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.

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.

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. 

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.