Marco Speaks Spidey! – Radioactive Spider‑Man #1 Review

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Written by: Joe Kelly
Art by: Kev Walker
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Lettering by: Joe Caramagna

A Spider‑Man Like You’ve Never Seen

Happy Halloween to all! From the opening pages of Radioactive Spider‑Man #1, it’s clear this isn’t your standard friendly‑neighborhood Spidey story. The world has shifted. New York City under the Age of Revelation is a ghost of its former self—mutants dominate, the X‑Virus looms, and Peter Parker is changed. And to be honest, this might just be the perfect Spider-Man for Halloween! He really is radioactive in the most extreme form possible this time!

And that’s what makes this issue so compelling. Peter’s sacrifice is literal: he’s dosing himself with radiation to keep the X‑Virus in check, his body mutating, his nerves exposed. It’s horror. It’s tragedy. And yet he still chooses to fight. You find yourself moved by how much he’s willing to pay—not just the cost of a swing or a punch, but his very life.

PROS:

Mutation and Heroism—Strange Bedfellows

Much of the buzz lately about this issue highlights the body‑horror of Spider‑Man’s transformation. Walker’s art is bloody, ugly, memorable—arms sprouting in odd places, green‑glowing diodes on his suit, a costume that looks less spandex and more containment unit.

But here’s the twist: in becoming this most mutated version of Spider‑Man, Peter becomes somehow the truest Spider‑Man. Because he’s still fighting. He’s still hopeful. He’s still sacrificing. That juxtaposition—mutation as path to purity—is the emotional spine of this issue. When he webs up a mutant squadron, or drags himself into a reactor core, you’re not just watching a spectacle—you’re watching a man pushing himself beyond endurance for others.

The Weight of the Sacrifice

I was especially moved by Peter’s constant sacrifice here. It’s not just the radiation doses or taking on a gang of baddies. It’s the quiet moments—when you know he is constantly whispering to himself, when he refuses comfort, when he keeps moving even though his body begs him to stop. There’s a moment late in the issue where I just want to sit down with him, hold him tight, as well, sobbing. Real tears. Real fear. Real love. He’s fighting for a broken city, broken people, and broken hope. That makes him heroic to the bone.

Setting and Stakes—World Burned, Still Worth Saving

The backdrop of this issue is one of political collapse and mutant supremacy—a chaos ruled by “pure” vs. “impure” gene castes, government enforcers turned monstrous, neighborhoods mutated in their own way, the social fabric shredded.

In the middle of this broken‑down world stands Spider‑Man, barely human, and still impossible to ignore. Every punch he throws, every web swing carried out, every life he saves—they’re not just acts of heroism. They’re acts of defiance. And they feel meaningful.

Art, Writing & The Horror of Hope

Kelly’s script delivers the Peter we know—wise‑cracking, earnest, idealistic—but remixed for nightmare levels. The humor is strained. The hope is faded but still burning. The writing doesn’t sugar‑coat. It drags you into Peter’s fear. You feel the radiation burning. You feel the mutation spreading. You see what he’s giving up.

Walker’s visuals serve that script with ferocity. The color work by Sotomayor brings out the sickly glow of mutation, the dark despair of rebellion, the harsh neon of a New York City gone wrong.

The result? A Spider‑Man book that feels like horror and heroism intertwined—one moment web‑swinging, the next enduring grotesque transformation. It’s bold. It’s risky. And it mostly pays off.

CONS:

A Few Missing Threads

That said—no issue is perfect. Certain reveal beats might land with less impact than intended, or some key character relationships might be introduced without full explanation.

For me, I felt those missing beats too—but they didn’t spoil the ride. They simply left me wanting more. Specifically: how did Peter’s relationship with Dr. Cecilia Reyes form? What exactly are the long‑term implications of his body changes? I want to see those explored in upcoming issues.

Final Thoughts

Radioactive Spider‑Man #1 might not feel “essential” in the sense of redefining Spider‑Man’s core continuity—it’s a future nightmare, a what‑if extreme. But it is essential for anyone who loves Spider‑Man at his grandest sacrifice, his highest stakes, his darkest corners.

Here’s the sum: we have a Spider‑Man who’s mutated beyond recognition, yet more Spider‑Man than ever. We have a world that’s dying, but still worth saving. And we have a hero who won’t. stop. fighting. Even when every swing might be his last. That is Marvel’s greatest tale distilled.