Spider-Girl

TOM DEFALCO / PAT OLIFFE / RON FRENZ / SAL BUSCEMA /MARVEL

     May “MayDay” Parker is an attractive, intelligent, athletic girl dealing with the many demands of being a teenager:  grades, boys, sports, parents, etc.  Juggling all those responsibilities and challenges is tough enough for any kid, but what if you’re the daughter of Peter and Mary Jane Parker, and you’ve inherited your father’s powers to boot?

     Spider-Girl, who first appeared in What If Vol 2, #105 before receiving her own series, is the star of the little comic that could.  While the other titles in the shortlived MC2 line (basically, the possible Marvel Universe of the future) have long since been relegated to fanboy footnotes, Spider-Girl continues to enjoy a run of over 5 years strong and a cult status thanks to the outstanding talents of its creative team, as well as a dedicated fan base (who have apparently saved the book from cancellation more than once).

     Any fan of Peter Parker’s high school years, be it the Lee/Ditko classics or Kurt Busiek and Pat Oliffe’s superb Untold Tales of Spider-Man, will feel right at home following May’s adventures.  Tom DeFalco has clearly put his heart and soul into this title, as he lovingly recreates the atmosphere and wisecracks, anxieties and insecurities that Peter faced, but tweaks them for a modern audience (as well as for a protagonist of the opposite sex). 

     Indeed, the classic element that made Spider-Man a household character are here:  balancing personal life vs. responsibility to the greater good.  The fun part is watching how DeFalco takes Spidey continuity and adapts it to this possible future:

Flash is May’s basketball coach, JJJ’s (still grouchy and ticking) nephew is also a costumed vigilante who, while unaware of Spider-Girl’s secret identity, has a crush on May, his classmate, Norman Osborn’s grandson, Normie, has renounced his family’s sinister heritage, and, aware of her costumed identity,  helps May in her adventures (with romantic tension to boot).

     DeFalco saves his best for the development of the relationship between Peter and May.  His leg severed in a final battle with the original Green Goblin (apparently Norman is dead and gone), Peter, a police forensics analyst, struggles to guide his daughter in the use of her powers while trying to protect her from the inevitable dangers that will result.  The alternating tension, pride, and affection that tie the father and daughter together is never allowed to become stale or repetitive.  Indeed, since Spider-Girl is not anchored in regular Marvel continuity, the book avoids being predictable.  Anything can happen, and often does.

     With great attention and care devoted to the book’s supporting cast and subplots ( which was key to Spider-Man’s initial greatness), Spider-Girl consistently delivers a fresh, entertaining read month after month. 

     Spider-Girl is approaching its' 100th issue, and Marvel has begun reprinting the series in digest format.