Spider-Man/Black Cat, Spider-Man: Blue

Not from anything I read, I just found this while searching for images and fell in love.

Spider-Man and Black Cat: The Evil that Men Do 1-5

Rape and other forms of sexual abuse are rarely addressed in mainstream superhero comics, and I commend Kevin Smith for tackling the subject.  But it reads very after-school special, and so it doesn’t have the same impact that I imagine it could have.

Terry Dodson’s art is wonderful to look at as usual, but his good girl style is an odd choice given the dark topic.  

I have zero idea of how to rate this book.  Calling it “Fine” or “Nice” doesn’t seem appropriate.  So new category. “Huh.” will be used for titles like this that defy conventional ratings.  It’s not bad, not good. Just...huh.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Huh.

Spider-Man: Blue 1-6

I know The OC came after this was published, and it’s not like the “two girls fighting over a guy” is the newest trope in the world, but my main question reading this was, “When did Peter Parker become Seth Cohen?”  A social pariah suddenly becomes the focus of two beautiful women when they discover the strength of his character.

Tale as old as...at least these three.

Peter's in over his head.

So is Seth.

Not the only time Seth found himself in a Spidey situation.

The majority of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s story is entertaining enough.  It’s way better than their Hulk and Captain America, maybe a little better than their Daredevil.  Sale draws a very lumpy Spider-Man, but it works here.

So many bumps and lumps.

His Gwen Stacy is a lot more femme fatale than I normally picture her.

A lot more Veronica than Betty here.

His Norman Rockwellian home scenes are as idyllic as ever.

And he recreates a couple of iconic panels that, while unnecessary, still speak to the geek in my heart.

But it’s the last few pages that really took that heart and squeezed it for all it’s worth.  

*Sigh*

That kiss caps six issues worth of longing and build-up, and the poignancy is magnified by Peter’s flashback narration.  The joy of that kiss is laced with the sadness of her upcoming death, and Peter will never be able to separate the two.

Even more amazing are the final two pages.  MJ hears Peter talking to the ghost of his first true love, and doesn’t react with any hint of jealousy or anger.  There’s only love and understanding for both her husband and her friend long gone. She knows that both Peter and herself are the people they are today, are together as a committed couple, because of Gwen Stacy.  It’s beautiful.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty Good