Spider-Man India #1
- Writer:
- Nikesh Shukla
- Artist:
- Abhishek Malsuni, Scott Hanna
- Letterer:
- VC's Joe Caramagna
- Cover Artist:
- Adam Kubert
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-06-14
- Colorist:
- Neeraj Menon
At a time when Gotham Comics was the primary source of single-issue paperbacks in India, the company ventured into publishing its own titles, with Spider-Man India being a notable example. Created in association with Marvel, Pavitr Prabhakar of Earth-50101 became an instant hit amongst the Indian audience. However, the character had to wait a long time for their time in the sun, and the recent Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse movie has given Pavitr newfound fame. Riding on that wave, Marvel is back in Mumbai with Spider-Man India #1, the start of a new series written by Nikesh Shukla, illustrated by Abhishek Malsuni, inked by Scott Hanna, colored by Neeraj Menon, and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.
Spider-Man India #1 opens with Peter, Miles, and Pavitr fighting a multi-headed, multi-limbed version of Mysterio roided out on demonic energy from a mystical Indian mace called Gada. After vanquishing their foes, the three talk about their complex lives intertwined by their heroic escapades. Pavitr feels lonely in his mission to serve his neighborhood but somehow soldiers on. Suddenly, an opportunity arises to meet Dr. Kushal Kumar, who is working on reptilian DNA to unlock the full potential of the human mind. Elsewhere, Giricorp is evicting people from their homes in the slums to make way for the Liberty Complex. And Mr. Giri will use every dirty trick in the book to accomplish his sinister goals.
Pavitr Prabhakar is back in a new solo series, but the book makes it feel like he never left. Starting in medias res with a swift battle scene, Spider-Man India #1 lets the three Spider-Men have a heart-to-heart and marks Pavitr as a lonely figure. Shukla details the hero's busy schedule juggling his social life, attending classes, and fighting crime. Shukla illustrates how Pavitr's sense of duty is making him feel miserable inside. The alternate universe of Earth-50101 embraces the hullabaloo of Mumbai, with the subtext of the powerful controlling everything hitting close to home. After meandering for a good part of the book, the plot finally starts to take shape and ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger.
Abhishek Malsuni's illustrations polish the world of Earth-50101 to a greater extent than the first volume. Here, Mumbai looks vibrant, with typical Indian streets punctuated by ugly high rises, creating a visual dichotomy. His Desi renditions of established designs are gorgeous to look at and dangerous to fathom. Colorist Neeraj Menon primarily uses softer tones, which create an ethereal glow around the panels. Even when there is mischief afoot, the colors are vivid to allow each character, from a three-headed Mysterio to a swinging Spider-Man, to have wonderful splash pages. Pavitr's inner monologues may be sparse, but letterer Joe Caramagna still gives him his unique blue narration boxes that come with a tiny Spider-emblem at the side.
Spider-Man India #1 presents a story similar to Peter Parker's in an Indian setting, imbuing the same set of values and beliefs about power and responsibility. Pavitr suffers from the same blues as his Earth-616 counterpart, considering his duties a burden. His attitude to life bogs down the narrative as it exacerbates his struggles. However, the plot finds new characters and scenarios to focus on, which feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. Spider-Man India #1 still has a long way to go, and it means Pavitr Prabhakar needs to pull up his socks and get his head in the game if he wants to protect his loved ones.