Chasm, aka Ben Reilly, and Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen, have decided to take revenge on Spider-Man and Jean Grey by invading New York and claiming the heroes’ memories as their own. The holiday season has turned horrific as demons roam the streets, inanimate objects transform into monsters, and the X-Men are held captive in the hellscape of Limbo.
Written by Zeb Wells, illustrated by Adam Kubert, Francesco Mortarino, and Scott Hanna, colored by Frank Martin and Guru eFX, and lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna, Dark Web: Finale #1 is the showstopping end to the turbulent and thrilling Dark Web arc. Previously, an act of kindness brought the Goblin Queen onto the side of the heroes and turned the tide of battle. With the Goblin Queen’s help, Spider-Man and the X-Men have the allies they need to defeat Chasm, who has stolen Madelyne’s scythe and usurped her as king of the demons. It’s going to be one hell of a battle and one hell of a conclusion.
The Dark Web arc has been one of the most exciting events in recent memory. Throughout Dark Web: Finale #1, Wells balances character angst with thrilling action and comedy. Chasm and the Goblin Queen’s struggle to belong, their pain of being left out, and their unresolved feelings of loss and vengeance are at the heart of this arc. Madelyne’s character shines in Dark Web: Finale #1. She has good chemistry with Spider-Man and the X-Men, lending a sense of drama to a cast prone to flurries of sharp one-liners and witty repartee, represented clearly and coherently thanks to letterer Joe Caramagna’s skilled lettering.
Dark Web: Finale #1 makes the most of its huge cast. Nearly every character featured in this all-encompassing crossover returns and gets at least a few lines in. The demons from Limbo are especially fun to watch, and the X-Men finally get a chance to demonstrate their power after issues of imprisonment. Eddie Brock is terrifying and hilarious as the unhinged Bedlam. Chasm revels in his new role as the demon king and shows glimmers of his inner humanity through his sympathetic moments with Hallows Eve. But Madelyne Pryor and Spider-Man make this issue as strong as it is. Wells’ Spider-Man is pitch-perfect, and his interactions with the newly powered-up Chasm are excellent. Wells juggles all these charming characters to bring Dark Web: Finale #1 to a bittersweet but optimistic and satisfying end.
The color red dominates this issue. Colorists Frank Martin and Guru eFX perfectly evoke fire, brimstone, and heat to convey the feeling of a world gone to hell. The sky and backgrounds are soft and textured gradients of reds, yellows, golds, and blinding whites, outlined against harsh black silhouettes. Everything is given a consistent vermillion overlay to ensure that the various colors donned by the characters — from the vivid red and blue of Spider-Man to the cool purple and teal of Chasm — appear coherent as opposed to garish. There are plenty of fun and whimsical elements to keep the tone and visuals light and fresh. The line art from Kubert, Mortarino, and Hanna is consistent, with flow, flourish, and flair, capturing the triumphant and bombastic tone of the storyline with aplomb.
From its first issue, the Dark Web ensnared readers with a combination of subtle comedy, chilling horror, and tender human drama. Wells has worked with a tremendous team of artists to bring this thrilling event to life, and this final issue capitalizes on all the great work that’s led up to it. Dark Web: Finale #1 is the stellar conclusion this arc deserves.
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