Spider-Woman #4 review

We know that Brian Michael Bendis loves Jessica Drew, a.k.a Spider-Woman. He has been enthralled with her and is singlehandedly responsible for inserting her at the Marvel Universe’s epicenter with he role in Secret Invasion. Months ago, Bendis spoke with love and excitement as he announced his Spider-Woman series. Jessica Drew is a compelling character, raised by terrorists, allied with Nick Fury, then the Avengers, and kidnapped by the Skrulls. How would she fit into the world post-Secret Invasion world? Bendis certainly had an interesting premise to work with.

Four issues into the series I can state in all fairness that I am not impressed. After reading the first few issues, I couldn’t decide if I liked it. There are many elements of the series I like, but they fail to gel together into a good book. I like Brian Michael Bendis’ choice of allowing Jessica first person narrative. However after four issues, she just seems to be bitching. I’m a fan of wordless panels, allowing the art to speak for itself. While this series relies on this technique frequently, the plot is too sparse for it to be effective. There is just not enough going on and it gets boring fast. I like that gritty noir style which artist Alex Maleev employees. It just doesn’t work well with this story. Bendis’ writing doesn’t have a noir feel and there’s a disjointed presentation between script and art. The watercolors are distracting and out of place. From the coloring, to the art, and the dialogue, no one element is bad, but there is something missing, leaving this series with many individual pieces and nothing complete.

It’s a bizarre combination of ideas that seems like a Bendis experiment. I applaud the attempt, but I’m disappointed with the end result.

2 out of 5

I have been pleasantly surprised by a few Dark Reign miniseries and New Avengers: The Reunion is one of them.  Author Jim McCann had a tough task in front of him – to make Bobbi Morse, a.k.a. Mockingbird relevant.  Would anyone really care that Mockingbird returned?  Would the gaps from Secret Invasion be filled in adequately or glossed over?  Once again, would anyone care?  My answer, yes.

Good writing made me not only care, but really like this series, and hope for more.  Hawkeye (I refuse to call him Ronin) and Mockingbird reunite to take down an A.I.M. threat.  Woven throughout this Mr. and Mrs. Espionage tale is a fantastic, rekindled relationship.  McCann provides solid answers to Bobbi’s Skrull abduction, making her a compelling and noteworthy character.  Most importantly this is an interesting and enjoyable story.

The chemistry between Hawkeye and Mockingbird is engaging.  In between the spy action, flashbacks reveal all we need to know about Bobbi and her feelings for Clint.  Like I always say, nothing brings a couple back together like a good fight.  Once the dust settles from the series-ending showdown with A.I.M., Bobbi and Clint finally have the heart to heart these issues have been building up to.  McCann writes this dialogue authentically and it’s believable.

David and Alvaro Lopez provide the pencils and inks.  Overall, the art was average with some shining moments.  The more intimate moments between the former lovers were most notable for their softness and passion.  My biggest complaint with all four issues is that the colors were too bland and lifeless.

In the end, it was surprisingly satisfying.  Mockingbird is back and hopefully she can find a place in the Marvel Universe.  Now we just need Clint to drop this Ronin crap.  He’s Hawkeye and always will be.

3.5 out of 5