Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, is a superheroine whose life has been defined by upheaval. She gained her powers when her father experimented on her to save her life. She was replaced by the queen of the Skrull Empire, which sowed the seeds for Secret Invasion. Recently, she was severed from the Web of Life & Destiny – and even though she was brought back to life, her son Gerry was missing. Now Spider-Woman #1 from Steve Foxe, Carola Borelli, Arif Prianto and Joe Sabino picks up the pieces of Jessica’s life, as she hunts down leads in search of Gerry. She also has to contend with the incoming gang war between New York’s various crime-lords, including Diamondback as he seeks to gain leverage in Hydra.
It should be noted that this isn’t just the launch of a new Spider-Woman title, but also a tie-in to the “Gang War” event that’s crossing into the Spider-Man titles (as well as other street-level heroes within the Marvel universe.) To Spider-Woman‘s credit, the book manages to handle these various elements with ease – it isn’t until the end of the book that the Gang War elements kick in. A large part of this is due to Foxe’s scripting. He puts Jessica’s search for her child first and foremost, grounding the superheroics in actual human emotion. Every confrontation Spider-Woman has with a villain is laced with deep-seated anger – and on the flip side, a conversation with Captain Marvel is tinged with profound sadness. It’s those little touches that elevate Spider-Woman #1 from being a simple tie-in to a crossover event.
Another touch? Borelli’s artwork. It moves with a certain fluidity that very few artists could match, which lends itself well to the fight scenes. Spider-Woman moves with acrobatic grace, using her gliding power to dodge around her opponents while also hitting them fast and furious with her trademark “venom blasts”. Borelli also uses her sense of movement to direct the flow of combat, making sure each punch and kick has the appropriate impact.
Finally Prianto’s color work provides a sharp contrast between characters, especially where the characters are concerned. Diamondback is clad in dark purple and grays, while the interior of the club where he holds his meeting is a royal purple – signifying his desire for power. Most of the comic takes place at night, bathing New York in a cool blue. At the center of it all: Spider-Woman, who immediately draws the reader’s eye thanks to her vibrant red and yellow costume.
Spider-Woman #1 isn’t your usual tie-in book; there’s a real emotional core backed by great writing and great art. Whether or not you’re invested in the Gang War storyline, this comic is worth a read.
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