Spider-Symmetry: Harry and Normie Osborn

 

Occasionally I like to highlight the visual or narrative symmetry between the Spider-Man and Spider-Girl comics. Today I wanted to demonstrate another fine example of artist Ron Frenz showering adoration upon one of the comic industry’s most underappreciated artists, Sal Buscema.

 

Presented for your consideration, Spectacular Spider-Man #189, where a deranged Harry Osborn is arrested and being loaded into the back of a van before threatening to reveal Spider-Man’s secret identity.

 

Now, compare this with the ending of What If #105 wherein Normie Osborn is being loaded into the back of a van and graces everyone with his own rendition of the 1967 Spider-Man theme song, complete with altered lyrics tailored to Spider-Girl.

 

Until I figure out the full lyrics and find footage of this lost cartoon, I remain

 

frogoat

Spider-Symmetry: Mary Jane and the Smythe Family

 

Another quick post, this time for my long-neglected Spider-Symmetry series. For today’s entry, I wanted to show a fun little connection between two Spidey comics separated by 20 years and a whole universe.

 

First up in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19 we meet Alistaire Alphonso Smythe, the son of Spencer Smythe. In his first appearance Alistaire is an overweight man who worked for the Kingpin until he is promptly fired. We also learn that Spencer Smythe left Alistaire and his mother, only visiting occasionally, and ignoring Alistaire, in his obsession talking only of destroying Spider-Man. Due to some silly shenanigans, Alistaire captures Mary Jane and her Aunt Anna, mistakenly believing MJ is Spider-Man until his flying saucer-style Spider-Slayer crashes into powerlines. While the cover of this story depicts Mary Jane removing her coat to reveal she is wearing a Spider-Man costume beneath, this unfortunately does not actually occur within the issue itself.

 

Staci Smythe makes her first appearance as an unnamed store clerk in the Spider Shoppe when May first discovers the place in Spider-Girl #45. We later learn more about Staci Smythe in Spider-Girl #91 when she is revealed as the costumed villain La Fantome. Staci Smythe desired to be a famous fashion designer and attended fashion college. While there she was recruited by Mary Jane Parker to work at the Spider Shoppe upon its opening, allowing her to pay for her education. Recognizing Staci's surname, Mary Jane had hoped to give the young woman a break from the stigma of her family's name, which Staci evidently greatly appreciated.

 

Disguised as La Fantome, Staci began making attacks on Daniel Kingsley at his Spider-Women themed fashion show and warehouse office as revenge for his profiting from idea's stolen from the Spider Shoppe. Staci also organized a rally in support of the Spider Shoppe which attracted the police, prompting her to don her La Fantome guise once more. However, La Fantome undone when her fellow rally attendee's (including Spider Shoppe secret-owner Mary Jane Parker and Spider-Girl herself, May Parker) joined forces to surround her wearing various spider-costumes allowing Spider-Girl the opportunity to easily apprehend and unmask her. 

 

So, we have both stories, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19 and Spider-Girl #90, featuring Mary Jane in the classic Spider-Man costume and both featuring a Smythe Family member as the antagonist, albeit with the latter issue revealing Staci at least meant well. Plus, this time Mary Jane wore the costume in the issue itself! Heck, going way back to the events of Amazing Spider-Man #25 (and visited by a time-travelling Mayday in Spider-Girl #10-#11), both Spencer Smythe and Mary Jane’s first appearance (albeit an obscured appearance), the resolution of the plot involves a Spider-Man costume being used to thwart the Spider-Slayer too. But maybe that’s a stretch?

 

Until I stop having my brain wrinkled by these fun little touches, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

Raptor Ramblings

 

 

While working on the Drago Family Tree I found some nice little details about Raptor that I wanted to share, but they didn’t really fit into that post. So, here’s a little entry detailing some more info about Brenda Drago: Raptor Ramblings.

 

Let’s start with something that might be kind of obvious but interesting nonetheless: Both Brenda and her father, Raniero ‘Blackie’ Drago wear protective headgear while flying. I mention this because it’s something originated by Blackie during his initial short-lived career as The Vulture (Amazing Spider-Man #48).

 

It’s also worth noting that Raniero rigged his helmet with a short-wave radio receiver. Brenda’s Raptor helmet keeps her in constant contact with her partner in crime (and abusive POS) Tony, both via audio and visual means (Spider-Girl #18). Later, as with all member of the New Warriors initially, Brenda’s helmet used an additional headset with microphone to maintain contact (Spider-Girl #43). While serving on Special Agent Weadon’s team Raptor apparently returned to using her helmet’s internal communication, as unlike her teammates, she is not shown to wear an earpiece with microphone (Spider-Girl #62).

 

Another nice piece of symmetry between Brenda and her father’s initial appearances is their choice of targets. Raniero attacks a wall street messenger who’s chained to his briefcase, flying off with the man and threatening to drop him him to get at the contents (Amazing Spider-Man #48). Brenda does nearly the same thing, targeting a diamond courier named Theo Rudolpho who’s chained to his briefcase, only this time the man is nearly killed when his briefcase handle breaks and he falls from a great height (Spider-Girl #18). Unlike her father, Brenda shows remorse for her actions and begins stealing food and leaving it at the man’s door, which eventually leads to her eventual redemption (Spider-Girl #28).

I’ve said in the past I love the Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe, and I do, but I also understand they are limited by page-space and time-factors as well as simple human error. While the following aren’t really mistakes, they are small omissions from Raptor’s profile in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 I’d like to see one day in an MC2 Handbook. In addition to the noted abilities of her winged suit, Raptor’s wings are able to be disengaged, folding up like a cape behind her and freeing up her arms (Spider-Girl #93, #97, Amazing Spider-Girl #26, #28). Finally, on at least one occasion, Brenda has made use of gas grenades which use gas that clings to their target and render them unconscious (Spider-Girl #62).

Okay, I think I’ve rambled enough for today. Brenda is a great character and a wonderful example of the redemption arc Spider-Girl has helped enable in members of her rogue’s gallery.

 

Until I run out of things to love about the MC2, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

Spider-Symmetry: Venom

A quick post-drop today because I felt like illustrating an example of Ron Frenz's impressive ability to integrate disparate artistic styles from across the decades of Spidey's publication history into his own inimitable style to make a coherent and believable world within each story.


To illustrate my point using a relevant example, here is a side by side comparison of Venom:

 Here's Eddie Brock as Venom from Amazing Spider-Man #300 drawn by Todd McFarlane.

And here's the only on-panel appearance of Eddie Brock as Venom in the MC2 from Amazing Spider-Girl #29 by Ron Frenz.

     

Not only does Mr Frenz reference Mr McFarlane's work, he also nails the latter's style while making it fit seamlessly within his own unique style. In doing so, Ron makes the world of the MC2 including Spider-Girl feel like the spiritual successor to Marvel's original heroes. I love it.

Until I run out of things to gush about, I remain

frogoat

Spider-Symmetry with Misery

A super-quick one today covering the little homage Ron Frenz pays to Pat Olliffe's work. From Spider-Girl Annual '99 we have a few great images featuring May 'Mayday' Parker aka Spider-Girl and Misery by Pat Olliffe with inks by Sal Buscema:

Then we have these pages by tremendous artist Ron Frenz (again inked by the amazing Sal Buscema) also featuring Spider-Girl and Misery from Spider-Girl #90:

Just some nice examples of the often overlooked care and effort that goes into making these wonderful books. If you spot anymore of these, let me know. There's heaps of them!

Until I stop revisiting old favourites, I remain

frogoat