Dark Web #1

Spider Man Crawlspace

Guys, my real grade for this is a flat out D-. There is nothing about this that I want to read more of. I preferred Covid over this stinking pile of joy. The big saving grace for this is that I only paid $.99 for it since I had some digital credit from Amazon for agreeing to delayed shipping on some Christmas gifts (yes! Digital credits can be applied to Comixology!). However, just to mess with those who made me write this, I’m putting this grade up in big letters as the OFFICIAL CRAWLSPACE GRADE FOR DARK WEB #1: A+

ComicBook.com

2022 is the year that proved Marvel Comics to be the dominant publisher of quality superhero events. In the wake of the masterful Judgment Day, it provides a crossover modeled upon one of its all-time best and delivers a first issue that suggests it is fully capable of setting the bar for a modern "Inferno." With years of thrilling character work climaxing in a hellish vision of Christmas on Manhattan and many of the best creators at Marvel Comics involved in what's still to come, Dark Web #1 promises readers the gift of another spectacular crossover this holiday season.

But Why Tho?

Dark Web #1 is a celebration of the past whilst exploring the present. It may not be entirely welcoming to new readers but it is rife with callbacks and reunions.

The Super Powered Fancast

The Story: Wells creates an entertaining and tension filled story in this first issue. Both Ben and Madelyne have some interesting and compelling personal grievances and I like seeing how they plan to address them in this series and with the people involved within it. I like seeing Spider-Man teaming up with the X-Men and the surprises in this issue have me excited to see what happens next. The Art: Kubert delivers some beautifully detailed and exciting art throughout the issue. The visuals are fun and entertaining and deliver on the tone of the story brilliantly.

Comic Watch

This issue is a great way for non-Spider-Man readers to test the waters for the crossover and offers fans of Wells's non-Spidey works a place to jump on for this clone story.

Graphic Policy

Dark Web #1 is a solid start. While I was interested in the event, I’m now excited to see where it all goes with some unexpected directions and a nice focus on horror, the holidays, and the characters themselves. It packs a lot in and does an impressive job of balancing things. Even if you haven’t been keeping up, this issue will get you what you need and get you pumped for what’s to come.

AIPT

Dark Web #1 kicks off what should be an exciting exploration of two broken clones who want to feel regular and respected again. I can't say the story is all that deep or that it probes its characters, but it certainly brings an unmistakably 1990s Marvel vibe. It also does the very '90s thing of bringing characters rarely together into one crossover, which is exciting as we will likely get unconventional moments and new twists and turns for our favorite characters. Dark Web is a fun escapist nightmare that thoroughly weaves in superhero theatrics.

Comics Nexus by Inside Pulse

An action-packed issue that did have to set-up the event, but did so in a way that didn’t feel text heavy yet still advance the plot. Solid art. Intrigued by what’s next.

Weird Science Marvel Comics

Dark Web #1 kicks off the supernatural event with new alliances, demonic attacks on NYC, and quickly spiraling chaos. The art is excellent, and there are a few interesting developments in this issue to hold your attention, but the villains’ plan doesn’t seem fully formed, and the collaboration between the villains doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Geek'd Out

Events are an increasingly hard sell in the comic book industry with the sheer amount of moving parts required to follow them to completion —I’ve covered quite a few of them here— but one thing I’ll say about Dark Web #1 is that it left me interested to see what happens next, and I’m not really much of a Spider-Man obsessive. Zeb Wells is always a writer worth following and his script here keeps things moving at a clip, while Adam Kubert’s art is incredibly distinctive, favoring stylization over realism.

COMICON

This event kick-off is an interesting and pretty launch. Unfortunately, it has some faults in the storytelling that drag it down.

Comic Book Revolution

Dark Web #1 is largely a slow and boring read. The story never moves with a sense of urgency. There is very little action. Instead, this issue is just Zeb Wells moving all the numerous chess pieces into place. It appears that this big event will not really kick off in earnest until Amazing Spider-Man #15.