September 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of Miles Morales' debut as Spider-Man in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man. From controversial "culture war" figure to international blockbuster star, Miles has cemented his place as a superhero icon. Long-time Morales creative team -- writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Carmen Carnero -- are joined by renowned color artist Erick Arciniega and letterer Cory Petit on Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30, a tribute issue for the Marvel star. This celebration of Miles Morales contains the latest issue of Miles Morales: Spider-Man and two bonus comics penned by Phil Lord (Into the Spider-Verse), Christopher Miller, Kemp Powers, Jeff Loveness, Cody Ziglar, and Anthony Piper.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30 opens with Miles narrating his recent good fortune -- a sweet new "Spider-fit" suit, a scholarship on the horizon, and a date with fellow vigilante Starling. On the way to get ready for his date, Miles is waylaid by a Mandroid attack. After resolving that situation, Miles is interrupted once more. A dog is missing and two little girls are beside themselves with worry, eventually solved by several hours of Friendly Neighborhood searching trash cans. Braving the unilateral disgrace of showing up to a date un-showered, Miles and Tiana Toomes, aka Starling, aka the granddaughter of legendary Spider-Man villain Vulture, share a touching rooftop reunion. Unfortunately for the young heroes, their romantic moment is not as private as they think -- and a new villain has the couple in his sights.
Ahmed uses this issue to write a masterful microcosm of Miles as Spider-Man -- a promising teenager with a street-wise edge, doing his best to protect people, whether that be from killer robots or the devastating consequences of losing a dog. By playing with the stakes and scope of Spider-Man's role in the community, Ahmed comments on the malleable nature of heroism, as well as demonstrating how Miles exemplifies selflessness and service whilst still having a distinctive personality. His writing of Spider-Man and Starling as a couple is also praiseworthy, creating chemistry between them that feels playful and authentic.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30's comedic beats fittingly contrast with Miles' life as both a superhero and teenager -- sure, he gets to skip taking the bus downtown when he can sling his way there, but there's no guarantee his phone battery won't die on the way. This impressive attention to small details maintains the careful balance that distinguishes Spider-Man as Marvel's Ultimate Relatable Hero and gives Miles all of the depth his character deserves. Carnero's art is fantastic and thrillingly dynamic, experimenting with perspective to depict Spider-Man's unique cityscapes. The panel arrangement is well-considered and stylish, particularly shining in action sequences and doing a slick job of conveying momentum.
The colors by Arciniega are well-executed but don't elevate the issue's artwork. Petit's lettering has some notably interesting moments -- particularly the lettering used for transitions that have a robustly classic feel. Narration bubbles styled as journal entries also frame the issue nicely, both visually and narratively.
Overall, the bonus comics are so brilliant that they somewhat overshadow the already strong serialized content of the issue -- making the issue a must-buy for Spider-Fans, even those not following the ongoing Miles Morales title. This comic provides a poignant snapshot of how far Miles has developed since his inception, proving that the hero has a promising future. As we all know, with great power comes great expectations.
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