Let's talk about Darkdevil

Let's be clear; I love Darkdevil. From Reilly Tyne's complicated origin story too his snarky attitude, I dig this character. He doesn't feel like any other I've come across, equal parts legacy character (though who's legacy is debatable), protective older brother type and grim and gritty avenger of the innocent. I was intrigued by Darkdevil from the first time I 'met' him in Spider-Girl # 17 (yes, I'm aware he shows up from #2 onwards but I didn't read those issues until later). The enigmatic stranger who knows Peter is Spider-man, knows about Kaine and dresses like Matt Murdock's alter-ego, Daredevil.

But it was the Darkdevil mini series that really piqued my interest in young Mr Tyne. I've heard many criticisms of the series, but I honestly reveled in every panel of ever page of those three issues. It was one of my first comics I owned with glossy magazine style printed pages, which made it stand out to me instantly on the newsagent shelf. Besides, hadn't I seen this character in Spider-girl before? Didn't I want to find out why he looked like Daredevil? And what's this? It's only a mini series? That will be easy to collect, and hey, if I don't like it, no big loss, right?

Only, I enjoyed the mini series. Great opening issue, complete with a great set up involving the release of hardened criminal Kaine. Great villain for our hero to attempt to find and defeat. And most importantly, a great origin story. Complicated? Yes. Satisfying? Yes. The series ends on one of my favourite pages ever, with Tyne returning to his hideout, beaten and bruised, concluding 'The time has come for him to return to his loft, and get a good night's sleep...Reilly Tyne has to report to work tomorrow.' Beautiful!

Aside from all the great writing, great art and great character stuff, did I mention he turns into a literal devil?

frogoat

Veronica Mars

I sat down with some friends recently and we watched Veronica Mars in it's entirety. Veronica Mars is the kind of show that just doesn't come along often enough; here we have smart, snarky female lead who moonlights as a teen detective. The brilliance of the shows premise is in it's approach. It pretends to be yet another teen drama, with all that juicy angst and rich kids brooding and misbehaving. Except it's not. Veronica Mars at it's core is a hardboiled crime drama, straight out of an old black-and-white Noir film.

Season one kicks off with the murder of Veronica's best friend, Lily. Veronica's father, Keith looses his job as Sheriff after accusing Lily's family of the murder. Veronica's mother leaves soon afterwards and Keith takes up as a Private Eye. I won't spoil the mystery for you, but needless to say it's a humdinger. The cast of characters are both well performed and well chosen. We meet the 09ers, the PCH biker gang, the spoiled rich kids and the lower-class kids who all have secrets.

The second season follows a similar formula as the first, this time with a school bus accident making up our season-long mystery. The show fleshes out more of it's supporting cast, with some small parts in the first season, now becoming more important roles. The season length story arc this time doesn't feel as gripping this time until the final third of the season, though we are consistently given clues through the run. I just didn't feel as drawn-in as a did with Lily, possibly because season one used several flashbacks to introduce us to-and make us care about-her character. I wanted to know who would do such a thing, because I liked Lily. The busload of students from Veronica's class never felt quite....for lack of a better term, real to me. Still, Kristen Bell's acting chops manage to make me care enough, and there are a few smaller mysteries that play out through the coarse of the series that help to pique your interest throughout. We care this time around because Veronica and Keith care.

For whatever reason, season three changes the formula. Instead of a season length mystery arc, we get three shorter mysteries: a series of rapes at Veronica's university, the murder of the Dean and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the Coach of the basketball team. I enjoyed the change of pace this season, with the shorter mysteries being a refreshing change. However, it does rob the season finale of a big finish. Instead the last few episodes build up another plot that implicates Veronica and leads Keith to make a compromising decision. Don't get me wrong, the finale is what it should be, I just felt a sense of anti-climax watching it; something I didn't feel at the close of season one or two. It does put Veronica in the place she needs to be, character wise, but I needed more.

Season three would be the last for this critically acclaimed series. Like so many shows I've enjoyed over the years, it suffered from low-ratings. I'd give almost anything to see this show return with new stories for the young sleuth from Neptune with a sharp tongue and a thirst for the truth. If you haven't seen it, you can track down the dvd's for a very reasonable price. I guarantee you won't regret it.

Captain Marvel

I am forever a month behind the rest of the world, so let's kick off with a review of the new Carol Danvers starring title, Captain Marvel. It's an excellent first issue that really gets right to the center of the character and introduces new elements to the established mythos, which justify the new direction the book is heading in straight off the bat. Loved it. Go check it out. It's that good.






What are you waiting for? Go pick it up!

Review: Amazing Spider-man

This is my late review of the new Spidey flick, The Amazing Spider-man. I'm on the fence on this one. I'm genuinely surprised by all the positive reviews, though, I have to say. I watched the film and I kept waiting for it to snatch me away on a web-line and take me on an adventure. Let's start with the good, then, shall we?

 Andrew Garfield is Peter Parker. With his gangly frame, and his delivery of snappy jokes and jabs, he was Spidey, while also demonstrating the angsty emotions and intelligence of that geek Peter I've know much of my life, Peter Parker. Emma Stone shines as a modern-day Gwen Stacy, with her awkward but somehow confident flirting with Garfield and her natural air of intellect and charm make her a worthy companion. Honestly, I felt the entire cast did an amazing job. Heck, the special effects were dang good too.

 The trouble is, the film never goes anywhere. Yes, Uncle Ben dies and Peter attempts to find the killer. Yes, Curt Conners becomes the Lizard. And yes, Captain Stacy even dies at the climax of the film. But it never felt like the elements of the story fitted together naturally. In fact, watching some of the trailers and thinking over what I saw in theaters, I'm inclined to believe several scenes were shoot and inserted late in production, while others were removed from the final product. For example, there is a subplot involving Peter looking into his parents disappearance that leads him to the Dr Conners lab. Only, he never really asks the good doctor anything about his parents, while a clip from one of the trailers depicts the Lizard taunting Peter with this information. Funny, that wasn't in the film. A lot of scenes end up feeling like this; set up, build up, and then dropped. The shadowing villain behind the Ratha fulfills his role by putting pressure on Conners to deliver a...cure, I guess, for Osborn, who we are told is dying. Ratha shows up throughout the film until the Lizard emerges and appears to be hunting him...but then we never see Ratha again. He just disappears midway through the story. I'm guessing another victim of studio meddling.

But honestly, I could have forgiven so much more because, as I said, the performances were all brilliant. I enjoyed a sort-of-homage to Sam Raimi's films with New York workers pulling strings to get Spidey to the location of his big showdown with the Lizard. I hope this review doesn't come off as overly negative, as I found a lot to enjoy in this film, with it's more serious tone and it's mechanical webshooters. I just wish there was more to like. At the end of the day, I enjoyed it enough to walk away happy that they made another Spidey flick, but also wondering how Marvel would have handled it's top hero, given the chance.

J2: Geek Tank

I've been reading J2's first and to-date, only collection and as I've been neglecting my blog of late, I figure this is as good place to start as any. Besides, I love Juggy!

So, J2 is Zane Yama, a geeky kid in the same mold as Peter Parker with the major difference being he is the son of former X-villain Cain Marko, aka The Unstoppable Juggernaut. Of the three original MC2 titles, J2's would have to be the most distinct in tone. It's fast paced and funny, quickly establishing the protagonist followed by the school jock, our antagonist. Admittedly the characters are sketchy, broadly created to get the point across.

That said, a personal favorite moment for Zane's character (and a great piece of comedy writing) is the initial transformation into a juggernaut. In a good example of the unreliable narrator, Zane tells us, the reader, how he handled the transformation with enthusiasm and maturity...only to run through the school naked screaming for his mother.

Over the course of his too-short series Zane becomes a fun, offbeat hero who means well but often screws up or lets his impulses get the better of him, but always come through in the end. Over in the Avengers Next series, J2 became a mainstay of the team, one of the few members to stick with the Avengers throughout every incarnation.

Amongst the legacy heroes of the MC2, J2 sits near the top of my list for not being your typical hero.

Amazing? We'll see.

Avoiding spoilers in this day and age is difficult. I won't lie, I've seen a couple of the Amazing Spider-man trailers simply by visiting the cinema, but I've purposely stayed away from anything online. Why? Because, for once, I want to see a Superhero movie without preconceived notions of what to expect. In short, I want to make up my own mind about this movie. I don't want to know in advance what type of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy the actors will be playing. I don't. I just want to sit down with my friends and eat popcorn while watching a new Spidey flick. Is that to much to ask?

Until the internet discovers it's long lost brother, the Twilight Zone, I remain

frogoat

Prometheus and Artificial Life

So, I watched Prometheus recently. And it just wouldn't be an Alien-ish flick without an android in the group.

Let's have a quick recap, shall we:

Ash

Cold and calculating, and with just a hint of misogyny, Ash followed The Company's orders to retrieve and study the Xenomorph creature in Alien. Crew expendable, naturally.

Bishop

Pleasant and endearing, Bishop is the other side of the same coin. Following the classic sci-fi robotics laws to never harm, or allow to come to harm a human, he's instrumental throughout Aliens and nearly makes it in Alien 3. Bishop also has this cool party trick with a knife, man...

Call

The newest addition to the pirate crew aboard the good ship Betty, Call is soon shown to be more than a cute face: She's a second generation synthetic (an 'Auton') trying to stop the rebirth of the loveable alien species Ripley rendered extinct 200 years prior.

David

Finally, we have David who tends to the crew of the Prometheus as they seek out the origins of their species. David displays emotions but appears detached from humanity. David may have an Oedipus complex, apparently desiring to smite his creators for making him simply because 'they could'.

I feel the Alien series as a whole has given us a great mirror to look at humanity through with these creations. Like the Xenomorphs themselves, the depictions of artificial intelligence change and evolve to reflect our own status quo.

Oh, and the next synthetic/android/auton must have a name starting with 'E'. It's tradition at this point!

Until The Company becomes benevolent, I remain

frogoat

Geek Generation

I love Doctor Who.

Have you noticed recently how much love people are heaping onto geeky pursuits? Right now (and for the past decade, to my mind) has been the best ever time to be a geek or a nerd. Whether you love Star Trek, read comics, play video games, enjoy card or tabletop games, read science fiction or fantasy novels or just enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up, your probably finding a whole lot more acceptance and respect in the wider community. And isn't it wonderful? Culturally, nerds and geeks have been stigmatized and minimized in the eyes of others, in film and in social circles. We were the kids with the glasses and knitted vest sucking on a Ventolin inhaler at the first sign of a *gasp* girl! How times have changed. We love our Kirk's, ours Spider-man's, our Buffy's, our Harry Potter's, our Ripley's, our Mario's, our Master Chiefs, our Chandra Nalaars, our D20's and our Skynets, our Data's, our Battlestar's, our Na'vi, our Ponies. We love our geekiness and we show it with pride. There is a whole generation of young people who will grow up proudly decreeing there love and enjoyment of all things geeky without fear of being ridiculed. And that makes me happy.

Until D & D leads to sewer-based accommodation, I remain

frogoat

May's Wardrobe

They say clothes make the man. Tony Stark wore expensive suits before wearing....well, an even more expensive suit. It defines his character, a kind of visual short hand to tell the reader essential information about who he is through his choice in clothing. Take Peter Parker; his early look was clearly a stereotypical nerd, the sleeveless sweaters, the glasses, the pocket protector, the pants worn way too high. What does his clothing tell you about who he is? Well, for starters he looks like he was dressed by an old lady. His clothes make it clear his family can't afford the latest fashion. Also, sweaters are warm and practical.

Now, let's take a closer look at May 'Mayday' Parker:

When we first meet Mayday, she's wearing her basketball uniform.She's athletic.

 Later, she rocks a flannel shirt with jeans. Notice she also has glasses and wears earrings. Confident, smart, comfortable in her own skin. I'll admit I don't know fashion very well, but this feels like it has traces of the grunge look to me.

Before we get any further, I've got to come clean: I pawed through over 140 Spider-Girl comics in preparation for this particular blog. I scanned nearly 200 images, all different outfits May has worn through the years. Of course, posting every single one here would be ridiculous (I did consider it) so I've decided to focus on major shifts, as well as a few recurring themes.

May's personal style of dress evolves as much as she does. Starting with her early appearances in her own title, May often wears the classic shirt-and-jeans combo, with the occasional mid-riff-exposing shirt or hoodie with cargo pants and long coats because, hey, it get's cold!


Over time, we see more and more little changes; three-quarter pants, haltertops, sleeveless shirts, sandals, backpacks, even a fishnet undershirt! Admittedly, I'm not a teenage girl, but much of May's style fits both her age and personality.

 

It's around this time, I feel, May starts to transition even further, trying a wide variety of styles and looks. After all, aren't our teen years all about finding ourselves.With a new hairstyle came some eclectic fashion choices:

...I may have gone over board with references on this one. It's worth mentioning the reader input. Several outfits were submitted to the Spider-Girl letters pages and were used in various issues, some of which I have included in the image above-see the bottom left as well as the image above it on the far left.

Anyway, the end of the original Spider-Girl title meant a months-long jump ahead for May and a jump in her taste in clothes.

A lot of red, blue and black, as well as the school colors, orange and white thrown in for good measure. Not only did Mayday let her hair grow out, she also grew up. Here she appears even more confident, with more skirts and different clothing combinations, all following an internal consistency and logic. I have to be honest, looking back at the original series, there were clear signs that both Pat and Ron were finding out who May was as a person, in the same way we, the readers, were discovering it.You could see them trying new looks, and seeing what worked, what didn't and what they could tweak. But in Amazing Spider-Girl Ron Frenz is confident and clear in his vision of who Mayday is and what she'd wear. I think his creative efforts on both series helped give May a definitive look.

 

 Of course, Ron may have co-created Spider-Girl, but for 5 years May's wardrobe was in the very capable hands of Pat Olliffe. Pat's take changes over his time on the book but (as you can see above) it's notable he quickly established a 'base' style, and deviated and grew from there. Also, on many occasions a shirt or other piece of clothing used by Pat will later inform an outfit used by Ron. These two artists continually improved and complimented each others work, creating between them a visual language. I can't sing their praises enough.

It's significant that a series starring a young female lead character never resorted to objectifying May. Mayday is an individual with her own unique style, she doesn't need to wear revealing outfits or pose provocatively because the writer and artist chose to let her personality and natural beauty shine by treating her as human being. I'm very proud to have grown up with her as a positive role model for young people.

This project took me a very long time, so I hope I've done this topic justice. I'd love to hear what everyone thinks about May's wardrobe, so leave your thoughts below!

Until I invest in a leisure suit, I remain

frogoat

An update

I've got a confession. I never truly understood just how dedicated Ron and Pat were and are to their craft. Don't get me wrong, they are two of my favorite artists, but until I set about investigating May's wardrobe issue by issue, I had no idea just how much work they put in! Now, I'm not entirely finished going through all 140-odd issues yet, but I'm close. Consistency, skill and a keen eye for fashion pervade every issue, it's truly impressive. My trilby goes off to you fine and fashionable gentlemen!

Short and Sweet

I just re-read Wild Thing #2 recently and I had to laugh when I reached the letters page which has letters from other then-recently-cancelled MC2 titles. One particular letter about A-Next caught my interest. It mentions how Spider-Girl joining the Avengers in her own title (#13) helps set her apart from her dad (Tom D, ever the trail-blazer!) and the letter-writers heart-felt hope that A-Next will return. He also suggests when the series does return that it should be titles simply 'Avengers Next'. Now, this was published way back in 1999. The second title to star the MC2 Avengers was in fact titled Avengers Next, which was published in 2007. Coincidence? Fate? Excellent long-term memory on the part of Tom Defalco? We may never know. *cue spooky theme*

Until the MC2 Avengers get another series (this time called, oh, I dunno, Next Avengers?), I remain

frogoat

Good Hair Day

Okay, let's jump right in and look at hair! Yay! This is the evolution of May 'Mayday' Parker's hair:

For her first outing in What if #105, May rocks this nifty number designed by Ron Frenz. Part punk, part modern-day geeky, part coolest-kid-in-playground (plus I really like those glasses!)

 Pat Olliffe carries this look over into Spider-Girl #1, with a few tweaks.

I like how unique this look is. How many women in comics wear their hair short? It makes sense for May, as a basketball player to have shorter hair. The scruffy nature of it really suits May in these early issues.It sticks around until #11, where it changes...

Notice it's neater and appears shorter, a bit 'harder' I feel, as well. Again, short hair fits May's character, but makes May seem distant and maybe even cold. Fittingly, this was around the time May was having difficulties keeping her life in balance, often missing out on time with friends, surely appearing less friendly their eyes.

Issue #25 signals the first big change to Mayday's overall appearance. I adore this look, it's a definite favorite, and it stuck for quiet some time. I like the way her hair remains manageable in length but now has a more ;feminine look to it. Confidence is what the hair says to me, something May will slowly gain over the next 30-odd issues.

Following battles with Seth and the hugely destructive events of Marked for Death, May certainly shows doubt in her abilities and her role as a hero. Spider-Girl #67 leaves us with a May who is shaken, but not beaten. I like this shift in style. May is literally letting her hair down, but it stays practical under a mask.

With a few tweaks and changes here and there, May keeps this look for the remainder of the original series, ending with issue #100. May promises her mother and father she will retire for the time being. Understandable, considering her near-fatal stabbing.

Big change comes in Amazing Spider-Girl #1. Our heroine has been out of the hero-biz for a few months, campaigning for president at Midtown High, volunteering at a shelter for abused women, and even manages to score herself a boyfriend. But most notable of all, May has let her hair grow long. May seems more mature. But she also seems more....conventional, I guess. Considering the huge revelation's and heart ache to come, this look feels right, in retrospect. Initially, I didn't like this take on Mayday, but after a re-read of everything from #1 right up to Spider-Girl: The End I like the contrast. May is not only the daughter of Spider-Man, but also the daughter of Mary Jane, an amazing woman in her own right, and I like the way this look harkens to classic Mary Jane.

Thoughts?

Until I stop over-thinking hair, I remain

frogoat 

Vocabulary and comics

More than likely, yeah.

I was thinking about words today. Heck, I was even thinking in words today. I'd go so far as to say I was speaking words today. So, anyway! I got to thinking about how my vocabulary grew as a kid, being kind of sheltered as I was growing up. Of course, I realized it was through reading comics. I'd read them, stumble on a word I'd never heard of and reach for a dictionary....and then sometimes a thesaurus. Stan Lee, Roger Stern, Tom Defalco, Alan Moore....the list of  lexicographers goes on. I learned such great words as cranium, superfluous, cerebral cortex, epidermis, incognito, incongruous, ruse, fascade, nuff said, hoo-ha, and even a few phrases, like, 'let's get outta here!', 'He's finally gone', '______ is really, truly dead and will never come back', 'Feeling loose and slamming heat' and finally, 'It's a Spider-Girl world'. That last one is still true. 'Cancelled' was often bandied around whenever Spider-Girl was mentioned, yet they used the clearly-made-up word 'Un-cancelled' a heck of a lot more.

Until I stop learning, I remain

frogoat

Spider-man by Paul Jenkins

I once had my at-the-time small collection of comics stolen, leaving me with very few remaining and a very sad face. On the plus side, I fancy the thief at least had good taste. Among the comics taken were some superbly written and illustrated Spider-man comics from a time when there were very few. Around the time I started reading comics Spidey wasn't doing so well, story-wise. Webspinners: Tales of Spider-man was a title that was a sort of mixed-bag, written by a rotating who's who of the industry. Issues #10-12 was written by Paul Jenkins and I only recently had the chance to buy and read them again and I must say they are as good as I remember. Paul's story was simple enough, and done to death: An old foe slips into Peter's home life and takes Mary Jane hostage. Or so it would seem.

The foe in question is the Chameleon, from the original Amazing Spider-man #1. He seamlessly assumes the role of Peter and cheers up Aunt May, and leaves a message for Peter to meet him on top of the oh-so-famous bridge where Spidey fought the Green Goblin and Peter lost Gwen Stacy forever. At first it appears as though Chameleon has taken Mary Jane hostage, but this whole situation is a ruse to talk to Peter. Not Spider-man, Peter. The Chameleon reminisces about 'old times' and then tells Peter his whole life is hollow as he has no real experiences, always playing someone else. Then he tells Peter he loves him. Peter bursts out laughing, which leads to the Chameleon laughing, saying he didn't mean in a romantic sense. Peter jokingly asks what he plans to do for an encore and the Chameleon responds by jumping off the bridge.

The story has one more beat to play as Peter, shaken by this turn of events heads home, brushes off his aunt and promptly falls asleep. In his dreams Peter is confronted by all his failures and defeats, all the deaths he failed to prevent. As a young boy at the time this story was not only odd but also strangely gripping. This deep examination of what kind of man Peter Parker is, the losses that define him and his resolve to somehow keep going in spite of it all. This was an inspiring story and, along with Paul Jenkins run on Peter Parker: Spider-man with Mark Buckingham, left me a life-long Spider-man fan.


 So, if your out there, Mr Jenkins, I'll send you the bill for my junkie-like comics habit.

Until I stop reading those twenty-two page adventures, I remain

frogoat

The Girl Who Fell To Earth

Okay, just a quick post this time (which was what the last one was supposed to be, but I digress) to talk about a really great story. And I don't mean a great Spider-Girl story, nor do I mean just a great comic book story. This is a moving piece of literature worthy of an award.

The story is simple: Sandra has been consistently physically abused by her boyfriend for the past twenty-something issues. May has made efforts to do something about the matter, but has only made things worse. things come to a head when both Sandra and Courtney end up in hospital, severely beaten by Sandra's boyfriend, Howard. May tracks him down and very nearly kills him before realizing beating him is only continuing the cycle of violence. Moose, boyfriend of Courtney, on the other hand feels differently and lays into Howard until May talks him down.

I love this issue. It, even more so than the issues that built to it really helped highlight a serious issue and handled it with the care and gravity it deserves. I recommend anyone kind it and read it. The letters page is even more griping as Tom Defalco, the writer, tells readers to look it up online and be as horrified as he was. Abusive relationships amongst teens is a huge issue and one that is sorely overlooked. This story touched me in a very human way, and I have nothing but love and respect for the team who worked so diligently on it.

Everything about this issue is pitch perfect, from the opening scenes to the closing page. The colors, the word placement, the dialog, the pencils, the beautiful thick ink lines really do work in unison to paint the story. So thank you, Tom, Ron, Sal, 'Gotham', Deb and the then-freshly-minted editor Molly. You're heroes.

Until I manage a single-sentence blog, I remain

frogoat

Body Image?

As she first appeared.

I had the opportunity recently to re-read a lot of the original Spider-Girl series. Now, that in it's self was rather gratifying, validating me that this was, in fact, a great series. But while I was doing some reading, a friend of mine was taking some interest and asking questions and making comments. Now, some context. I rarely read comics around others and I enjoy the odd occasion when I get to address genuine questions, rather than mockery. So, anyway, my friend pointed out that May, as Spider-Girl, is really rather skinny. This got me thinking, really thinking. So, is there a rationale behind this that can be justified? And also; is this depiction of a young woman's body in comics a good one for young readers, especially girls?
 

 Okay, I should narrow this one down. The issue referred to by my friend, specifically issue #65, is penciled by Ron Frenz. Now, I love Mr Frenz. His art is adaptable, clear, old-school and fun. Looking over the series as a whole, starting with the original What If ?! #105, I decided Mr Frenz clearly isn't trying to depict May as anything other than a typical teenage girl. May is depicted as slim but athletic, by both Ron and Pat Olliffe (who penciled Spider-Girl from #1 through to the mid-fifties, give or take a fill-in now and then by Ron). Pat's depiction of May notably changed from his early issues, with May physically appearing taller and leaner as time went on.

                                                                                                                             

Pat Olliffe's take on May throughout his run.

Fill-in issues by Ron show an attempt to mimic Pat's style, where ever possible, not wanting to break the tone of the book. As I said, Ron is a professional and very talented. In the middle the Season of the Serpent six-parter we have a sort of handing-over of the penciling duties to Ron. Frenz' slowly let his style come through, eventually arriving at the slightly cartoon-y take on May's world we see in the aforementioned issue #65. I'll be honest, at first, I found this take jarring, but it soon grew on me.

Cartoon-y but Cool: Ron Frenz takes the reins.

 This, then is the explanation for May's skinny look. Changing over time again, Ron's ever-evolving pencils would give us a more muscular Mayday, with a slight change in the cut of the costumes lines, and a change to the look of the masks eyes, giving us a more grown-up or mature look. I really appreciated this new take as it seemed reasonable that May would have the body of a gymnast, in much the same way I prefer Spider-Man depicted. It makes sense a bouncing ball of spider-powered energy would have an athletic body, rather than one of a body-builder.

A more mature Mayday by Ron Frenz.

So, Mayday has been depicted in an ever changing way, not always photo-realistic, not always consistent, but always growing. The big question then; is this a good thing? Does a cartoon-y but still skinny May offer any young readers a positive message, or does she reinforce the negative body-image ideal of thin young women? Honestly, I look on this series with rose-tinted glasses sometimes, but this topic did deserve serious examination. I can't reasonably ignore this possible criticism to my favorite series and character.

 May is a positive role-model for young readers, she's a strong female character who doesn't use sex appeal as a selling-point. May plays basketball, she thinks for herself and often tries to avoid violence, preferring to find another way whenever possible. She makes mistakes, fights with her parents and let's her friends down, but always tries to make amends. While the rest of the world seems hung up on body image, here is someone who wants to be defined by her actions, not her cheek bones or waist line. I'm not saying May isn't sensitive to that type of thing, just that she knows better than to take it seriously or let it change her.

Thoughts?

 So, in the end, I think society in general puts far to much emphasis (either positive or negative) on how a person (especially a young woman) looks when there is a much richer, unique person underneath it all.

Until Spider-Girl wears bikini armor, I remain

frogoat

Kicking Death in the nuts. LITERALLY!

From Spider-Girl #56

I was tempted to say 'Nuff Said!' but I felt I should explain this one a bit. The big guy? Seth, the self proclaimed Serpent God of Death. In the background you'll notice Mary Jane in childbirth. This story is the end of Season of the Serpent, which is a favorite story every time I re-read it. It puts Mayday through hell, taking on a bad guy she stands no chance against, leading her to places she's never been and culminates in the birth of Peter and Mary Jane's second child, 'Benjy'. It has a clear theme of death and birth, and leaves May in what I consider a worthy place amongst her super-hero peers. Having been nearly beaten to death, and left to die slowly at the bottom of the river harnessed to an an anchor, she squares off for another round with Seth, this time with as many allies as she can muster all in one place. Unfortunately, Seth traps them all in the Avengers Compound using his personal force field, leaving May the only one to stop him. It's a great story, with some real emotional moments, great action and great character beats. Plus, well, the page above speaks for it's self.

Until nut shots stop being epic, I remain

frogoat

Supportive Cast

Character Development

A character is a stock character when they are defined only by a few traits. 'Oh, hey it's the black guy!' or 'The geeky friend' or 'Bitchy popular girl'. I figure if you have trouble describing the character without resorting to stereotypes, then the character is either underdeveloped or just plain boring. So, does Spider-Girl's civilian cast hold up? Let's have a look.

Davida

Davida Kirby starts off, to my mind, as a generic best friend. But let's dig a little further. Davida plays basketball along side Mayday when the series starts. She keeps up with celebrities and gossip and has a knack for knowing when a store is having a sale... normally shoe store sales, now I come to think of it. Davida wants to either go pro in basketball or go into public relations, following in her mothers footsteps. Davida does well enough in school when she wants to and is team player, both in sport and in balancing friends. She does however treat males as disposable objects and has a stubborn streak. She outed a team mate as a mutant after she took her spot on the team, believing she was a better player.

Courtney Duran

Courtney is May's earliest friend. She's the geeky friend. She loves the Lord of the Rings trilogy. She's in the science club. She has thick glasses. She's a little overweight. Oh my god, clearly a stereotype! But wait, hold on a second, come back! She's also the only friend May's had who would stick with her no matter what. Her friendship is unconditional, she's loyal like a German Shepard. God, bad analogy! She listens, she's there for you, she wont judge, she's understanding. Apparently, May and Courtney first met when they were four, May's first day at pre-preschool. May was feeling like crap and being picked on by second grader until Courtney came along and bit him on the leg. They've been friends ever since. There's that loyal man's-best-friend theme again. God, it's not meant to be unflattering! She's a favorite supporting character. Actually, following that theme, she's also too forgiving. When she was hit by a car and everyone else came to see her except Mayday, she shrugged it off.

Moose Mansfield

Maurice is a jock and a bit of an idiot. He jumps to conclusions, flies off the handle easily and is a bit of a bully. His favorite entertainer and politician is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yeah, Moose is a dick. Only he's not. Starting out as the jerk in cast, he slowly grew into one of the best, most well rounded, most well loved characters in the book. Issue 19 granted us insight into his inner most thoughts, which was a word-balloon-free page of him staring blankly. Soon though, Moose starts showing his soft side, saving Jimmy from a villain attack, humorously believing Spider-Girl was Courtney....yeah, I know, not too bright. He ends up getting to know Courtney and falls for her. Things change for him when his father is diagnosed with cancer; Moose relies on May for support to get through this. Eventually everything comes to a head when his father is struck down on the job as a firefighter. Moose is forced to move away to stay with his relatives, as he can't take care of his little brothers on his own. There is one other piece to the Maurice Arthur Mansfield puzzle that changes him as a person, but I don't want to spoil everything.

I'm out,

frogoat

Spider-man with boobs?

I guess the obvious statement made about any female character derived from a popular male character is 'Hey, it's just Superman with boobs'. And yeah, that's valid some of the time. I feel like She-Hulk was only created to protect a copyright, just as I know Spider-Woman was first created for that express purpose. Don't misunderstand though, both characters have gone on to have a rich history of events that characterizes them far afield from their male counterparts. Okay, so what makes Spider-Girl unique, even amongst other Spider-females? I'm going to try to answer that question.

Origin? What origin?

It's even become a running gag in the books themselves that May 'Mayday' Parker has almost nothing in the way of an origin story.  As Mayday says, she just woke up one day and found out she had her powers. That's it. Hmm. Well, okay, she had to fight Normie Osborn, the grandson of the original Green Goblin who had vowed a vendetta and yada yada yada. But still, this leads straight into her series as it's set up initially.  No swearing vengeance on crime, no traumatic childhood, no loved-one struck down. Her characterization comes from how she was raised. My god, a normal childhood for a superhero? Could it be?!

Without Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Now, not to be down on my main man Peter, but seriously, how often does he hang up his webs, vowing never to wear them again, only to take them up again to save someone next issue? May's the kinda girl who, even when she loses her abilities, she still can't quit. See, May's not like her dear ol' dad. Whereas Peter started out as a bit of an outcast who, when he got his amazing abilities, he instantly used them to make money and live his dream, May is different. Peter had to have the trauma of his uncles death to shock him into heroics, to knock him out of his hubris. May simply does the right thing because....well, because it is the right thing to do. For crying out loud, she borrowed a Goblin Glider and equipment to keep on helping people when she lost her powers, doing push ups and admitting to herself that she wasn't done with the hero thing. I guess what I'm saying is May Parker has ovaries of steel and a strong work ethic. :p

Heel Face Turn, or 'No Rematch For You!' 

  You know the routine, the villain and the hero go toe to toe a couple times then the villain falls into a cycle of grudge matches or revenge attacks.....and *yawn* we've all seen it before. For the most part, May's rogues gallery changes often, with only a few big bads returning to spice things up and push chess pieces around. May's belief in the good in people has not only set her apart from her father, but has reformed so many of her former enemies it should be a freakin' super-power. Normie (Green Goblin) Osborn, Brenda (Raptor) Drago, The Dragon King,  Mr Abnormal, Killerwatt, Mayhem, the list goes on and on.

Genre Savvy 

This one I kinda like for the simplest reasons. When I was younger, I often wondered why, being heroes and all, they continued to battle at the slightest provocation. 'He's talking to the bad guy, therefore, he must be working with them!' In the MC2, the heroes try to avoid this. Sometimes they come to blows, but usually, they are all well aware that in the hero biz, things are not always as they seem. May even cites this when confronting her fellow heroes, 'Oh great! Another misunderstanding!'. One of my favorites comes from Stinger: 'Everybody, CHILL! Nobody want's to look like a jerk by starting a fight over some silly misunderstanding! I suggest we retire to the nearest rooftop and try to sort things out like adults.' Spider-Girl: 'Sounds good to me!'

She's a Joiner

Peter Parker was always a loner, either by nature or by choice. Sure, the Bugle never helped his image, but if he'd joined the Fantastic Four like he planned in Amazing Spider-man #1 he could have sued J Jonah Jameson for libel. Problem Solved. It took him around fourty years to join the Avengers and even longer to be a full-time member of the FF. Spider-Girl decided early on to seek allies where ever she could. She joined the new Avengers team in Spider-Girl #13, made friends with the F5 in Spider-Girl #3 and founded her own team in Spider-Girl #42; The...erm....even newer Warriors? We'll call them the Warriors. Okay? Got it? Good. Super villain giving you problems? Call in the Avengers, and the Fantastic Five, and the Warriors and the Nation Guard. Care to surrender?
 

Nobody Dies On My Watch

May takes every death personally, even going so far as to mourn the lose of Crazy Eight after he is shot and killed by another villain. Tom Defalco said it best in an interview,  "Peter failed to stop a burglar who later killed his uncle. Mayday succeeded in stopping a super villain and prevented him from killing her dad. Pete learned that people die when he fails. She learned that people live when she succeeds. It's a subtle, but profound difference."

I've only scratched the surface, but these are the major points I felt sum up Mayday.

Until Marvel prints a Spider-Girl digest volume 13,

I'm frogoat.