Chi-Town’s Breakdown: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Volume 2) #11

Marvel Staff                           Crawlspace Staff
(W) Tom Taylor                     Reviewer: Chi-Town Spidey
(A) Juan Canbal                     EIC: Brad Douglas
(C) Andrew C Robinson

Story:  Spider-Man fought some trolls all night due to that “Asgardian thing” happening, but managed to pick up some coffee and bagels for his true love, Mary Jane in the morning!  After some breakfast with Peter, MJ heads on out to meets Aunt May to help pick out some wigs to wear due to the fact that she’s going through cancer and by coincidence happens to meet her doctor (Dr. Sebbens) on the subway ride back.  A troll stops the subway and MJ with the help of the good doctor escort all the people to safety and then she teams up with Spider-Man (Miles Morales) to stop the beast.  Afterwards she brings a pizza home to share with Peter up on the roof. 


Thoughts:  By Odin, this issue hits the jackpot!  Alright so let’s start off that this is a Spider-Man book and I like how he’s not MIA in it.  This issue having the spotlight on Mary Jane, it’s good to know Peter still shows up in his red and blues.  Tom Taylor respects and acknowledges that.  It’s perfectly fine to have a supporting character centric book, just don’t forget the lead title.  Andrew C Robinson emphasizes that with the cover.  Yes, you are getting a Spider-Man book, but there’s more to it than meets the eye!   Juan Canbal has more fun with that inside the issue to give the reader, what this issue is really all about.

     I swear, they better make a variant or have this be the second printing cover for this issue.

Tom Taylor does a PERFECT job at characterizing Mary Jane as an essential to, not just Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but everyone around her.  I especially like her panels with Aunt May.  May is going through a tough time, I know that feeling, but Mary Jane is the perfect person to lighten her spirits up.  To Mary Jane, Aunt May is like a “mother in-law” *which she is* and would do anything to help her out.  She did modeling, she did acting, who better than to help Aunt May with wig shopping?!  Not to mention, Aunt May and Mary Jane have a shared, loving, rich history.  They are comfortable around each other.  When you are dealing with cancer, you want someone you can trust, rely, and be comfortable around.  Focusing on the positive side of a horrible situation and lifting spirits for Aunt May, Peter can try…but that’s really a job for Mary Jane.  May was the one that set MJ up with Peter!  Again..who better?!  She may not be the party girl persona anymore, but it’s definitely what the doctor ordered for Aunt May.

                                                            Just what the doctor ordered.

Speaking of the doctor, we find out that the boy and his father that Peter saved all the way back in issue one, is the doctor that is treating Aunt May, who happens to be the husband to Detective Sebbens.  S’funny how all this comes together isn’t it?  Mary Jane introduced herself to the doctor during the subway innocent and I love how it’s Peter’s narration that takes us through on who Mary Jane is and what she means to people as the action is taken place.  It shows great chemistry between Peter and MJ on how they think and how that chemistry has rubbed off on her.  She’s no longer that redheaded damsel in distress, she’s the powerhouse that is willing to jump into danger and protect the ones around her.  The exchange between Mary Jane and Dr. Sebbens is similar to when Spidey talks to Detective Sebbens, minus the bad jokes.  Cabal illustrations show just how brave and determined Mary Jane can be and Taylor’s characterization of her shines through like a beacon of light.  There’s light at the end of this subway tunnel and Mary Jane is the navigator to it.  Even Miles guess staring to help Mary Jane was both amusing and welcomed. 

                                                               Trolling for Mary Jane

The absolute best of this issue is Mary Jane accepting her responsibility and that being Peter Parker.  What’s there to say?  The love for one another and Taylor writes that extremely well.  How they are meant to be, how they both accept each other for who they are and what they need to do.  The support system that these two provide for each other shines out throughout the entire issue.  Peter’s narration of MJ during the panels of her and MJ’s narration duirng the panels of Spidey/Peter.  It’s honestly great to see and rewarding to read.  It feels real and authentic like the way a Spider-Man comic is supposed to feel.  At the end of the day as long as these two are together at the end of the day, there’s nothing they can’t overcome and the writing in this issue cements that!  This issue is an A+ all around and I’m hoping we see more issues like these in the near future.

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9 Comments

  1. I headed to my lcs and was going to stop my FNSM subscription, but saw this cover and figured I’d give it one more shot. WOW! Where has this story telling been? Forget the Rumor and lets have this. The whole comic was so well done. I loved the “Spider-Manning” remark to Miles, but the part that I thought was so spot on was MJ and May going wig shopping. When my mom went through her chemo-therapy, she was more concerned about her hair falling out than anything else. The day she bought the wig was a big event. I believe Taylor must know someone who has gone through that process to have captured the moment so well. A+ out of me, and I do not give those out too often. Good review, Norbort!

  2. Franz: Thank You for the compliment. No, Miles doesn’t know. I mean it won’t be hard for him to figure out. He knows that 616 Peter Parker is Spider-Man, seeing Peter and MJ…he’s a smart kid and will put two and two together.

    Anonymous: They are the same version. Both Taylor and Spencer have talked back and fourth so that they can play off each other’s comics.

    Danny DeMent : RIGHT?! I’m enjoying it.

  3. Not gonna lie, that internal “cover” made me swoon a bit. lol

    Pete’s a very lucky man.

  4. So much win in this issue. This is how a couple can be represented well in comics, none of this “you can’t write goods stories about a married Spider-Man”, “All MJ does is sit at the window and pine for Peter” rubbish. Give the supporting cast their own agency, a raison d’etre and they can shine and add value to the lead.

    I did have a question; does Miles know who Mary Jane is in the 616 and her relationship to Peter? He did know MJ in the Ultimate U after Peter died, but does that knowledge carry over since Secret Wars? Conversely, does MJ know Miles under the mask? I think not in this case but the Miles history has become so muddy for me lately that I can’t be sure.

    Solid review. Came away from this one with the warm and fuzzies. In fact I thought this was the better issue this week out of the two main titles. A+

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