Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga – The Art of Spider-Man: Homecoming is the 15th release in the 22-book Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga series, which is republishing previously released art books as a resized matching set. This book plays with the series format by pretending to be Peter Parker’s high-school yearbook for Midtown School of Science & Technology.
Buy The Art of Spider-Man: HomecomingThe book opens with Captain America: Civil War concept art that featured Spider-Man and moves onto first period, “Homeroom,” a brief look at concept art for M.S.S.T. outfits and school colors. Second period where the cleverly titled “Web Design” presents an extensive dive into the Spider suit, from the homemade sweats/hoodie/goggles ensemble that Peter cobbled together to the many variations of what Tony Stark would design. The artwork for the latter can appear like a “Find the Differences” game because of how the subtle some of them are. The look at the web-shooters was a treat because these prop highlights Peter’s intelligence and this movie is the first time the suit featured web wings, which artist Steve Ditko created for the character’s debut in Amazing Fantasy #15.
Third period is “Shop Class,” which starts with Adrian Toomes’ headquarters and the weaponry created there such as the Shocker’s gauntlet and the Vulture’s wing suit, the idea of which according to Visual Development Illustrator Josh Nizzi, “was to make it less like the Falcon’s backpack wings and more like a vehicle.” Readers see the details that went into the suit’s components, from head gear to claw boot.
Setting aside the yearbook theme slips a bit by calling fourth period “After-School Activities,” the chapter shows concept from different sequences such at Peter fighting robbers at a neighborhood bank, storyboards of Peter being dragged behind a van after breaking up a weapons sale, and his first encounter with the Vulture. There’s also a look at “several variations on [Iron Man’s] existing Mark 47 [armor]” by Concept Artist Phil Saunders.
Fifth period is “School Clubs.” It covers different aspects of the academic-decathlon field-trip segment where Peter gets trapped within the Department of Damage Control and later where Peter has to save his classmates within the Washington Monument. Sixth period is “Physical Education.” The concept art shows Peter getting physical as he tries to rescue people after the Stanton Island Ferry is cut in half, which is partially his fault. This is also a major turning point in the film as Tony demands the suit back.
“Homecoming Dance” finds Peter back in his homemade suit, battling the Shocker in the school parking lot. In “Detention,” Peter fights Toomes at his headquarters but gets trapped under the collapsed warehouse, evoking the cover of Amazing Spider-Man Vol.1 #33. And again in their climatic battle that starts in the sky. Rather than wrapping up with marketing material as the previous volumes have, the book concludes with “Art Class,” which shows frames from the animated end credits by Perception NYC.
Taking a different approach to what has gone before serves both the film, which I wrote in my review was “a welcome grounding of the MCU,” and The Art of Spider-Man: Homecoming well. The artists appear inspired by the different characters they get to create for and the different scenarios the writers came up with. Fans of the film and this series of books should be delighted by this new entry.
