The end of the Spider-Verse is nigh in the latest chapter of the prequel anthology Edge of Spider-Verse. Madame Web and Arana are swinging across 
the multiverse, recruiting more Spider-Totems to prepare for an as-yet unknown enemy. Much like the previous chapters, this issue is a bit of a mixed bag but apart from a couple stale kernels, this is a quality assortment.
We begin with Pavitr Prabhakar, aka Spider-Man India, a name he does not hold in very high regard. Addressing the audience through his internal monologue, revealing a superpower shared by few others in the Marvel Universe: breaking the fourth wall! It’s a weirdly meta-approach to a character who’s been around since the first Spider-Verse event but hasn’t gotten the development or respect he deserves. Writer Nikesh Shukla provides some much-appreciated personality to the youthful Pavitr, although the lack of dialogue does result in a few awkward lines and jokes that fall flat. Where this chapter truly succeeds is in the art. Each page is handled by a different artistic team and showcases Pavitr battling various enemies across the multiverse, including Gorilla Kingpin, Cosmic Dr. Doom, and Mecha-Rhino. It’s exactly the type of fun, stylistic approach that this series has been lacking.
The biggest draw of this issue is the introduction of the Night-Spider. Already the Black Cat of Earth-194, Felicia Hardy undergoes a transformation that puts her at odds with authorities and, well, herself. Written by Dan Slott, this origin story is a fun romp that delivers a much different hero, one who eschews the whole power and responsibility notion for her own gain and amusement (for a while, at least). Artist Sumeyye Kesgin has a kinetic, animated style that serves the story perfectly. If there’s any weakness here, it’s that the Night-Spider design is just kinda…meh. Her look certainly fits in with the likes of Silk and Ghost-Spider, but Felicia is a character who was born to stand out, regardless of which world she’s from. So while she’s no Spider-Gwen, Night-Spider proves to be a fun addition to the ever-growing cast of totems and her relationship with Jean DeWolff is a dynamic worth exploring, assuming either survive what’s coming.
In the final, and perhaps strongest chapter, Sakura Spider makes her Marvel comics debut, having already appeared in Viz Media’s “Deadpool: Samurai” manga. While the teenage Hida Haruka’s backstory and abilities have much in common with Peter Parker’s own, the differences and emotional beats manage to keep her otherwise familiar origin story seem fresh and engaging. Rather than simply taking a manga-esque approach, the creative team of Sanshiro Kasama and Hikaru Uesugi go all in with a story that is 100% manga, despite the choice to tell the story from left-to-right. The art is just outstanding and Sakura Spider’s design is incredibly fun, if not a tad derivative. Of any of the Spiders highlighted this ish, Sakura Spider certainly has the most potential for a spin-off but hopefully in a more traditionally Eastern fashion.
EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #3
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Credits
- Writers: Nikesh Shukla, Dan Slott, Sanshiro Kasama, Zack Davisson
- Artists: Mark Bagley, David Baldeon, Pacco Medina, Gerardo Sandoval, Abhishek Malsuny, Sumeyye Kesgin, Hikaruh Uesugi
- Colorists: Edgar Delgado, Israel Silva, Andrew Crossley, Erick Arciniega, Brian Reber
- Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
- Publisher: Marvel Comics
