Sony Pictures
You can read my review of Spider-Geddon #0 here.
Spider-Geddon #1, written by Christos Gage and Dan Slott with art by Jorge Molina, is both a sequel to Spider-Verse and a means of closing some loose ends from Slott's massive Amazing Spider-Man run.
In Spider-Verse, the united Spider-Men were able to defeat the Inheritors and leave them rapped in a radioactive wasteland but because they decided not to kill these ravenous vampires, many speculated that it was just a matter of time before the Inheritors get out, and that's what happens in Spider-Geddon.
Marvel Comics
The issue opens up with Miles Morales' Spider-Man fighting some minor villains but the united Spider-Men show up via a portal, and just like in Spider-Verse, he knows that they've come together for the same reason: to fight the Inheritors. It's cool seeing various Spider-Men and a heroic Dr. Octopus from different universes appear but the comic didn't highlight their unique abilities and personalities well enough. Molina does a fine job but he seems to struggle in conveying the right level of emotion in his costumed characters.The story is dominated by full-body costumed characters and Molina's use of body language isn't enough to make up for the lack of visible facial expressions in this issue.
Marvel Comics
This issue gets more action-packed in the middle section, and Molina crafts some cool action scenes with Superior Octopus, the Inheritors, and Spider-Men. Spider-Geddon which tonally and stylistically reads like a direct continuation to Spider-Verse rehashes the same formula that worked for Marvel before but it fails to push the Spider-Men vs. Inheritors conflict to new directions. It's kind of like how Star Wars: The Force Awakens recycled the same formula of the original Star Wars trilogy but at least that one featured new villains. Speaking of villains, the Inheritors are as menacing as ever but they're not the memorable kind of vampires.
Gage makes the conflict with Superior Octopus the spark that ignites this renewed war but with only two Spider-Men dominating the pages, it makes you wonder if a massive Spider team-up is even necessary. The story reads more like a build-up to the upcoming Superior Spider-Man relaunch that Gage is also writing.
Overall, Spider-Geddon #1 is a disappointing start. It's fascinating to see its massive cast of characters come together again but this chapter doesn't do much to give all of them a chance to shine individually and show what they can do as a team. Spider-Geddon #0 had more character development but things can still turn around in the next issue if Spider-Geddon finds a way to take this epic war into new directions.