Spider-Girl #1 // Review
Maka Akana used to dream that she could fly. Now she’s got something that’s better than any kind of flight. Now she can swing through Manhattan on barbwire webs. She had been under the control of insidious forces before, but now that she’s free, she can act just exactly like anyone else who might be found swing through New York on webs in Spider-Girl #1. Writer Torunn Grønbekk opens a whole new series with a new web-slinger. The story makes its way to the page courtesy of artist Andre Risso and colorist Java Tartaglia. It’s a promising opening for a distinctly new personality in Marvel Manhattan.
There’s a guy about to walk right into traffic. He’s on the phone so he doesn’t know that he’s about to get him by a car until the barbwire webbing hits him in the back. What Maka doesn’t know is that it really hurts when that stuff hits. She doesn’t know that the guy’s suit cost $3,000 either, but she does when he yells it at her. The anger of someone who should be grateful is the least of her worries when she arrives at the dojo for training and finds herself attacked by a monstrous villain known as Vermin.
Vermin has been kicking around for decades. It’s always nice to see him come back. Gronbekk has a versatility as a writer that’s served her well over the years. In the first issue of this new series, she’s clearly showing that she’s got the wit and poise to be able to do a respectable job of bringing a charismatic web-slinging hero girl to the page. The overall flow of action across the page from opening web-swinging to the final action sequence is thoroughly entertaining. Gronbekk clearly articulates the best parts of a Marvel web-slinger story.
It’s pretty remarkable just how many different appealing variations can be made on the classic Ditko/Stanton Spider-Man costume. Spider-girl’s look runs the risk of looking remarkably goofy with the pigtails sticking out of the back of the mask and the weird cut of the tracksuit-style Spidey costume. Risso finds the coolness in it...and also manages to make the kid-like appearance of Maka assert iteself from underneath the Spider costume. It’s a cool mix of heroism and inexperiences that makes a very strong presence on the page. Very sharp and distinctive stuff.
Maka’s fun. One of the most appealing and distinctive things about her IS her inexperience. That’s not something that often comes across as a terribly appealing aspect of any character. The shared universe element of superhero comics really plays-up the appeal of characters who have had dealings with a great many others within the universe in question. Gronbekk and company make Maka’s lack of experience one of the most appealing things about her as she swings somewhat haphazardly through her opening issue. It’s fun stuff from beginning to end. With any luck it has a nice, long run.
