Story By: Jason Latour
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Cover Art: Robbi Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
The Second Issue of Spider-Gwen, continues to impress with Latour's creation of the world she inhabits taking centre stage in the follow up issue. the pace of the book keeps it's steady pace as the writer takes us deeper into the background of Earth - 65.
As i said above the book focuses on the supporting cast more than Gwen in this issue as the fallout of last issue's cliffhanger come to a head. More characters and familiar names are introduced in this issue, it was interesting to see a return for a number of people and to be re-introduced to some of the aspects that were touched upon in Edge of Spider-Verse #2
Having not read anything by Jason Latour previously I'm really liking the style of the Southern Bastards writer on this book. and you can tell he is revelling in taking this character and running with it, aided by the visuals and stunning artwork from Rodriguez and Rico Renzi's colouring,
The style is an excellent balance of humour, teenage angst and dark broodiness, provided by the Gwen and her supporting cast. this issue gives us a further insight into the world she inhabits and the struggles she has in trying to find just what role she has to play.
The issue itself, picks up immediately from the cliff hanger ending of Issue 1, Showing just how Gwen managed to survive the fall after The Vulture dropped her from. This reveal had strong elements and references made to Peter Parker's first encounter with the Vulture, reinforcing the reader view that Spider-Gwen is feeling a lot like early Stan Lee issues of Amazing Spider-Man. Though that comparison is a little unfair to what it is the team of Latour and Rodriguez are creating here.
after managing to save herself from the fall, Gwen hasn't quite managed to come out unscathed in fact there is a brilliant cameo of a former Spider-Verse ally in this issue that serves as a manifestation of Gwen's conciousness, providing some humerous moments. culminating in an argument of a lost phone.
The phone in question has in fact been located along with the rest of Spider-Gwen's belongings in the alley where she left them to pursue the Vulture in the last issue, by a police officer investigating the crime scene. Also in attendance is Captain Stacy who relieves his daughters possessions from the officer just as Detective Jean DeWolff arrives with Frank Castle who is the lead investigator on the Spider-Woman case.
The story shifts to an apartment where Gwen is found by two of her friends and former band members Glory Grant and Em Jay.
This exchange serves to inform us just what happened to Gwen in the intervening period from surviving the skydive and arriving back at the apartment, again the Spider-Ham manifestation is present offering the humour and light-heartedness, given the predicament that She's now in. As this is the first time since returning from the alternate dimension that anyone has seen her.
The interaction between, Glory, Gwen and Em Jay, is a bubbling tinder pot and although i'm still not too sure where Latour is taking us with a sniping Em Jay who right now appears to be resentful and jealous of Gwen. basically not displaying any character traits of MJ Watson. but i guess differing aspects of a charcters nature can be addressed as being an alternate version, and I suppose that's what the team are going for by referring to her as "Em Jay" rather than the more familiar MJ.
The girls conversation quickly becomes a heated exchange between Glory and Em Jay, and Gwen uses the opportunity to announce that she has to leave, using available exit to go and hunt for the Vulture and her missing phone.
The story then moves to The two dectectives and Captain Stacy conducting an interview with this worlds Kingpin, as Castle believes there to be a connection between Fisk and The Spider-Woman. as in the last issue we again introduced to Detective Castle's quick temper and intoleristic nature which is quickly brought into check by a phone meeting with Fisk's lawyer Matt Murdoch.
The usage, of Murdoch as a villain in the series so far is very well done and works to the extent that just because the man without fear is a hero in most realities, there are some in which he is not. As we later discover it would appear that Murdoch is not just the Kingpin's lawyer in this world, but is in fact a chief enforcer as well. Given that later the phone call Murdoch is seen torturing the Vulture for apparently killing Spider-Gwen.
The closing of the issue shows the mixture of tone, with Castle and Stacy at a bar brooding over the lack of progression from interviewing the Kingpin in prison. this results in an exchange of words between the two officers of the law before George leaves wondering where Gwen could be.
Spider-Gwen, appears on the wall Captain Stacy states that he assumes that she is looking for her phone, Gwen replies No I'm looking for you.
I don't know about you others out there but I'm still hooked on this book. it has that freshness and is connected to the world of Spider-Man and yet departed enough that it is growing it's own identity. there's a lot of interesting material here that Jason Latour can enthral us with for years.
My score for Spider-Gwen #2 is 8.5 I thought this moved the story forward really well, and managed to introduce a new character seamlessly, whilst giving us still the sense of innocence that we love from Gwen's character mixed with some darker undertones.
So
i hope you've enjoyed reading my views on this issue have you read this
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