- Written by: Steve Orlando
- Art by: Justin Mason
- Colors by: Antonio Fabela
- Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
- Cover art by: Nick Bradshaw, Neeraj Menon
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: May 24, 2023
Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #4 sets the plan in motion to lure Carnage 2099 away from his hive and into a trap designed by Ghost Rider 2099 and Lyla. Will the plan work?
Is It Good?
No, the plan doesn’t work. The plan *almost* works, but it doesn’t completely work, so what better way to cap off the penultimate run in this mini-series than by introducing even more 2099 variants. In this case, Punisher 2099 and Daredevil 2099.
When last we left Miguel O’Hara and his cast of 2099 variants, they pulled out all the stops to battle Carnage 2099 and Halloween Jack in the heart of the city while Carnage’s hive of blood zombies overwhelmed the heroes with sheer numbers. Now, the fight continues, but Miguel makes just enough progress to lure Carnage 2099 away from the Hive and toward Ghost Rider 2099’s trap. Meanwhile, Punisher 2099 shows up to shoot zombies, and Daredevil 2099 swings by on the last page to set up the finale.
In the review for the last issue, I gave Orlando slight praise for focusing on developing the story rather than using the plot as an excuse to introduce more 2099 variants. However, Orlando’s focus on the plot revealed just how thin the plot truly is. This issue takes a slight step forward by furthering the plot (good) while introducing even more 2099 variants that add absolutely nothing to the story (bad). In an effort to have his cake and eat it, too, Orlando delivers a mediocre story with plenty of action, unnecessary character additions, and a contrived failure to Ghost Rider 2099’s trap that serves as an excuse to add another issue.
Why am I so hard on Steve Orlando and this mini-series? Because Orlando has an opportunity to bring Spider-Man 2099 to the front with his unique persona and setting, but instead of prioritizing the story, you mostly get gimmicks and copyright fodder. Similar to Roger Corman’s infamous filming of a never-to-be-released Fantastic Four movie so the studio could hold onto the licensing rights, this series is turning out to have no purpose other than to introduce characters just for Marvel to say they have them, and the real losers are Spider-Man 2099 fans hoping for a worthwhile story.
How’s the art? Disappointing. Oddly, Justin Mason’s art style looks sketchy and rushed in several spots, as if the time crunch for a weekly release schedule forced Mason to cut a few corners. There are several panels where the art looks very good, but in several other panels, the art looks hastily sketched and incomplete. Antonio Fabela’s colors, thankfully, go a long way towards hiding Mason’s flaws, but not enough to go unnoticed.
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 #4 is a disappointment on multiple levels. Steve Orlando’s script takes minor steps forward on the plot but takes a few steps backward by focusing (again) on introducing more 2099 variants that serve no purpose, and Justin Mason’s art looks rushed and incomplete in several spots.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 