Amazing Spider-Girl Reviews By: Spideydude

Amazing Spider-Girl #17
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Ron Frenz
Inker: Sal Bucema

Story: We see some ray of hope with Ben’s hearing problem, and he needs May as a donor. Cut to the new Villian known as Crimelord, making a membership drive, and making a play on Handsome Richie, who works for the BT. Crimelord is going to do a auction for a disk of every bit of structure in Wilson Fisk’s empire. We see Gene Thompson make another attempt to rekindle the relationship with May, and we have Hobby find out about everything that’s going on, and we see the first battle with Hobby for the first time since the first arc. While short, it is important to the end of the issue, and he uses his noodle to subdue SG. We also see guys like Fancy Dan, Man-Mountian Marko, and the Deadly Delilah at this event. And Hobby offers Spider-Girl as a bargining tip.

Thoughts: I’m really interested to see what the connection is between this new Rose-like character and the Rose or Fisk Family, I also like that we might see a Hobby and SG team up next ish, and maybe some sort of revolution to this Gang War storyline. Hobby coming up with this new Impact goo, based off of Ben/May’s Impact webbing. So we will maybe see Ben get his hearing back next ish, and another nifty cover, both this ish and next.

Rating: 3.8 out of 5.

Amazing Spider-Girl #16
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Ron Frenz
Inker: Sal Bucema

Story: We are introduced a new villainess, known as Deadspot. She uses a invisibility suit to kill for hire, and her new mission is to take out Mayday. We see the development to the Ben/Powers story with him running in little Spidey Jammies, and May tells Peter what happened in the last issue. MJ starts her new job, and ensures that there will be conflict later on down the line with her and the rest of the staff at Midtown High, and Deadspot attacks Chesbro, who is BT’s Lackey, and we almost find out who her true employer is, only to have May ruin the revelation. The two fight, and Mayday defeats her using her Spider-Sense. She heads home, and we see the same stalker, with a Midtown Backpack.

Thoughts: We start to see someone who may be a strong female foil for Mayday, and I’m wondering who sent her after SG, but we may see that someone next ish. The Whole MJ at school plot has very little potentional, and I’m not too excited about it. But Tom D made MINDWORM ficking cool, so we’ll see.

Cover: As for the Art, MADDDDDDD props for this months Cover.

Rating: a 3.5 out of 5, the MJ plot is very scary to me, so it gets a -1.0. But, the cover is 1.0, so yeah.

-Spideydude

Amazing Spider-Girl #15
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Ron Frenz
Inker: Sal Bucema

Story: Tomorrow is a Special Day for Mayday Parker. It’s an Anniversary for her, and while Peter and MJ tend to skimp on details, it’s the day that she came back to her parents, after being taken captive from ol’ Greeny Gobby in Amazing Spider-Man 414. We see an Alternate future with Benjy Parker, her brother, and her parents are dead. Oh yeah she has to avenge the death of her husband, the Black Tarantula, and of course, it’s all a dream. She then wakes up, goes to school and gets into dreamland. She ‘fights’ all the villains she’s ever faced, and finally we realize that this was all from the mind of MINDWORM! She breaks the physic connection, and the Parkers Celebrate in style. BUT… we see the beginnings of a Stalker Storyline.

THOUGHTS: Wow. First off, as an aside, this month marks the 10^th Anniversary of What If?! 105, or to later readers, Spider-Girl #0. And after 7, that’s right 7 near cancellations, and one true cancellation, with the Relaunch of this book, now a year and a quarter later, she is fighting MINDWORM?! Yeah, I didn’t think that it would work, but Tom delievered in making him a bit of a badass, and a good addition to the Rouges Gallery. Cheers. As for the art, great great stuff, and every issue is a joy to behold, so I have to give Ron and Sal props for being the most consistant art team in Comics.

Cover: HOLY COW! Looks great! Let’s see, Ron, Tom, Sal, I think I see Molly, and even Stan the man!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Amazing Spider-Girl #14
The enemy of my enemy

DeFalco
Frenz
Bucema

Story: While May is still trying to adjust to Ben not having his hearing, and the emotional breakup that ended last issue with the Jerkface that is Eugene Thompson, May discovers something very very interesting. I mean, veryu interesting, something that is hinted in issue one in a one panel appearance that is in full fledged glory here. Anyway, we learn the fate of Madame Webb, and an appearance by Arana is very interesting. Oh and Mindworm is back, in very interesting fashion. Oh and for those of us wondering how Black Tarantula became who he is today, take note long time wonderers, this issue is for you.

Thoughts: SPOILERS: Ben has powers. Barely a year old and he’s climbing the ceiling. Woah. And Wes, dude, you should’ve turned down Davida! She’s got a new man every week! Ah well, May can console him later, then they hook up. So THAT’s how he became BT. Interesting look back, as I really started during that time. Oh and Moose is back, and he hates Spider-Girl. Pish, I’m growing tired of this already. Really, I would like for Moose to understand why she did what she did. While I thought this issue was good, all it does is set up for the uncoming issue where Hobby and Fabian (BT) square off with Mayday in the middle. Hm. Next month is the 10^th anni, so it’ll be interesting to see how this all ties up. With the Extra pages of story, I’ll be waiting.

Rating: 4 out of 5

While this issue does sport a nice cover, And the art is stellar, I feel like this issue is just set up for the next.

Reviewed by: Spideydude

Amazing Spider-Girl 13
DeFalco
Frenz
Bucema

Story: While Mayday deals with a Crisis of her own after last issue, she deals with it in much the same way as we expect the daughter of Peter Parker would: Blaming herself. Don’t worry, Peter blames himself because he felt he let Ben get it in the place to begin with. Meanwhile, Ol’ Hobgoblin, who hasn’t been seen much over the past 6 months, makes his return known, and even makes a cunning plan to take out the Tarantula and Mayday in the process involving an old sparing partner in Mindworm.

THOUGHTS: True to form, the Parker Guilt runs the way it’s supposed to. Although it’s to be expected, this makes the old skool title feel more Peter Parker-ish, and makes the subplot even more enjoyable. The Highlight of the issue though, is the Characterization of the Hobgoblin is. Wow. This issue almost topped the charts in quality as we get a solid issue out of our art team, probably their best outing so far. Rowdy Roddy is even more cunning, and we get to know more about him and his cunning ways, to go so far as to lock up his own twin, make himself look like him, and work a deal with a villain, even one as lame as the mindworm, is something special. Kudos to Tom for thinking of Mindworm, while his last Spidey story was good (Paul Jenkins Spectacular Spider-Man Vol II issue 23) it will be interesting to see the guy in another capacity.

Rating: Soild issue, great characterization, and overall a nice start to year 2. Five out of Five.
I know, I give these out too much it may seem, but Rowdy Roddy Hobgobby is amazing as is. This almost makes me wish Norman never came back, due to the total waste of what could be in the Regular Marvel U.

Amazing Spider-Girl 12
DeFalco
Frenz
Bucema

Story: Following what I think would be the Holy CRAP moment of the YEAR in the Baby Carny twist, May must make the choice of saving her brother, and allowing Moose’s dad to become a monster to cure his advanced stage of cancer. In the end, she saves her brother, and ultimately saves Moose from making the mistake of his life. But both come at a terrible cost.

THOUGHTS: Wow. Overall, this and the previous issue saved this arc. After argueably the worst issue of this series, issue 9, issue 12 packs a powerful ending for May. Using the experimental suit doned by the cronies in ASG 2, may removes the costume from Benji, but in the process, losing his hearing. It was an extremely emotional scene, and something that the series lacked for a while now: a true, meat grinding conflict and something that will be hit up for months/years to come. Ben losing his hearing is something, cruel as it sounds, that needed to happen. It’s a breath of fresh air in the title and makes it more entertaining. As for Moose hating Spider-Girl? Well, imagine if he knew that his former favorite heroine is none other than Mayday Parker? A foreshadowing of a controntation perhaps?

All in all, a weak start makes way for a fanstastic finish!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Spideydude heads.

Amazing Spider-Girl #11
Story: Tom DeFalco
Pencils: Ron Frenz
Inker: Sal Bucema

Backstory: So Peter is being held capative by Carnage, May is out looking for her. Kaine is looking for her as well, and MJ is now part of May’s School life. Lucky her eh?

Plot: Issue begins as Baby Ben is in Carnage’s grasp. Peter is tied up, beat up and Carnage reveals himself to Pete. Meanwhile, MJ is trying to pick up the pieces as she’s cleaning off the HELP ME from last issue. Cue the montasage of May frantically looking for Ben. She’s stopped by Kaine’s buds, and May fearlessly presses on, even when SHIELD comes after her. More of Peter and Carnage, before Carnage takes off. Peter works to break free, and Spider-Girl is trying ever so hard to press on. This series of events is starting to break her mentally. Finally, though Parker Strength, he breaks free. May goes on a hunch, and finds the no so dynamic duo. After a bit of fighting, it’s revealed that carnage is none other than… I’ll tell you in a minute, but this issues SHOCK ending leaves next issue a huge turning point for Mayday.

THOUGHTS: Well, we finally see a lot of character development here for May. This is the first time in a long time we see her have to fight for her way into this crazy world, and we see that she can’t always handle it. True to form, she presses on. This and the past few issues have been her toughest yet. Tom D delivers on this issue and Ron and Sal do not disappoint. Ben Carnage? HOLY CRAP #2. Moose? Carnage? HOLY CRAP #2.

Intense issue. Looking forward to the next.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 webheads

Side Note: This issue get a five out of five for this months letter’s column, for having ME as the lead-off letter. WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

Reviewed by: Zach Joiner.

Amazing Spider-Girl 10
Story: Tom DeFalco
Inks: Sal Buscema
Art: Ron Frenz

HERE COMES CARNAGE!

Plot: Our issue begins for the hunt for Carny. While everything seems like it’s a one note song for this character, the host (Who goes unknown though this issue) is not letting him commit mass murder. Meanwhile, Mary Jane goes in and interviews for the Consulor position that Mr. Slattery offered her a couple of issues ago. She gets the job, and guess what? May doesn’t like it. Too Bad she can’t focus on it, as soon as her mom gets home, Benji and Peter are gone, with the words “HELP ME” Scribbled on the wall in Blood.

Thoughts: WOW. Simply WOW. A eye popping issue, fast paced, pulse pounding issue. Finally something to look foreword too, as we finally see Carange in action. Several key things make this issue good:

The cover. A homage to Maximum Carnage Part 1, issue 1 of Spider-Man Unlimited Quarterly. Very nice. Video Gamers might remember the game that went with it. Ah, the days of Sega Genesis..
Peter left vulnerable. He barely could keep him under control in his heyday, what makes anyone think that he could handle him with one leg? Good strong characterization here by Tom.
Ron Frenz and Sal B. are a great art team. Period. Solid Work on this issue and the last. Heres to next issue!
MJ+School=Interesting development for Mayday.
The first time in a long time that I’ve seen Carnage interesting.

Rating: A much improved issue. 4 out of 5 webheads. .

Amazing Spider-Girl #9
Story: Tom DeFalco
Inks: Sal Buscema
Art: Ron Frenz

Secret of Specimen 297!

Story: A few familiar faces appear in Kaine, and Agent Weadon. This time, their strike team consists of Earthshaker, Mr. Abnormal, Killerwatt and Kaine himself. Their mission, safeguard this canister with a specimen code named 297. The reason? We don’t know. Yet. So in transport, SHIELD tracks them, Spider-Girl gets the thing and releases it out into the world.
Oh, by the way, that thing that she released? Carnage.
Meanwhile, Moose and Courtney see each other, Moose is with someone else, and now Courtney is in shambles. Will her life be the same?

Likes: James Bond homage cover. I liked it a lot. Artwork is pretty, and it’s nice to see May caught up on her homework.

Dislikes: Other than that, this ish felt like filler. Set up set up set up. I expect more out of this team. I feel like they dropped the ball throughout the issue, up until the ending, where everything pays off.

We have Carnage, who bonds with a host who is wearing a Letterman jacket of Midtown. While this is a cool ending, the beginning doesn’t make sense. So SHIELD recruits Kaine’s gang of misfits to transport it, only to be tracked by SHIELD the whole time, who send in armed gunmen to steal it, and a bullet knocks it open?

Huh?

Overall a disappointing issue.

Rating: 2 webheads out of five.

Amazing Spider-Girl #8
“The Closet”
Story: Tom DeFalco
Inks: Sal Buscema
Art: Ron Frenz

Story: We get a new perspective this go around, as we learn about May’s day through Mary Janes eyes. We learn that Mayday has given her costume back to her mom, who has since stuffed it in the closet. We meet Sara Hingle, who has suffered from massive migraine headaches learning this, Mayday’s Spidey Sense is set off, and after a bit, Saras powers start to manifest violently. Mayday tries to help, but is thwarted. As usual with a case like this, we see that people are closed minded about this, as evidenced by Sara’s father. He’s behaving like a racist bigot, as is Gene, May’s boyfriend. May, ever like her mom, puts on her mask with Gene and plays innocent. MJ takes time to assess her predicament with her daughter. May tries to go back to see Sara, but to no avail. She escapes and May tries her best to help as she lashes out, May uses her agility to dodge her attack, revealing her powers. Sara’s father and mother, not knowing just how well MJ understands, realizes that she knows full well the problem of raising a child with Powers. With her family reunited, and a tough decidion to make, our issues ends with two unexpected surprises.

Likes: Overall, the tone of the issue is great. MJ takes center stage with this, and we see her being a mother. It’s hard to believe how grown up MJ is. I’m really impressed. And for her to finally give her blessing, I mean, wow. That was top notch stuff. She’s a wonderful mother, and I compare this issue with an issue of my own: I know all too well that special people are what makes the world go round. My sister is handicapped and you can be bitter, such as Sara’s father, or compassionate, like MJ, a really great illustration of how you can better yourself. I also like the fact that we may see MJ become a guidance counselor

Dislikes: I donno, I know this was an MJ issue, but I wanted more from Pete, we missed the entire conversation between MJ and Pete about May, and I was really interested to hear his side. That bugged me a bit.

Quote of the ish:

"Feed him [Baby Ben] some of that stuff Dad calls ‘Chili’, he’ll burp”

“I hope your father has since than to give him that to the baby”

“We’re talking about Dad, right?”

Cover: I liked it, but not as much as previous issues, not really compelling enough. And to me, the bubbles don’t make a lot of sense.

Highlight of the Issue: Seeing that letter’s page WHOO HOOOOOO! Seeing the Crawl Space out there, for all the world to see....

Rating: 4 out of 5 Spideydude heads

Amazing Spider-Girl 3
Story: Tom DeFalco
Art: Ron Frenz
Inks: Sal Buscema

Whatever happened to the Daughter of Spider-Man? Part Three

“A Bitter Frost”

Story: Our issue begins with the death of a man, by being frozen. We meet Ms Bitter Frost, who Happens to be the killer, who also happens to be her father. Next up, after last issue’s return to the spider suit, May and MJ have a near accident when they almost spilled the beans about her going back in the costume, and she goes to school. After seeing more of the QUITTER vandalism, Gene starts to become possessive. We meet with Mr Kurkle who is the boyfriend of the girl who has this object, Mona Carlo, who is having a conversation with our Dec. Drasco, who is still employed by ol’ Hobby. Cut to the school where we see Ms Hardy and her daughter, Felicity. May then encounters Bitter Frost at the abuse shelter. But she missed out on a meeting with Davida, and we see baby eyed Wes. Mona Calls Handsome Richie, thug that is employed by BT. Bitter Frost goes to take out her ex Boyfriend… where we see May back in action, against her parents wishes… and guess what? Like always, May pulls it out!

Likes: Look, after talking to Ron Frenz, I see that he has taken a Romita look, and looks incredible. Helps with Sal inking too. The tweaks are nice on the costume, and the internal conflicts are what makes this book work. And WES! I love WES!

Dislikes: Gene is getting too much like his pa. I hate to see that too, because he can be a great character, just it too much like his dad in the early days. He can be redeemed, least I hope. But I biggest gripe is with the character Caitlan. She seems to be Tom’s Mouthpiece about social things and I really don’t like it. To quote the issue “You’re bleeding heart will only get us killed.” And the dirty cop is right. She needs to realize that when necessary, violence is the answer. Seemed a bit left wing, and as a conservative, It irks me. Overall though, good work all around.

Rating: 3 Spideydude Heads our of 5.

Amazing Spider-Girl 2

Whatever happened to the Daughter of Spider-Man? Part Two

Story: Tom DeFalco
Art: Ron Frenz
Inks: Sal Buscema

Story: Peter Parker and Phil Urich are at St Andrews , investigating what happened last issue, which had Hobby attacking Catlin Liber, who runs the place, and is where May works. May meanwhile follows two hoods that Hobby hired who have a new experimental armor. After trying to attack ‘Red Hoodie Girl’, they succeed and May shows up to class late. After getting caught, she lands in detention. And in an unexpected turn of events, something happens which I’ll highlight in my ‘good things’ Anyways, Mayday fights the two losers, wins, and we learn more about Detective Drasco….

Dislikes: The Back up story that deals with the Guiding Light… Awful.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Just for that letter. I know, I’m bad aren’t I?

      First off, let’s say hello to all you people out there. Nice to see you. I’m glad to be back as the reviewer of the AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL!
    Okay, so what’s the big deal about a title that sold in the 17,000 mark that was cancelled? What is all the fuss over a relaunch about? Why should I pick up the title? The only thing I ask of you is to try this title. If you don’t like it, I’ll send you three dollars. Seriously.
      Let’s face it, Spidey would have never unmasked, been Tony Stark’s Crony, Joined the Avengers or any of the Nu-Marvel things in the days of Stan Lee, or more recently, in the Days of Jim Shooter. In those days, Spidey was fun, full of life and quirky. A titanic team at best, the classic Firelord Fight, ASM 252, and others were from this creative team. That, and the awesome art of the inker adorns 189 issues of 260+ issues of Spectacular Spider-Man Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz return to the title they co-created with Our Pal Sal Buscema.

Backstory: Spider-Girl hung her webs up, only to return to action with the Big purple G man and helped saved the planet. Hobgoblin is back to greatness, and May is enjoying her normal Teenage life….For more, read Amazing Spider-Girl 0 out two weeks ago!

Title: Whatever happened to the Daughter of Spider-Man?
Story: Tom DeFalco
Art: Ron Frenz
Inks: Sal Buscema

Story: Our issue starts with a tounge in cheek at comics today with Jimmy and his friend doing a Spider-Girl comic. Mayday says that “I doubt anyone will buy a Spider-Girl Comic…” ZING! Cut to May starting her Junior Year of High School, with her grades up, a new boyfriend, and new controveracy with her lastest endeavor, Class President? Strange as is seems, due to her fathers non-popluar status at Midtown, but she has a Rival in Midtown, and who knows, maybe her touch was the one who defaced the poster? Anyway, Mayday and her best friend Courtney work as volunteers at women’s abuse center. But with May’s Spider-Sense tingleing all the time, something not right. Anyway, May dons the spandex (Not her costume, but her makeshift one from SG 1) amd after a bit of time with Davida, her old teammate, and gets side tracked by the main subplot, the reason why her Spider senses are so janglely… With a major reveal on the final page!

Likes: Well, I liked the fact that the feel of the book is the same. Tom D and Co make it seem like we’re around old friends, and new. Good Art, and well done all around.

Dislikes: Eugene Thompson is Maydays new squeeze. As much as I like the fact she has a boyfriend, it seems that he’s a bit too possessive. Just me, and it’s still the first ish. Also noteably absent: Kaine, DarkDevil, and the Buzz.