Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Art Team: Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, Frank D’Armata, VC’s Travis Lanham
Release Date: April 17, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

Spider-Man’s story told in real-time is a very interesting concept, however that idea is difficult to convey in one issue. So seeing how the developments from last issue play out here in issue two was a big reason for coming back to the series in general. With that being said, lets discuss what’s going on here, in Spider-Man: Life Story the disco edition.

Much like issue one we join the story towards the end of the decade, 1977 to be exact, with Peter visiting the grave site of Flash Thompson, echoing in a way how Peter visits the site of Uncle Ben’s grave, although here he is joined by his wife Gwen Stacey. So yeah everything in Peter’s life from this point on is pretty different with half the fun in discovering how things have changed, either for better or worse for Peter/Spider-Man, and how they all affect the events of the mythology as a whole. Peter works with Reed Richards, the war overseas is still going on with Giant Man getting into the mix now, and even the Spider-Man costume has a few modifications.

Yup life is a bit different now, and as a long time Spider-Man fan, I’m glad it is. The regular Spider-Man tropes are still present to remind you things are still the same at heart, but applied in ways they weren’t in past stories, it all adds to the intrigue, keeping new and old fans alike on their toes. The bulk of the conflict revolves around Harry eventually succumbing to this fathers requests to following in his footsteps matched along with the background workings of Miles Warren. Peter also finds it too difficult to work with Reed Richards, eventually bringing all three sides the story really focuses on together, making the wrap up of a decade of events a little bit convenient, but fun and interesting none the less.

I also really enjoy the focus of the story doesn’t solely revolve around Peter, the side cast of characters within the universe remain just as interesting as the title hero, with Mary Jane playing a pretty integral role in the issue. She’s married to Harry Osbourne, but also intertwined in most of the events at play. I’m trying my best to remain vague to keep a bunch of the issues secrets hidden for those who want to experience the story for themselves, but know that Chip Zdarsky does a great job of giving all of the entire cast some good quality character moments, and this is really something I sincerely recommend.

The art by Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, and Frank D’Armata is a great compliment to the story at hand, capturing the time period at play, while adding age to the characters who have remained timeless up until this point. Mark Bagley could draw Spider-Man stories forever and I wouldn’t have one single problem with it.

Overall, Spider-Man: Life Story has thus far been an exciting retelling of the Spider-Man mythos, providing new and old fans alike with something fresh. That ‘new-ness’ doesn’t neglect a long-term fans investment in the Spider-Man story though, as Zdarsky threads it with call-outs and subtle differences, I find difficult to call anything but fun. Coupled with the art of Bagley, Hennessy, and D’Armata Spider-Man life story is off to a very excellent start.