Double Feature Review (Dark Web – Mary Jane & Black Cat 01 / Dark Web – Ms. Marvel 01)

With the veil between Earth and the Limbo dimension thinning, the Goblin Queen, Madelyne Pryor, has begun taking advantage of the rift which Ben Reilly has caused. Within New York City various inanimate objects start to morph into demonic beasts of prey. Through the streets construction cranes become tentacled machines of death. The Daily Bugle newsstand erupts in a swarm of razor tooth bats made of the evening sports edition. Over in Jersey City, Kamala Khan’s mosque has transformed into a walking juggernaut bent on destroying everything it can trample.

Oscorp Tower, robotic lab division, the newest intern is conducting a research experiment with her fellow science student Arjun. Kamala is about to view a new specimen under an Oscorp microscope when Arjun begins questioning her about a possible date. Badshah is in concert this weekend and it would be a perfect time for a little romance. Kamala has other ideas on the subject. As she places the slide under the optics every machine and robotic apparatus in the research bay begins to glow with a blue light. Scientists and interns both look around as things begin to move on their own. The microscope in front of Kamala lunges at her face with sharp barbed jaws. A giant enlarged fist swings down and smashes the equipment. It’s time for Ms. Marvel to act!

Manhattan – New York, FBI’s most wanted cat burglar, Felicia Hardy has just swung up onto Mary Jane’s apartment building. The demon attacks are getting more fierce and her friend must be protected. A quick call to Ironman gets a swarm of wild/hunt drones flying to Mary Jane’s address. Unfortunately the eta is over ten minutes long. As Black Cat swoops down towards a large hole ripped into the side of her friend’s apartment a shock hits her cat senses. Mary Jane, she has super powers!

Red energy crackles from Mary Jane’s hands and slams into the demonically possessed kitchen appliances jumping towards her. Each construct crashes against the dining room wall and explodes in a hail of metal shards and circuit boards. Black Cat calls out in a mocking tone as she wants every detail on her friend’s powers, and now. Before the two can exchange even a quick hello a large metal girder smashes a new hole in the crumbling building. Then a tentacle of possessed water whips towards Mary Jane, grabs her by the waste, and pulls her through the breach. Outside a towering demonic spider beast has been morphed from one of the city’s water towers. It now is sentient and looking to kill. Mary Jane and Felicia Hardy have their work cut out for them.

Will Chasm and the Goblin Queen enact their revenge before other parties in Limbo take notice?  Does Kamala ever get her date with her hunky new lab partner? How many times does Mary Jane have to spin the wheel to get out of her bad luck? Collect the series to find out!

So I picked up two of the Dark Web books this week because I’m a fan of Ms. Marvel and I loved the cover art on both issues. I was going to wait to read these, but I wanted to check out the new Limbo story arch and I’m glad I didn’t put these in the read later pile. Both of these issues were outstanding for one-shot books. I was a little confused at first which one to read first but it really doesn’t seem to matter in this case.

The two issues are happening side by side (within hours of each other), but Kamala doesn’t interact with Mary Jane or Felicia Hardy as of yet. The three will meet at the very end but I don’t want to spoil the ending. Let’s just say things get a little heated up around them. 

The art is amazing in both books. I love it when crossover events have similar art styles because, for me, it makes the events more engaging. Vincenzo Carratu and Francesco Mortarino make the world come alive with the wide action shots and flowing scenes. 

I enjoyed the writing as well, but I have an issue with Marvel. How many books do we have to read to get through this one? In the back of the Mary Jane & Black Cat comic there are eighteen books to buy just in December, January, and February alone. That’s a lot of moolah to be investing for the kids. I might be waiting until Marvel releases this in trade paperback form before I continue reading the Dark Web story.

I’m giving Ms. Marvel four out of five stars. Mary Jane & Black Cat gets five out of five stars simply due to the extra content and Belasco’s skin suit. Yes, Belasco has a skin suit!!!!

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