Spider-Gwen #5 Review

Black and White.

We’re introduced to a new yet familiar member of the Spider-Verse in this issue as a meeting long in the making finally takes place.

Jason Latour introduces a new conflict and rivalry and while it feels a little too much too soon, helps advance the plot and brings about some nice interactions.

SPOILERS FOLLOW…………..

Matt Murdock, right-hand man of Kingpin, is alerted that the Kingpin’s vault has been looted – and all that is left is a VIP invitation to an event organized by Felicia Hardy and the Black Cats at Madison Square.

Meanwhile, someone else also has Felicia in her crosshairs – Mary Jane Watson and her band, which includes a certain Gwen Stacy aka Spider-Woman. Apparently, Felicia was a former band-member who broke away on bad terms.

Mary knows that they’ve been invited to open the event with a performance just so that Felicia can rub her success in their faces, but this may just be the break the Mary Janes have been looking for.

We see Felicia watching the Janes practicing and Matt Murdock in the crowd, reminiscing about her father, who was a great thief and managed to steal the Kingpin’s first dollar (that he earned) but was killed by a Daredevil auditioning for a place on Fisk’s team.

Since then, she’s lived by her father’s words – steal only that which cannot be taken back or locked away. And thus, she’s stolen hearts and now repeated her father’s theft of the Kingpin’s first dollar to lure his murderer to his doom.

Breaking up the Janes mid-performance, a battle ensures between Felicia and Matt, with allies on both sides (Black Cats and the Hand). Spider-Woman though arrives and manages to knock out Felicia, but not before the latter mentions that Murdock killed her father.

Murdock tells her not to go into absolutes like Felicia did and they part just as the police close in. Back at his home, Captain George Stacy sits looking at a picture of him and his late wife in the midst of the chaotic living room (thanks to the Vulture).

Jean DeWolff comes in and mentions that this is the second time Spider-Woman has saved him – and that this is not a suspicion of collusion, but a friendly reminder that he seems to be a high profile target now.

I liked that Mary Jane and Felicia has a constant rivalry no matter the universe or cause. But the issue is – was Felicia needed so soon? She felt like a plot device for the Gwen/Murdock meet to happen.

Hopefully she is more fleshed out in subsequent issues.

SPOILERS END………..

Rodriguez’s kinetic artwork is pleasant to look at but hardly helps in panel transitions and action scenes. Especially in the latter half of the book. The rest is as good as always – including some intriguing costume choices.

Latour falters a bit introducing new players but his character interactions remain as solid as ever.

So, I give it 7.0 out of 10.

+Some nice character interactions

+More world building done right

-The new character was a little grating

-Artwork didn’t help in panel transitions, especially the action scenes