Spider-man Loves Mary Jane Season 2 #3

Interesting Tidbit Volume 3 #3:  Did you know that Terry Moore writes and draws his own comic?  The comic ECHO is a story that revolves around Julie, a young photographer who inadvertently discovers the Beta Suit.  Moore has said the premise of ECHO is a woman living in today’s America who is dealing with a sudden unbelievable change to her daily life.  Julie, the protagonist, deals with such hardships as delaying her own divorce to being unable to feed her own dog.  See, comics CAN be a form of realism!

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE: SEASON 2

TITLE: Shampoo girl, dork, diva, picky, bored, psyched…just kidding!

WRITER: Terry Moore

ARTIST: Craig Rousseau

COLORIST: Guillem Mari

PLOT:

The issue opens with a huge storm hitting NYC.  It seems that MJ’s “Limo Girl” is also causing a storm in Midtown HS.  MJ and Liz debate the artificiality of this personality and the problems she is causing at school.  Liz then gets in a little trouble with Flash once he finds out she has an after-school study session with Peter and she was not going to tell him.

In Drama class, there is some building tension between Zoe and MJ (only on Zoe’s part) after Zoe is given the Apple Troll part in the school play and Mary Jane is given Zoe’s old part.  During the break between classes, MJ spies Harry Osborn and tries to chase him down to talk to him, to no avail.  This attempt, unfortunately, lands her late for typing class.  After class, MJ happens upon a fight between Flash and Peter and she is the one that is able to break it up.  Peter runs away from the Vice Principal pulling MJ with him.  He then warns her to be careful, that Flash could have hit her accidentally, and that Flash’s outbursts do not really trouble him as he’s “seen it too often.”  *cough*  Pay attention boys: Peter gives MJ his jacket so that she will not get sick or too wet on her way to work.  Before Peter runs off into the rain, he and Mary Jane have a “moment” awwwww!

At work, Rose helps Mary Jane out with her wet clothes and asks her some questions about the jacket’s owner, Peter Parker.  We then cut to Spider-man fighting Gog, taunting him with his sarcasm, and sadly, falling from the building with no web-fluid to help him out.  Back at the hair salon, MJ gets word of Spidey’s fall and is instantaneously worried.

REVIEW:

This issue is once again NOT a disappointment.  It really showcases all the characters’ interactions with Mary Jane and is believable as a day in the life of a high-schooler.  MJ’s made-up character, Limo Girl, is getting some hilarious script-time and I’m sure she is going to play a bigger part in the series…possibly.  The Peter-Flash-Liz triangle that inadvertently happened in the lunch room and in the hall stayed true to the voices of the characters and what their “types” are.  Zoe’s character seems to have evolved from a troubled character to one that is easily angered and could possibly be vindictive.  MJ takes on a different role when she tries to stop Flash and Peter from fighting but it fits how we think of her.  Once again, Peter shows his caring disposition and the interaction between him and MJ is sweet.

On the negative side – it took me three issues to say something – is anyone else bothered with the color of Liz’s hair?  I suppose I have just been used to the blonde color of Season 1.  Secondly, who has ever learned typing in a QWERTY position???  I thought it was ASDF and ;LKJ…is the world of typing as we know it changing???  Finally, the next criticism I make will be both positive and negative.  The use of Gog is both surprising and laudable.  First appearing in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #103, Gog seems like a minor and obscure villain to use, especially if the target audience of this book probably would not have as much Spidey knowledge as you and I, however, Gog’s appearance also shows us that Moore is serious on many levels.

There are so many little moments that I would pick to show you that this is indeed a worthwhile book to read.  I think my favorite is only one panel.  Do you see the panel where a Goth girl and MJ exchange greetings?  That is, by far, one of the best panels in this issue, and really sums up why MJ is a heroine.  Despite her outward appearance, MJ can be friends with anyone and is not the type of self-centered, narcissistic person that some people believe her to be.  She is a real person with real problems, but mostly, she is a high-schooler with real problems and this series shows that.

RATING:

4 Webheads out of 5.  Of course, I always have minor qualms, but this book has finally started to feel right.  It has the Mojo!  Moore has found a great voice for all of the characters, and unlike certain writers who do not seem to have a handle on writing high-schoolers, Moore does, and it is believable.  Overall, Moore “stays true!” 

Reviewed by: Your Friendly Neighborhood, Spider-Girl!