New adventures of Spiderman 2099 in the third deluxe volume published by Panini Comics which collects the classic scenes of the character
There’s something fascinating about going back to the ’90s and opening a comic book Spider-Man 2099. That air of a decadent future, where neon lights can barely hide the moral rot of the world, continues to have a special magnetism. Miguel O’Hara it isn’t Peter Parkerbut its story retains the same tragic heart that always defined the original wall-strip, with all the guilt, responsibility and purpose of doing the right thing when everything seems to be pulling you in the opposite direction. This third volume with which Panini Comics Collecting the complete wall-strip collection of the future is a journey to the point where the hero can no longer hide from the consequences of his actions, and where the world around him begins to completely collapse.
A spider named Miguel O’Hara
In these pages the screenwriter Peter David deeply explores Miguel’s humanity. David, one of the most solid narrators I’ve ever had Marvel Comicsat this point he had been doing what he does best in his series for a long time. This is giving depth to their characters and forcing them to face dilemmas that can’t be solved in one fell swoop. Miguel is no longer the young scientist overwhelmed by the powers he has Alchemax gave him, but a man trapped between his past and a future that eludes him. What stands out most in this section is the sense that Miguel’s personal life is collapsing at the same pace as the technological environment around him.
From the first issue of this volume the tone becomes darker than in the previous volumes. Old emotional ghosts reappear, relationships with some of his greatest enemies undergo a huge change, and in general the world our hero wanders in evolves as he does.
The irruption of Poison 2099for example, it takes the tone to an almost nightmarish level. It is not the classic avenging symbiote, but an overflowing and unpredictable version that makes you feel the physical and psychological terror in a raw way. The confrontation with him is not just a visual spectacle, but a clash between Miguel’s duty and his deepest fear of losing control and becoming what he hates. That tension remains alive until the final chapters, when various personal tragedies accumulate. At that point we will see how Miguel remains suspended between anger and helplessness, and the comic shows that even in the future the loss for one Spider-Man remains more devastating than ever, recalling episodes such as the death of Gwen Stacy…
The future is scary
The world of the future presented to us here, with its mix of corporate dystopia and cyberpunk aesthetic, represents more than ever another character in the story. There is no room for pure heroism or a happy ending. Technology is an instrument of power, the media manipulates the public image of heroes and multinationals dictate collective morality. It’s an environment where ethics are a luxury, and that’s exactly why the contrast with Miguel, who is someone who still tries to do right, is so strong. What is most impressive is how Peter David manages to make the reader feel that hero’s struggle, that daily struggle to maintain a minimum of hope in a world that seems designed to extinguish it.
The drawing in this volume changes hands on several occasions, which is not necessarily a negative aspect, but certainly not a plus either. Keith Pollard, David Boller, Vince Giarrano, Andrew Wildman or Roger Robinson They bring different perspectives to the story, and while the transition between styles is noticeable (sometimes abrupt), overall an aesthetic coherence is maintained that fits well with the changing tone of the script. The futuristic lines of the buildings, the skies saturated with lights and advertising, the metal suits and the dirty shadows of the streets are the perfect backdrop for a story where the technological and the human confront each other at every step. The faces of the characters, sometimes exaggerated, sometimes more sober, help to convey that mixture of fatigue, pain and challenge that defines the protagonist.
Color is another strong point. The palette alternates the cold blues of metal with reddish flashes of violence, giving the pages a constant energy. The night scenes and laboratory interiors benefit from this electric atmosphere, while the moments of introspection rely on more opaque, almost melancholic tones. It all helps to make the world of Spider-Man 2099 tangible, becoming a place where beauty and decay coexist effortlessly.
Peter David, a famous screenwriter
This block in the series makes it clearer than ever that Peter David was telling more than just an action story. The plot here becomes a reflection on responsibility, on how much it costs to stay true to yourself when the whole environment seems to push you towards cynicism. Losses weigh heavily, mistakes are paid for and there is no easy redemption. However, the comic never gives in to nihilism. There’s always a spark, an insistence that even in the worst of futures someone has to keep trying.
The pace isn’t always perfect. This is not David’s best work, although it may be one of his best remembered. Some middle episodes seem to serve only as a transition, and there are passages where the plot seems to go in circles before taking a step forward. However, that unevenness is part of its charm. It is a series that breathes like a living story, with ups and downs, with brilliant moments and other more routine ones, but always with a clear voice. David doesn’t write out of inertia: it’s clear that he continues to explore his protagonist and the world around him with curiosity and respect.
Closing the volume you are left with the feeling of having accompanied a complex character in a crucial moment of his life. This volume is a descent, a stage where everything seems to falter, but also a reaffirmation of why Spiderman 2099 is still considered a special series today. It’s not just because of its futuristic setting or its over-the-top action, but because of the way it speaks to the present. Corruption, dehumanization, loss of empathy… all of this is still relevant. Miguel O’Hara may be living in 2099, but his problems are ours. And this is the essence of every Spiderman.
Him tome published by Panini Comics In hard cover it contains 320 color pages with a format of 17 x 26 cm. and includes the translation of the American edition of the issues from n. 26 at no. 38 of Spider-Man 2099, In addition to all the covers of the included issues, an introduction written by Pedro Monje and a small section of bonus material at the end. The recommended retail price is €38 and it went on sale in September 2025.
Spiderman 2099: the complete collection 3
The classic adventures of Spider-Man from the future continue! Miguel O’Hara finds himself out of his element, far from the city, in the middle of nowhere and besieged by the worst threats. Upon his return, he will find Doctor Doom as master of everything and the futuristic incarnation of Venom, capable of turning his world upside down and threatening the lives of his loved ones. Will he be able to keep everyone safe?
Authors: Keith Pollard, David Boller, Vince Giarrano, Andrew Wildman, Roger Robinson, Joe St. Pierre and Peter David
