The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #14 Review

“Our lives are messy and unpredictable and things explode FAR too often.”

As the Parker’s Family Fun Day gets interrupted by the lethal Lizard, see what Mary Jane was up to earlier that week.

WRITER: Jody Houser

ARTIST: Nick Roche

COLORIST: Ruth Redmond

LETTERER: VC’s Joe Carmagna

COVER ARTISTS: Ryan Stegman & Brian Reber

EDITOR: Heather Antos

SUPERVISING EDITOR: Jordan D. White

SPIDER-MAN created by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO

STORY: The Lizard strikes at Coney Island, right as the Spider-Family is there for some rest and relaxation. Yesterday, Mary Jane had her powers tested by Iron Man, stopped some young bullies, got word that a fashion shipment had been delayed to her shop, and helped her daughter sort through some back-to-school clothes, all before collapsing on the couch and being informed by Peter than he has plans for the whole family this coming weekend. Cutting back to now, our heroes make quick work of The Lizard…who then pleads for their help!

THOUGHTS: Channeling his inner McFarlane (look at those chewing expressions), Stegman delivers yet another stellar cover. I love how casual our main characters are-for them (and the bird pecking on the ground) it’s just another typical day as the onlookers capture the moment. Hands down, my favorite part of the issue.

Having said that, I also enjoyed seeing MJ kicking Iron Man’s butt, even if it was just for power testing purposes. For those left curious if MJ has had any changes over the eight year gap, especially after her time with Venom, Houser informs the reader that MJ is still using Regent tech to be out in the field, although there is no mention of siphoning powers from Peter. I love the design on this suit, but can’t help but recall that the original team’s intent was to have her trick up her look from time to time. I know, I’ve got to let that go.

Not only did MJ trounce Tony in their test, but she gets to lay the verbal smackdown on him, too, when he just doesn’t get the struggle of everyday family life. The look on Stark’s face is priceless. The noted futurist is completely baffled and Roche sells his expression well. Combined with the dialogue, he actually seems somewhat pained by her remark. But, hey, this book is about the Parkers, not the MCU’s big screen star. I did like that he was thinking of MJ’s business and had some label suggestions.

Houser keeps the focus on MJ this entry and makes her feel like a fully fledged Parker, luck and all. This isn’t finally getting a drink at a dinner party and it’s an empty glass-this is the real world, everyday stuff that can go wrong, that just piles up as the day goes on-your powers are fine, but your order is late. You stop bullies, but they make you feel like an old parent. You finally get to rest and your kid wants to do something. You plan to work, but now have family obligations. Houser does an excellent job fleshing out this Mary Jane and getting inside her head, especially her concerns as a parent, where you just hope and pray that your kid really understands they can come to you with anything.

While I like the characterization Houser is bringing, I’m still not won over by Roche’s art. I’m not a fan of how some faces get simple black dots for eyes. I also feel like he leaves out a lot when it comes to backgrounds, except for those panels where he does fill in the most minute details, like the cracks in the ceiling in Annie’s room. I think he’s got skill, but his style just doesn’t fit for me for this book. I’d love to see Mark Bagley get a crack at this title. Not only does he seem to be bouncing around the Spider-Verse, but he’s drawn both 616 Peter and Ultimate Peter, so I think it’s high time he gets a shot at the slightly older version from Renew Your Vows. What nuance would he bring to a character that’s 16 years older then when he first started depicting him?

At the end of the day, the issue is a mixed bag for me. I really liked the focus on MJ, but at the same time, it runs the risk of feeling derivative of Conway’s first arc, where we split the focus each issue on a different cast member and took them to a converging point. It’s an interesting way of doing things, but sucks out the forward momentum of the story and seems like a trick that can get stale very quickly. However, Houser does a great job telling MJ’s story, I just am curious what another artist could have done with it, one whose characters have a slightly less cartoony look. 

MY GRADE: C+

JAVI’S HUH?: Is MJ still siphoning off Peter’s powers or have they found a way around that?