Spider-Woman #4 Review

Interesting Tidbit Vol. 4 #3: Did you know that Spider-Woman was the first female character to be published in the ESSENTIALS series?  Her 1970s adventures were collected and released on December 21, 2005.  Maybe I should do a Spider-Woman podcast…kidding! o_O

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SPIDER-WOMAN: AGENT OF S.W.O.R.D #4

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis

ARTIST: Alex Maleev

LETTERER: VC’s Cory Petit

MODEL FOR SPIDER-WOMAN/JESSICA DREW: Jolynn Carpenter

PLOT:

When we last left Jessica she was being tempted by the devil (ie. Madame Hydra) with an incarcerated Skrull.  Jessica takes the bait but with shocking, and painful, results.  She takes a leap of faith…literally…and finds that she is SOL!

REVIEW:

Just as the last issue was all about the temptation of Jessica Drew, this issue is all about the beginning of the redemption of Jessica.

I love the fact that Madame Hydra is like a drug to Jessica; her influence is powerful and even when she is not in close proximity to Jessica, her influence is slow to dissipate.  The Skrull is a constant reminder to Jessica not only of what was taken away from her, but also the fact that she is still weak when it comes to Hydra.  This issue is probably one of the greatest dynamic issues I have ever read!  We see Jessica under the influence of Hydra, pitying the very race that ruined her life, taking a royal beat down, dishing OUT a royal beat down, realizing that she needs to stop making the same mistakes and grow from the ones she makes, and escaping from Hydra.  It is a gentle and smooth transition which the writing and art accentuate.  Bendis is writing a STRONG FEMALE character and this is apparent not only in her words but in the beating that she takes!

The only negative thing that I have to say is about the redundant writing surrounding Madame Hydra.  She still consistently seems to be saying the same things over and over, this time “Remember who gave you this gift!”  Her obnoxious behavior annoys me just as much as it does Jessica…but I love that, being able to sympathize with the heroine!  It is so clear how much of a psychopath Madame Hydra is and how much she wants Jessica.

RATING:

4.0 out of 5.0 Webheads: Sometimes I feel bad constantly giving these issues really high grades, but they deserve it!  This series is a gem and we have not even seen Jessica in her costume yet!  The last page is one of the reasons why I love this series so much!

Ex animo,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Girl!