Spider-Man is one of the most favourite super-heroes of kids of today, since they seem to relate to him in so many ways. With the release of the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse four years back, children not only got familiar with the concept of ‘Multiverse’, but were formally introduced to a variety of Spider guys.

Followed by the success of the action-packed show Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, every school-going kid has started to jump from a sofa, only to land in the ‘Spidey’ style.

If you are ‘Spidey’ crazy and consider yourself a huge fan, the latest book by Steve Behling, Spidey and his Amazing Friends– Meet the Spidey Team is the next best thing. Here, Peter Parker turns into Spidey and swings into action with Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales, who turn into Ghost-Spider and Miles.

In order to keep their neighbourhood safe, the trio joins hands to fight the villains. Based on the Spidey and His Amazing Friends series, this 18-page book captures the show’s fun, action and themes.

As Ghost-Spider, Miles and Spidey, the trio fight Rhino, Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin, and not only do they win, they show the readers how to work like a team even if the chips are against you. And when they needed help against Doc Ock’s Octobots during their adventure, they got super help as well.

The most important lesson a reader can learn from this book is that having friends who have your back is always important. In the age when most kids are stuck to TV for most of their hours at home, this book persuades them to explore and get out of their cosy homes, just the way Spidey and his friends respond to help requests. The book also encourages the readers to help the people on the street.

This book also instructs the readers that it is right to fight when one is attacked. Even when Doc Ock’s Octobots, which are large in number, attack the heroes, they remain cool, do not panic and fight when they think they are right. According to this book, there is a ‘hero’ in everyone and it’s about time that it is discovered. Remember, when the good guys got cornered, they have got help, as ‘friends in need are friends indeed’. And that’s why you shouldn’t keep your friends away from you.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 27th, 2022