Fresh from the pages of the recent Spider-verse crossover, Robbie Thompson and Stacey Lee spin the new spider-character Silk a yarn that needs to measure up to well established titles like Amazing Spider-Man. But will Silk #1 live up to people’s expectations or just end up being another forgettable Spider-spin-off?

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Robbie Thompson
Artist: Stacey Lee
Price: £2.49 from Comixology

We drop in to Silk #1 only to witness our heroine beating the snot out of Dragonclaw, who is totally not a Pokemon. The inner-monologuing is very Hawkguy/Spider-Man and there are some genuinely funny moments. Her character has come on in leaps and bounds in one issue than it has in any of Spider-Verse. There’s no more of the “here’s a really cool Spider-Person and oh, they’re dead” and there’s so much more room to flesh out her character in an active role, rather than in the passive manner in Spider-Verse. Thompson has taken a brand new character and given her new life in her own title. If you weren’t keen on Silk in Spider-Verse, check out her debut in her own title and give her another chance.

The only thing that was a little off-putting is how she seems very similar to Peter Parker, perhaps too similar. While yes, they were bitten by the same radioactive spider and so have the same powers, did Cindy really need to get a job at the Daily Bugle and have to report on her own alter ego? In short, no. However, this does feed into the ongoing plot and makes sense in context, grounding her in some sense of reality in comparison to the dimension hopping outlandishness of the Spider-Verse story.

Aside from this, the writing throughout is fabulous. You really get a grip on Cindy’s thought processes and her trying to carve a space out for herself on her journey of self-discovery – something that teenagers will be able to relate to. Thompson has written a really solid young character with a very strong voice. All hail a new role model for teen readers!

Lee’s artwork just continues to build on this. It’s uncluttered, and isn’t afraid of being minimalistic. The flashbacks are presented in muted colours that contrasts so well to the loud, vibrant, unfamiliar present, reflecting just how noisy and cramped Cindy finds life outside the bunker.

If you haven’t read any of the Spider-Verse titles or tie-ins, it would be worth brushing up on events because the ending to the issue won’t make a whole heap of sense. But aside from that, Silk #1 is totally accessible and gives Cindy space to breathe. She’ll fit right into the Spider-family.

“Thompson and Lee take a new addition to the Spider-family and run with it beautifully. Open and honest writing mixed with minimalistic artwork to delight and please.”