Spider-Woman #6 Review
Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist and Colorist: Javier Rodriguez
Inker: Alvaro Lopez
Last we left off with Ms. Drew, she and Ben Urich found themselves knee deep in some kind of Super Villain kidnapping ring, and as luck would have it happened upon one of the victims mid-bank heist: the poor soul that is The Porcupine.
Yeah, this guy. Kind of sad, right?
Now that you’re all caught up, its time to gush. This has quickly become one of the highlights of Marvel’s monthly output for me, mostly due to its sarcastic wit and likable heroine. Dennis Hopeless writes great dialog that doesn't come off as just necessary exposition, but rather down to earth conversation, with some Whedon-esque wit thrown in. Truthfully I’m hoping that once this arc is over, characters like The Porcupine and Big Wheel stick around in some way. They are just too rife with comedic possibilities to get rid of.
Exchanges like the opening segment between Porcupine and Spider-Woman, where he critiques her open mouth chewing and lack of bowls, aren't just throwaway one liners. They are referenced throughout the rest of the book, noticeably on page 4, since it's still bothering her, and page 13, where it's not directly addressed, but you can see an open box of newly purchased bowls in the corner. Things like these endear you to the cast and the world that they are living in. Page 7’s exchange with Big Wheel made me laugh out loud, and seeing how Drew reacts to these admittedly C List villains is priceless.
Seriously though, who knows an Alpaca guy?
Javier Rodriguez once again impresses on the art front. In this issue, it's mostly due to his delightful facial expressions, as there aren't a ton of action sequences here. Not that it needs it, mind you, but the few times they do pop u,p they leave an impression.
One thing I did notice, and it might not lead to anything, but Ben Urich is typically a very trustworthy individual, but in this book Rodriguez’s pencils sometimes paint a different picture. A few closeup shots of Mr. Urich reveal that everything might not be on the up and up, such as the lower right panel on page 12. Just something I noticed.
Well, that’s my piece. You can check back next month for the review on issue 7, and if you fancy more on Spider-Woman, you can catch our review for issue 5 right here. Until next time, folks.
