SPIDER-GIRL #37
"Betrayed--!"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writers: Tom DeFalco & Pat Olliffe
Pencils: Pat Olliffe
Inks: Al Williamson
Colors: Christie Steele & Heroic Age
Letters: John E. Workman
Editor: Matt Hicks
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
I continue to be impressed with the density of DeFalco and Olliffe's story coupled with its accessibility. It's been at least a couple of months since I read an issue of Spider-Girl, yet I had no problem picking up where I left off, even though a great deal has happened in that short time. This outside-of-continuity title is, oddly enough, an excellent gateway for new readers into the world of comics and the Marvel Universe.
May Parker, AKA Spider-Girl, is horrified to discover that her formerly mortal enemy turned friend, Normie Osborn, has once again donned the villainous garb of the Green Goblin. She's about to confront him when she sees Normie in the company of another former super-villain, Raptor. Meanwhile, May's mother, Mary-Jane Parker, gets some important news from her doctor, and Crazy Eight and Funny Face, brothers on the opposite sides of a super-villain gang war, have a heart-to-heart.
Olliffe's art remains as strong today as it was in the first issue. His simple, lithe figures are rendered a little more realistically when one adds in Williamson's seasoned inks. This book is heavy on the non-action-oriented scenes, yet the book never fails to entertain visually.
There is a whole lot going on in each issue of Spider-Girl, yet DeFalco juggles everything adeptly with his script. There is a load of subplots running through this book, and they're one of the title's greatest strengths. One really gets a sense that May is a person, not just a costumed fantasy character, because DeFalco and Olliffe invite the reader into every facet of her life.
Of course, one can't overlook the colorful array of characters that populate Spider-Girl's world. The creators have achieved an excellent balance between revamped looks at old favorites and new concepts and designs as well. These heroes and villains are bound to pique younger readers' curiosity, drawing them into other Marvel comics, and eventually, the works of other publishers as well.
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