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Screenwise Verdict
This is arguably the best Spider-Man story in a decade. By letting Peter Parker actually grow up, Hickman has removed the 'reset button' frustration that plagues most comics.
It’s wholesome because it values the family unit, imaginative because it breaks the 60-year-old status quo, and safe enough for any kid who has seen a Marvel movie. If your kid is starting to get into more serious reading, this is the gold standard for modern superhero storytelling. It's not 'brain rot'—it's high-tier fiction.
Age Fit
This is the 'sweet spot' book for middle schoolers and up. While a 9-year-old could read it, the nuances of marriage and mid-life responsibility might bore them. For adults and teens, it's a must-read.
WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88
It centers on a healthy, loving marriage and the complexities of being a present father while balancing world-saving responsibilities. It trades teenage angst for mature, grounded family dynamics.
Imaginative
92
Jonathan Hickman completely flips the script on the Spider-Man mythos. Instead of the 'Parker Luck' misery, we get a sophisticated 'what if' world-building exercise that feels fresh and purposeful.
Safe
85
Rated 'T' for Teen. It contains standard superhero fisticuffs and mild language (jerk, loser). It avoids the grim-dark gore or sexualization often found in modern 'mature' reboots.
Enriching
90
Excellent for discussing the weight of choice, the ethics of keeping secrets from family, and what it means to step up when you have everything to lose.
Parent Info
✓
Why It Might Be Great
It treats the Parker family with genuine respect rather than using them as targets for tragedy.
Marco Checchetto's art is some of the best in the business—clean, cinematic, and expressive.
It’s a perfect entry point for kids who have outgrown the 'cartoon' versions of Spidey but aren't ready for the R-rated stuff.
The dialogue is sharp and avoids the typical 'quip-heavy' fluff found in many modern Marvel projects.
⚠
What to Watch For
The pacing is slower than your average comic; it's a character drama first and an action book second.
Typical comic book violence: buildings explode, people get punched through walls, and the Green Goblin is genuinely menacing.
Conversation Starters
"If Peter has a family to protect, is it selfish or brave for him to become a superhero?"
"How does Peter's relationship with his kids change how he fights crime compared to when he was a teenager?"
"What would you do if you found out your dad was secretly a superhero?"
