. Will we see more of Peni Parker anytime soon? Probably, but I'll wait for Spider-Verse to see if she'll make a impact for Marvel to make a new series or mini-series. Read Full Review

Part of the thrill of Edge of Spider-Verse was to provide readers snapshot stories with unique spins on our favorite friendly neighborhood web-slinger. In that regard, Gerard Way and Jake Wyatt absolutely deliver. There's a ton of heart underneath all this energy, and it's got the kind of voice you won't find anywhere else on the stands. While it's unlikely Peni Parker could sustain an ongoing series - largely due to the immense debt it owes to its anime influences - this is an entertaining riff on a time-tested property. Read Full Review

In the end Gerard Way's turn in mainstream comics is a successful one, he and Jake Wyatt combining for some uniquely cool and original stuff. While there's the definite need for more fleshing out of the premise, we're hopeful that Peni and her SP//dr companion will show up again in the not-so-distant future. Read Full Review

Very fun issue. Great art and awesome story. Bring on Spider-Verse! Read Full Review

Given the calibre of other Spider's that have been recruited for this mission, including fan favourite Gwen Stacey, and combined with the fact that Morlun has already proven a more than worthy adversary for almost any Spider One-on-One, "Edge of Spider-Verse" is opening itself up to be a potentially heart-rending run. There will doubtless be casualties and, if Dan Slott and his team of creatives carry on building relationships as quickly and effectively as this one then this crossover is set to carry all the weight that a good Marvel event should do. Read Full Review

This is one crossover/event series that I've been enjoying so far. This issue sets the next part of this event up in an exciting way, and I really can't wait to see these spiders collide. If you've been enjoying the Edge of Spider-Verse books so far, this one will not disappoint. Read Full Review

Despite its lack of a traditional plot, Edge of Spider-Verse #5 succeeds. It leans on its ideas and their visual presentation, giving readers images that they can chew on. For readers and critics preoccupied with story, this may be disconcerting, but I found it to be an appealing stretch of a mainstream superhero comic. There are a lot of appealing factors within a comic besides plot. Read Full Review

Edge of Spider-Verse ends the mini-series on a solid note, with an intriguing look at a new spider-character who will presumably been seen in the upcoming Spider-Verse story. With distinctive artwork and constant action, Edge of Spider-Verse #5 leaves readers looking forward to Spider-Verse in November. Read Full Review

Spider-Verse has given us a ton of different looks, but maybe none so unique as Gerard Way and Jake Wyatt's. Read Full Review

Basically, ‘Edge of Spider-Verse' has done an excellent job in building up excitement for ‘Spider-Verse' and this issue is no different. Gerard Way has created a Spider-Man that was certainly memorable because it's unlike any version of the wall-crawler we've seen before. Judging by the ending of the book, we haven't seen the last of SP//dr either, so I'm looking forward to seeing where Peni pops up next. Read Full Review

But, we do get some great last few pages when a particular version of Spidey from an alternate reality shows up, and it's definitely awesome. The book comes alive and it's too bad it's just for a few pages, because it doesn't save the issue as a whole. At the end of the day, the concept of Peni feels half-formed, like someone pitched a mecha-Spidey and pretty much stopped there. The reason why the Spider-Gwen story worked so well is that it felt like a fully-developed idea, setting and character that we got a snapshot view of in media res. In this issue writer Gerard Way is trying for a similar effect but the core concepts are left too undefined, and with such a departure from the core Spider-Man ideas, readers need a little more to hang on to in order to care. At the end of these issues, if the alternate Spideys are going to play a larger role in the Spider-Verse event, I really have to care about what they do next. Read Full Review

RSnoRSno

Apr 29, 2016

Spider-Evangelion. That's what this book is and I can't believe it exists. It makes my heart happy. The protagonist is adorable, her little spider friend is the cutest spider I've ever seen, and the SP//dr is AMAZING. This story deserves its own series! This was my favorite of the Edge of Spider-Verse run, and I had a smile on my face from start to finish. If I had ONE minor gripe, it would be the fight scene was slightly hard to follow. However, that is not a knock on the artwork at all, and just a general observation of the way the fight is laid out. The art, characters, and tone of this book all get 5 stars from me. SP//dr is one of the coolest character/super hero/mecha designs I have ever seen. If you can only pick up one issue from th is run, make it this one. You won't regret it. more

mrDovydas

Oct 17, 2014

Beautiful. I'd love to see this as an ongoing.

Ultimate Goblin

Nov 10, 2021

I didn't like it. Weak story, arguable art, this version of Spider-Man is bad imo, Mysterio is bad too. And of course they didn't kill her. Nice. It would be better if they killed her and Spider-Man from the issue #3 joined the team instead...