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| Photo Courtesy of Marvel Comics |
It’s been two years since Nick Spencer took over writing duties for the iconic Marvel hero, Spider-Man, and in that time he’s slowly been introducing readers to his original villain, Kindred. Spencer has shaped Kindred as a diabolical foe for Spider-Man, haunting his dreams and pulling the strings beyond almost every encounter over the last 49 issues. Now, with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (written by Nick Spencer, art by Patrick Gleason), Kindred has finally stepped into the spotlight, making his first direct move against Spider-Man. This issue also serves to reveal the true identity of Kindred, which up until now has been kept a secret, and the truth is sure to delight and pique the interest of Spider-Man fans.
This issue puts Kindred, in all his grotesque horror, on full display. Up until this point he’s mostly just been a nightmare haunting Peter Parker’s dreams, but right from the first page his creepy, centipede-controlling powers are unleashed. Kindred’s design is truly frightening and it will be exciting to see him and Spider-Man battle it out more in the future.
The plot of issue #50 is told in a bit of a disjointed narrative, between Peter seeking out the aid of Doctor Strange (who serves as a great foil to Spider-Man’s happy-go-lucky personality), Norman Osborn recovering from his run-in with Sin-Eater, and a flashback to Spider-Man and The Order of the Web (Miles Morales, Spider-Woman, and other Spider-Friends) in their first encounter with Kindred. It can be a bit difficult to track the timeline, but it does serve to build a great sense of dread with Kindred’s arrival.
Photo Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Patrick Gleason’s art is a true delight here, especially the opening montage of Spider-Man sloppily traveling to Doctor Strange. The physical manifestations of Kindred’s powers are sinister yet beautiful, and while this issue is less action-packed and more focused on world-building and revelations, the art still has energy.
Kindred has certainly been set-up to be worthy of inclusion in Spider-Man’s dynamic cast of villains. Spencer has earned the revelations that take place in this issue, and can now begin telling the story he has been building towards. Jump in to The Amazing Spider-Man now to witness the beginning of a great rivalry for Spider-Man and co.
- Neil Hazel