• Written by: Steve Orlando
• Art by: Justin Mason
• Colors by: Jordan Boyd
• Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
• Cover art by: Nick Bradshaw, Rachelle Rosenberg
• Cover price: $3.99
• Release date: May 17, 2023

Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #3 continues the fight to stop Carnage 2099 and Halloween Jack from inciting a mob riot that consumes Nueva York.

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Is It Good?

Why is Punisher 2099 on the cover? He doesn’t show up once in this comic nor is he referenced in any way. If you bought this comic expecting Punisher 2099 to show up, guns a-blazin’, you’ve been duped, so now you know.

Oddly enough, Punisher’s 2099’s absence is exactly why this comic edges out the previous Steve Orlando issues because Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #3 focuses on progressing the story instead of using the arc to push 2099 variant characters. Is it the best comic in the world? No, but at least the focus is better.

When last we left Miguel and his amazing friends from the future, Miguel was forced to retreat and heal his wounds with the help of Blade 2099. Now, Carnage 2099 and Halloween Jack continue their attack on the city, amassing disaffected citizens into their Hive army. Meanwhile, Miguel recovers enough to join the fight, adding Moon Knight 2099 and Venom 2099 to the good guy side.

On the one hand, Orlando’s renewed focus on the plot turns this issue into a serviceable Spider-Man 2099 action story. Effectively, you get action from start to finish as Miguel and his friends fight the good fight on multiple fronts against Carnage 2099, Halloween Jack, and an increasingly out-of-control mob. So, if you want a comic with plenty of brawling action, you’ll get your money’s worth.

On the other hand, the focus on the plot exposes just how thin this plot really is. Carnage 2099 is sowing chaos and destruction because he can. Halloween Jack doesn’t appear to have any motive beyond egging Carnage 2099 on. When you distill the arc down to its essence, it’s “Carnage breaks out, kills people, citizens like Carnage because they think he’s killing “bad people”, and Spider-Man 2099 has to stop him. The End.” Without all the fluff, decompression, and 2099 variant introductions, this is really a one-shot story. Maybe a two-parter, if we’re being generous with the page count.

How’s the art? It’s fine. Justin Mason does a commendable job with lots of action and LOTS of spattering blood. This is Mason’s opportunity to flex action art muscles, and he delivers the goods.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #3 finally gets away from the carousel of 2099 variant character introductions and focuses on the plot. This issue delivers plenty of superhero fighting action and gives the main hero a challenge to overcome, but when you peel back the layers, the plot is super-thin.

7/10