Is this even a graphic novel? It’s a slim, traditional comic serial, but then bound in bunches? I am not a comics reader usually (but I do read graphic novels), but Miles Morales came up in my search for comps for my newest novel and since I was inspired somewhat by Spider-Man (and Peter Parker—my favorite comic hero), I thought I would try it out. I also love the animated Spider-Verse movies (though I wasn’t a fan of getting to the end of the second one to encounter a to be continued). And even though I apparently chose the wrong place to start (even though I tried to figure it out), I was really impressed with this comic book/graphic novel. Maybe it was the best place to start because maybe it’s the best of the series as opposed to the first? I will be reading more. Except for a few mistakes (like a couple of hands that weren’t sized right), I loved the illustrations (drawing and inking, I guess) and the writing was witty and classic and kept me reading.

We pick up in the middle of the story here, but that’s comics for you. Miles is visited by Captain America, and together they are trying to find some missing kids. There are also appearances by Rhino and another superhero who I’d never heard of (though I’d heard of her family) and don’t know how she fits into the universe. Of course, I was disappointed in the lack of Spider Gwen, but I understand that in the comics they are just friends anyhow (which is not what they did for the movies, at least so far. Basically. Maybe that’s where it’s going, actually…) And now that I’m poking around online, I might want to read the Spider-Gwen comics, as well.

Here’s the order of Miles Morales books, as listed inside the covers of Straight Out of Brooklyn:

• Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Collection Book 1
• Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Collection Book 2
• Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Collection Book 3
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 1
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 2
• Spider-Man/Spider-Gwen: Sitting in a Tree
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 3
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 4
• Miles Morales Vol. 1: Straight Out of Brooklyn
• Miles Morales Vol. 2: Bring on the Bad Guys
• Miles Morales Vol. 3: Family Business
• Miles Morales Vol. 4: Ultimatum
• Miles Morales Vol. 5: The Clone Saga
• Miles Morales Vol. 6: All Eyes on Me

I don’t know how chronological this list actually is, but chronological is what I was hoping for. And do the Ultimate Collections repeat anything? I dunno’. You can see that I picked up a book in the late-mid section. But again, maybe it’s just an especially good one? Maybe some of the books are less worth reading? And in a comics universe, you don’t have to read chronological, or completely, necessarily (unlike many book series). Even me, someone who is choosy with her DC and Marvel movies, understands enough to pick up what they’re laying down. Though there were also references I knew I wasn’t getting. Then again, my husband keeps an Avengers encyclopedia on the coffee table, so…

Also worth noting, this is the first book in the series above that is written by Saladin Ahmed and drawn by Javier Garron, though the artists change frequently throughout the titles. There are three in a row by this pair. (The writing is only done by two different authors, and this volume is the break.) Which is obviously going to make for some stylistic differences, right? Maybe they try to be consistent? I’m sure I would have favorites.

I don’t know how much I should say in this review since I have so little experience with reading comics. For a graphic novel, I thought it was engaging and visually exciting, just very much in the comic book style. I kinda roll my eyes at the typical anatomy of comic books (and the way the people’s clothes fit, amiright?), but this (maybe more modern style?, more YA?) is toned down from the comic book covers of my own teen years. Sure, every single person has a thigh gap and even their street clothes are basically painted on, but I appreciated the lack of lingerie and porn star doubles. At any rate, this book kept me engaged, which I definitely can’t say of many graphic novels. (My brand of ADHD hyperfocus doesn’t kick in for graphics as easily as it does for the written word.)

For myself, I am going to try to come up with the order for Spider-Gwen comics:

• Edge of the Spider-Verse, Vol. 2
• Spider-Verse
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 0: Most Wanted?
• Web Warriors of the Spider-Verse Vol. 1: Electroverse
• Web Warriors of the Spider-Verse Vol. 2: Spiders Vs.
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 1: Greater Power
• Spider-Women
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 2: Weapon of Choice
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 3: Long-Distance
• Spider-Man/Spider-Gwen: Sitting in a Tree
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 4: Predators
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 5: Gwenom
• Spider-Gwen Vol. 6: The Life of Gwen Stacey

Okay, I ended up taking that almost straight from Trevor Van As HERE. There are a lot more on his list, which goes through different iterations over time. He also has a list of best Spider-Man (Peter Parker) to read, HERE.

I love Spider-Man. He is such an iconic hero’s journey hero. An everyman. And his story is especially coming-of-age. There are such poignant moments—so big and epic—in his internal and external journey, and Miles Morales strikes me as the Spider-Man of a new generation. I love it. And I enjoyed this middle-of-the-series compilation of serials written by Saladin Ahmed, drawn by Javier Garron, inked by David Curiel and lettered by Cory Petit. I would like to catch up some more on Miles Morales (including the next movie, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which is due out in March). With my current novel series being inspired by Spider-Man (and Scooby-Doo and Sherlock Holmes), I imagine I will do just that.