Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee and David Marquez
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letters: Vic's Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel
What's it about?
Spider-Man is, as the name suggests, a man imbued with spider related powers. Most people recognise Peter Parker as the man under the mask, but this series takes place in Marvel's Ultimate Universe where things have changed. In this universe Peter Parker is dead and everyone knows his secret identity as Spider-Man.
Now there is a new Spider-Man. He's got a black and red suit and he looks younger than Peter ever looked. He is Miles Morales, aged 13, African American and with quite a different set up to Parker.
Miles isn't in any way connected with Peter, so this isn't a case of a friend taking up the superhero mantle. Although Miles got his powers the same way (bitten by a spider), his powers are different (it was a different sort of spider). He can crawl up walls and has enhanced strength and agility, but unlike Peter he also has a venomous sting and can turn invisible, or at least camouflage into the background.
From volume 1, pencils by Pichelli
Volume 1 tells how Miles gets his powers and introduces us to his life and family and friends, and brings in other members of the superhero community with personal connections to Peter (they aren't always pleased that an unknown has donned the suit). Volume 2 tells how he deals with his Uncle discovering his powers and trying to use Miles for his own nefarious ends (his Uncle is not a good person).
