Spider-Girl's Spider-Signal

 

A little while back I wrote a post discussing Spider-Girl’s First Web-shooters and today I’d like to present a kind of addendum or supplemental post about one specific aspect of her web-shooters. Let us jump right in and discuss the implications.

 

Introduced in Spider-Girl #18 by Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz (who was filling-in for Pat Olliffe for the issue) is Mayday’s own version of the classic Spider-Signal, here used on The Buzz during a confrontation. Notably, the light is projected from Spider-Girl’s web-shooter unlike her father’s version which is built into his equipment belt.

 

On a side-note, the original release of Spider-Girl #18 depicts most of the eye outline projected by the Spider-Signal in a slightly different shaded red colour. This is also the case in the Spider-Girl Digest Volume 4 reprint and even the recent Spider-Girl: The Complete Collection Volume 2 reprint. This does not appear to be the case on digital editions of the issue, where the Spidey-eyes are black as they would be normally for Spider-Man’s Spider-Signal.

 

The design choice to have May’s version of the Spider-Signal built into her web-shooters is an interesting but also practical one. As Mayday does not appear to use an equipment belt, it seems logical to place the Spider-Signal on her web-shooter.

 

Additionally, as pointed out by arias-98105, the idea of a Spider-Signal-like light being projected from a web-shooter dates back to at least the original 1967 Spider-Man animated series, as seen in such episodes as ‘Captured by J Jonah Jameson’. We know artist and Spider-Girl co-creator Ron Frenz does like the show though this is apparently not a deliberate reference but instead a happy coincidence.

 

Yet another point of note is that since this issue follows immediately after Peter hands over the web-shooters as a sign of trust and a passing of the torch. May herself calls it her ‘new Spider-Signal’ in her internal monologue, so it might be an upgrade Peter installed for his daughter as a sign of support, or even potentially an entirely new pair of web-shooters.

 

 

While the Spider-Signal does not make a lot of appearances in the Spider-Girl series, it is worth noting it appears on the covers of The Buzz #1, Spider-Girl #46 and #74. I will give out a coveted No-Prize to anyone who can point out any other appearances!

 

Until I stop enjoying blinding potential criminals with intense red lights to strike fear into the superstitious, cowardly lot, I remain

 

frogoat

Is the MC2's Aftershock in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur?!

 

I do not usually like to do these sorts of posts because of how poorly they tend to age, but with recent rumblings surrounding the new Disney animated series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, I figured I might as well take the time to quickly lay out what we know about the potential appearance of an MC2 character within the show: Aftershock.

 

With the release of a few clips from the upcoming tv series, we have seen glimpses of the villainous Aftershock, voiced by Alison Brie along with a few officially released images. Visually, the electrifying character bears some resemblance to a few iterations of Electro, such as the Spectacular Spider-Man animated series and elements of the Ultimate Spider-Man comics which itself inspired the live-action version portrayed by Jamie Foxx in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie. I have also seen some making comparisons to the DC Animated Universe’s Livewire.

 

 

 

 

But none of that ties Brie’s character to the MC2’s Allison Dillon aka Aftershock and there is another shocking alternative to consider: the Main Marvel Universe has its own version of Aftershock also known as Danielle Blunt who first appeared in Young Allies (vol. 2) #1 and originally believed herself to be the daughter of Electro despite the age discrepancy. Interestingly, both versions of Aftershock were created by writer Sean McKeever, though the MC2’s went unnamed in her initial appearance and her familial connection to Max Dillion was not established until later.

 

I should also mention there is a third candidate for the identity of this animated version of Aftershock, though somewhat less likely: Francine Frye who assumed the mantle of Electro in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 4) #17. On the other hand, it is just as likely this iteration of Aftershock’s secret identity will go unidentified within the show, given it is a show intended for children and other similar programs do not focus on this sort of thing.

 

 

Anyway, we will find out soon enough when the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur cartoon debuts next year. Until then, let me know what you think! Either way, we are getting a big red dinosaur teaming up with a young genius girl, what is not to love?

 

Until we get a nice slice of MC2 in our media adaptions, I remain

 

frogoat