Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 – Justice Is Served

With The Lexicon back in the hands of New York’s criminal underground, Spider-Man freed the Punisher from Mr. Negative’s mental control. Now free from Mr. Negative’s control and safe after almost being sacrificed for Mr. Negative to become NYC’s new Kingpin, Frank Castle is in charge of The Lexicon… and he’s got some ideas.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Marcus To
Color Artist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Phil Jimenez
Cover Color Artist: Alex Sinclair

Writing

Megan: Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 picks up right where the last issue left off. Frank Castle, AKA The Punisher, is no longer under Mr. Negative’s control and is now on a mission of his own. Grampa Bo is terrified for his grandson, Donnie, as he’s deep into Mr. Negative’s circle and is one of his Inner Demons. Things are getting crazier and crazier, with the stakes being higher than ever, and the Avengers aren’t there to assist Spider-Man. Mr. Negative’s control reaches new victims, but we are graced with a new hero.

Something I’ve always appreciated is that Dan Slott has the uncanny ability to pack so much into one issue and make it flow perfectly. Spider-Man is faced with quite a few different problems, whether it’s the Punisher or helping out the Avengers, and it all feels very evenly paced. This issue was definitely a turning point for a couple of characters, and Slott gives us just enough to have our minds spinning with theories. Donnie and his grandfather have much more of a presence in this issue, and seeing how they’ve been personally hit with Mr. Negative’s villainous ways makes me very excited for what’s to come. It makes me especially excited now that this run has been extended!

Shawn: What a spectacular issue. This story hit the gas right out of the gate, with Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 jumping right in. Throughout this series, Dan Slott has perfectly captured the balance of action and humor, and this issue is no exception to that rule. Amidst all the chaos caused by Mr. Negative and The Punisher, there are still moments of Peter’s signature wit and humor, as well as that of some of the Avenger guest stars.

Slott has the spectacular ability to craft and weave a compelling narrative yet still leave you wanting more. One thing you can always count on is that you’re going to get everything out of the comic you paid for, plus some, and still be ready for the next issue. That is absolutely the case with Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5, as we get a chance to see what happens with Castle in control of The Lexicon, but Slott also tosses in some memorable twists.

Art

Megan: Marcus To, Alex Sinclair, and Joe Caramagna brought a lot of heat to the pages of Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 which is unsurprising given the impossibly high quality we’ve seen in this un so far. Marcus To brings dramatic and beautiful linework that highlights the action of the story. I really appreciate how To is able to have the characters practically tell the story themselves through their facial expressions and body language. This shows especially well when Frank and Spider-Man come into contact.

If you were unfamiliar with Alex Sinclair’s talents, then this is the comic that’ll show you the way. The coloring work is pristine! Vibrancy in all the right places, darker tones that bring together the nighttime missions, and an explosive array of colors that make you feel part of the action. Travis Lanham nails the high emotions of the story in the characters’ dialogue. You can feel the Punisher’s anger, the worry of Grampa Bo, and even the desperation of Mr. Negative with ease.

Shawn: Marcus To, Alex Sinclair, and Joe Caramagna rocked it on this issue. I felt like Marcus To, in particular, did a really good job with the line work. One thing I’ve always loved about street-level stories is the ability to make the city feel like a living, breathing character, and To does that particularly well in this issue. The city, from the trees to the skyscrapers, feels vibrant and alive.

Of course, part of that feel is from the spectacular coloring from Alex Sinclair. I love the way that Sinclair is able to capture the classic feel of characters like Spider-Man and Punisher while also making their look feel updated and refreshed. Sinclair get to run the spectrum on this issue from the darkest of hues to bright pops of color and everyone seems well placed. Joe Caramagna continues to do spectacular work ensuring consistent lettering across the characters. The colorization and placement of lettering for Spider-Man’s narration make it easy to follow and an enjoyable part of the story.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 9/10 – Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a comic run you DON’T want to miss out on. The action is fantastic, the characters are compelling, and the storytelling is immaculate! The fifth issue proves that so much has happened, but there’s much more to come!

Shawn: 10/10 –Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 makes it easy to see why this series was bumped into ongoing status. Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day provides a fun and fresh look at Spider-Man while holding tightly to all the things that make the character one you fall in love with.

Overall Grade: 9.5 / 10

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