Review: New look New Life it's Spider-Woman #5

Story: Dennis Hopeless

  Artist: Javier Rodriguez

 

       Cover Art: Javier Rodriguez

 

Publisher: Marvel Comics

 

Cover Price: $3.99

 










Well, it was teased, we all saw the fallout out of Spider-Verse in the last issue of Spider-Woman. Now it's finally here. This is the start of a new direction for Jessica Drew. 

As stated she resigned from The Avengers, cut ties with S.H.I.E.L.D and is now intent of having a more sedate existence (Well more sedate for her) in being a street level superhero. 

Given the horror's and death she witnessed during Spider-Verse, Jessica, has decided to take a step out of the big leagues and in an attempt to rediscover herself is intent on going back to basics as it were. 

I think this is a bold move by Marvel, after all. Jessica Drew is a mainstay in The Avengers and has been for a very long time. So to completely change the direction of a character just five issues into a relaunched book can be seen as a bit of a gamble. Whether it affects, sales or enhances them is something we will have to wait and see. but in a time where, Marvel have recentlly launched two other "Spider-Women" books in Spider-Gwen and Silk, both as street level heroes, Spider-Woman may struggle to find an audience. I really hope it doesn't as This book deserves to find an audience, there is a lot that differentiates Jessica Drew from both Cindy Moon and Gwen Stacy. That was illustrated by their interactions within Spider-Verse. 

She may well have decided in a change in her career but it's not changed her personality, or her drive and that is down to the writing of Denis Hopeless. Who now has an opportunity to take Jessica into area's and situation's I've not really seen her in before. Which to me is the compelling aspect of this book going forward. Free from the contraints of writing someone else's narrative as he was under during the first four issues, we'll now get to see the idea's and journey that Denis wants to take Jessica on. and from this issue to me at least the signs are very good. 

I really enjoyed the elements of humour in this book, and here it was illustrated the problems that Jess will face readjusting to street level crime as opposed to the usual fare that she's more accostomed to dealing with. some of these issues were excellently highllighted in a converstaion between Jessica and Ben Urich as, Ben was attempting to coherse Spider-Woman into helping him with a story that he was working on, regarding the disapperance of women associated with low-level super-villains. 

which later leads to a fun encounter between Spider-Woman and The Porcupine, where upon encountering a bank robbery in progress Spider-Woman ask's the Porcupine to clarify that he is indeed commiting a number of crimes. Before taking him on.

It's during the fight, that Porcupine informs Spider-Woman that his daughter's life is now threatened due to his capture. Jessica realises that this has similarities to the situation she discussed with Ben Urich. and sneaks back to the bugle to recheck the files making the decision that perhaps this does need further looking into.

So begining the new direction in earnest. after all, this is primarialy a set up issue but it's one that engages the reathe Spider-Verse tieders well and invites us back for a further look, it's a well fleshed out book which is brighter and more vibrant due mainly to the change of artist on the book. As Javier Rodriguez takes over from Greg Land. To me the change enhances the direction change, the use of angles and colours give the panels a distinctly carttony feel, and yet do not detract from the narrative, in fact I prefer the art style of the book so much more to the art of Greg Land. though I concede that the new look won't be for everyone. but as far as I'm concerned this is a solid and bold issue. 

Considering i was in two minds to continue with Spider-Woman after the Spider-Verse tie-in's the vibrancy of the art and the interesting new look and direction of the characters has convinced me that i should continue with this book for a while longer. 

My score for this issue is a solid 7.5 and fresh direction for Jess that keeps things interesting.

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