Peter Parker experiences unusual symptoms while on superhero duty as Spider-Man. One day, Captain America recommends a doctor without exposing his identity. Peter takes a blood test. The results? He’s dying. It’s not an advanced stage of cancer. It’s his spider powers affecting his physiology. Internal conflict ensues between his wife, Mary Jane Watson & Aunt May. As Peter struggles with mortality, he encounters vampire, Morlun and The Other is a spider deity and a representation of Peter’s half. If the spider bit him on day one? What if he became a spider monster? The storyline I’m talkin’ about is from “Spider-Man: The Other.”
The twelve-part story arc published in 2005-2006. It earned mixed reviews from critics, fans and readers alike. Despite divided opinions, all 12 issues sold well. Anyway, I have two good reasons why I wanna review Spider-Man: The Other.
- Tom Holland, Zendaya & Jon Bernthal will appear in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated epic fantasy adventure, “The Odyssey.” It’ll be released in July 17, 2026.
- The aforementioned three will also appear in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” coming in July 31, 2026. Two weeks after The Odyssey.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS.
Amazing & Unamazing Aspects
Amazing: J. Michael Straczynski, Reginald Hudlin & Peter David co-wrote issues.
Mike Deodato, Pat Lee & Mike Deodato collaborated on artwork.
Action Sequences are legit.
Spidey’s chemistry with his loved ones and superhero allies serve as the main highlight.
Similar to the ‘90s cartoon involving Man-Spider, this one has elements of body horror. Heck, Spidey referenced “The Fly.” I prefer the David Cronenberg remake over the 1958 original.
Peter’s metamorphosis features creepy spider imagery. If you have a fear of spiders like me, there’s a literal giant spider who represents Peter’s other half. If you have the guts to read through page after page, strap in for the ride.
The Other’s an interesting character.
Without giving too much away, Character Development involving Peter. After getting a second chance in life, he accepts a part of the spider’s feral side giving him new upgrades such as organic webbing.
Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Wolverine and other characters factor in helping Peter with his medical condition. Unlike their butchered characterizations in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, they retain their original personalities and moral compass.
Primary Themes are Death, Resurrection, Mortality & Inner Demons. Each one’s handled carefully.
Random Thoughts
- First time I heard about Spider-Man: The Other, Destin Daniel Cretton and the writers of Brand New Day confirmed The Other takes elements like Peter’s physiology and the ‘90s cartoon storyline featuring Peter becoming Man-Spider. The Punisher squares off with the man-sized spider. Something tells me Man-Spider’s cinematic debut will be the next Shelob from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and the giant spiders from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” When I was a kid, both giant spider scenes gave me the heebie jeebies.
- Thanks to Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spidey in the MCU, I can already hear his voice in modern comics.
Unamazing: Continuity Errors over Spider-Man’s black webbing in his costume sometimes disappear in a few panels.
Pacing for each issue felt fast. If you read all twelve issues in one day, it’s over.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BENEVOLENT!
Despite two drawbacks, I really liked Spider-Man: The Other. Gotta give Destin Daniel Cretton and the writers of Brand New Day credit for introducing me to this storyline. If you’re excited to see Spidey’s next movie, order a physical copy on Amazon or digitally subscribe to Marvel Unlimited. Which Spider-Man storyline should I review next? Please leave a comment.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 