WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #55!I can’t believe that two Spider-Man Villains turned out to be friendship goals for me. It’s rare enough to see bad boys form friendships, as I mentioned in an old article I wrote about one particular Gotham friendship. With exceptions, most villains form uneasy alliances to stop the hero, but two conniving schemers cannot be genuine with each other.
and yet, Rhino and Screwball instantly become my favorite supervillain friendship in the Marvel Universeas of The Amazing Spider-Man #55 by Zeb Wells, Emilio Laiso, Bryan Valenza and VC Joe Caramagna. I’m pretty sure Screwball and Rhino had never so much as shared a panel together before this issue, but it doesn’t take long before it’s evident that their chemistry is so much fun.
On top of just being a fun watch, their dynamic subverts expectations in a way that I desperately — and I mean Desperately – Need to see more of.
Screwball and Rhino become Marvel’s most unexpected friendship
The Amazing Spider-Man #55 by Zeb Wells, Emilio Laiso, Bryan Valenza and VC’s Joe Caramagna
While on a date with Shay, someone whom he may actually love more than crime-fighting (or Mary Jane), Peter Parker’s evening is interrupted by a rampaging Rhino and Screwball. In classic Peter fashion, he escapes to confront the duo, but rather than fight like Spider-Man, he urges them to just calm down for one night while he goes on a date. Since she is closer to Peter’s age, Screwball immediately sympathizes with Peter because she too is on the apps.
Rhino has no idea what they’re talking about, so naturally, Screwball decides to educate her new friend, right up to the final panel where she helps Rhino create his first dating profile. On top of being downright hilarious, it’s just downright adorable to witness. I think it’s the character dynamic that works too. It’s hard not to love the hyperactive, bubbly character working alongside the older, more serious, stoic brute. The creative team gets the most out of this dynamic in this issue, and the best part is that I still think there’s more in the tank here.
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We need more Screwball and Rhino
Maybe even a comic? Lord Willin?
The best part about this dynamic is how it subverts the expectations of supervillain team-ups. This is not an uneasy alliance or a collaboration to fight Spider-Man. There are two people who seem to enjoy each other’s company enough to try to collaborate on creating a dating profile. If that’s not real friendship, I don’t know what is. I am obsessed with how beautifully and quickly the friendship blossomed. I don’t care if it’s in some solo spinoff or another Spider-Man Funny, but I need more of Rhino and Screwball on-board together.