Birthdays are hard. They’re moments where you reflect on how much you’ve changed, and where you come from. It fits then that Miles Morales: Spider-Man #10 (which is apparently the 250th issue of Miles in his own solo title, according to the Legacy numbering on the cover) shows Miles thinking about his origins--origins that have come to haunt him, as visitors from the Ultimate Universe appear in the Brooklyn of the 616. 

This installment takes a big time-jump from the previous issues, as we learn that Miles hasn’t put on his Spider-Man costume in a few months, since his father and uncle saved him from the mysterious Assessor. He’s prompted to get back into a suit when two new mysterious-yet-familiar villains attack Brooklyn, interrupting Miles’ birthday celebration.

Saladin Ahmed continues to have a firm handle on these characters and their fears and motivations. Miles and his father’s conversation about why Miles has his mother’s last name (instead of his fathers) is a deftly written scene. Ahmed also introduces a fun running gag where the book refuses to tell us exactly how old Miles is, aside from the fact that he’s still in his teens. Javier Garrón’s art, with coloring by David Curiel, is also strong. Giving the domestic moments of Miles’ birthday celebration the same amount of energy and care as Miles’ battle with the villainous Ultimatum and his green lackey. 

This issue also has a charming backup feature, telling the secret origin of Starling, Miles’ new sometimes ally, sometimes love interest. This story is a charming series of vignettes written by Ahmed, showing a completely different side of Starling’s grandfather, the classic Spider-Man villain the Vulture. The art by Annie Wu is gritty and expressionistic, a nice change from Garrón’s more traditional superhero vibe. The coloring by Rachelle Rosenberg is strangely flat. Both stories are lettered well by VC’s Cory Petit.

As ever, Miles Morales: Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s best titles currently running. It’s nice to see it reach a milestone, even if it’s a weirdly inflated one through Marvel’s Legacy numbering system. 

Grade: A