Sensational Spider-Man #32-34 "The Women of Peter Parker's Life" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Stu]

A one shot focusing on Mary Jane!

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/1106/sensat032_sm.jpg

COVER BY: CLAYTON CRAIN
WRITER: ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
PENCILS: SEAN CHEN

Through thick and thin, for better or for worse, Mary Jane Watson-Parker has always stood by her man’s side, supporting him in all his decisions. But as Peter’s latest choices have cost him and his family plenty—perhaps too much—has MJ finally reached the breaking point? The first of three one-shots focusing on the women in Peter Parker’s life post-unmasking!

Comments?

[wonderfly]

This one also appears to be a stand alone issue, until you get to the last page of this issue and are greeted with a cliffhanger. This also appears to be another 3-parter, (judging by the solicitations for the next couple of issues) but there appears to be a different name for each issue of this story arc. I guess I'll leave it as a stand alone story thread for now...

Once again, the story just doesn't live up to my expectations. Mary Jane's personality is completely different from the Mary Jane we saw over in Amazing Spider-Man this month. Over in Amazing Spider-Man, Mary Jane and Aunt May say they're going to stay by Peter's side no matter what, (and however stupid that may be on their part, I can see them doing that). Here, we have Mary Jane second guessing herself...and Aunt May even comes out and asks her when MJ steps out the door of their hiding place, "you are coming back, aren't you?" As if MJ's resolve is even a question!! Her loyalty should be beyond doubt!! That's how JMS writers her and Aunt May in Amazing Spider-Man, and that's how I expect, (or at least, that's how I'd like) her to be written in this book.

On the other hand, the artwork has improved this issue. Sean Chen does a wonderful job as fill-in artist, (love that 2-page spread showing all of Spidey's villians) and he can replace Angel Medina anytime, as far as I'm concerned.

[Stu]

I liked the artwork too. It was nothing sensational, but it was a lot better than the poor man's McFarcline we've been having since the revamp.

MJ's characterisation is a little off here, but I don't think there's anything wrong with her moments of self doubt, especially as running away from her problems has been a staple of MJ's character for a while now (dating back to the Roger Stern days). I loved the two page spalsh too - Spidey's rouges have been all but forgotten about over the past couple of years and it seems a lot of them are being turned into heroes (did we learn nothing from Venom: Lethal Protector back in 1992?)

[wonderfly]

MJ's characterisation is a little off here, but I don't think there's anything wrong with her moments of self doubt, especially as running away from her problems has been a staple of MJ's character for a while now (dating back to the Roger Stern days). I loved the two page spalsh too - Spidey's rouges have been all but forgotten about over the past couple of years and it seems a lot of them are being turned into heroes (did we learn nothing from Venom: Lethal Protector back in 1992?)

I suppose you have a point about MJ, and how she use to runaway from her problems, but she used to do it with a smile on her face and laughing at her concerns, (all of which was to hide how fearful she truly was). Nowadays it seems like she spends more time moping around...:sad:

And not all Spidey villians have become heroes, some have reverted back to being villians, (like the Sandman)!

[Shantosh9500]

I read this recently and ............ exactly since when is Madame Web french?

[Hanshotfirst113]

I liked the artwork too. It was nothing sensational, but it was a lot better than the poor man's McFarcline we've been having since the revamp.

Nice pun :D. And which revamp? Post Civil War? Marvel didn't reboot continuity, did they? Did you misspell McFarlane on purpose? Because I'm getting the impression that you're not too fond of the guy ;).

[Stu]

How does Aunt May fit into Peter's unmasked world?


http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/1206/SENSAT033000col_sm.jpg

WRITER: ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
PENCILS: SEAN CHEN
INKS: SCOTT HANNA

She wiped his nose when he was a little boy and cleaned his cuts and scrapes whenever he got hurt... In the hour of their greatest tragedy, the death of Ben Parker, she was his rock, and he was hers... She is May Parker, aunt of Peter Parker, the Sensational Spider-man... After her nephew suffers a terrible beating at the hands of one of his most brutal foes, it’s up to her to take care of him... But with the whole world seemingly against them, how long can she bear to see someone she loves in so much pain and anguish? The second of three issues exploring women in Peter Parker’s life post-unmasking!

Comments?

[wonderfly]

After having read this issue, contrary to what the solicitations say, this is indeed a story arc...it's just told from a different perspective with each issue. As such, I've merged the threads for Issues #32 and 33.

As for my thoughts on the content of the issue itself: My "love/hate" relationship with this title continues. Last issue, (the one focusing on Mary Jane) I hated, but this issue was allright, for me. I can honestly see Aunt May behaving the way she did when Peter was a child, (as shown in the flashbacks). May is the personification of overbearing mother figure, but she does it out of love. The conversation she had with Ben in the hospital in the flashback was great: "If you're done trying to convince me to leave this spot, Ben..."

Next issue features the Black Cat. Not sure why the author chose to pair her up with the Puma, (talk about your forgotten characters) but hey, at least she's not still lusting after Peter...or is she?!? :sweat:

[Hanshotfirst113]

If it's about MJ, why is it "women," plural.

[wonderfly]

If it's about MJ, why is it "women," plural.

Issue #32 was about Mary Jane. Issue #33 was about Aunt May. Next issue is about the Black Cat. It's a bunch of solo stories all concerning the same event: Spider-Man gets beat up by the Rhino, and how the others deal with it. More or less...

[Ahiru-kun]

Issue #32 was about Mary Jane. Issue #33 was about Aunt May. Next issue is about the Black Cat. It's a bunch of solo stories all concerning the same event: Spider-Man gets beat up by the Rhino, and how the others deal with it. More or less...

Are you kidding me? He got beat up by Rhino?

[wonderfly]

Are you kidding me? He got beat up by Rhino?

Yeah, I was kinda perplexed by that myself. Granted, the Rhino is one of the strongest of Spidey's Rogues, (the Rhino is able to duke it out with the Hulk) but c'mon, he's as stupid as a rock. Spidey always outwits the Rhino!!

[Stu]

Late again.

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0107/SENSAT034000_col_sm.jpg

While Spider-Man bounces back from the brutal beating he received at the hands of the Rhino, the Black Cat takes it upon herself to deliver a little payback. Of course, since he outweighs her by a few tons, Felicia Hardy might need some help.
Calling...the Puma! It’s revenge, feline-style, in this third issue that spotlights the women in Peter Parker’s life post-unmasking

Comments?

[Xurk]

Now that the story arc is over, I rated it four stars. I guess I'm a sucker for "intimate" stories like this, and it's never a bad thing to flesh out supporting characters some more.

I think the issue starring MJ was the weakest of the three, it had some okay moments, but it just didn't fit her current characterization of the past few years, as others have already stated here.

I really liked the Aunt May and Black Cat issues, as I feel like I've actually learned things about the characters from the two issues; ever since Aunt May found out that Peter is Spider-Man, I've gotten the feeling that she's an optimistic, 'ready-for-anything' lady [just look at how she dealed with the Chameleon], but here you could see what actually goes on inside her and that everything really is quite a strain on her.

As for the Black Cat issue, it seems like she's finally over Peter now! That is, if other writers keep to her status quo presented at the end of this issue... I'm not sure about that change, as we all like to relate to Spidey and it's nice to relate to someone who has one of the hottest chicks in the MU incessantly chasing after him ;)
I did like the way she dealt with the Rhino though, much better than the standard slugfest :) And nice to see that the continuity is being kept to concerning Fireheart and Felica, at least in this title ["He's my 'Mr. Right Now'", heh heh :D]

[wonderfly]

Yeah, this story arc really did improve with each passing issue. The interaction between Black Cat and the Rhino was pretty good, (and made sense...there was no way that she was going to defeat the Rhino, even with the help of the Puma).

Good use of flashbacks to the relationship between her and Spidey, and the best part: Sean Chen's artwork!!! Now that's he's finally free of that never ending "X-Men: The End" mini-series, can we get this guy a regular book to do arwork on?!?

But anyway, this was by far my favorite issue of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's run on this title to date.