Spider-Woman #2: Birthrights

Stop me if you’ve heard this before but a parent who loves their child goes to the extremes to try to save them from a grisly fate. On the surface the set up to this issue seems like a familiar movie/TV trope but Karla Pacheco turns it on its ear in the most fantastic fashion. Michael Marchand is of course the scientist/rich guy willing to break all the rules for the one he loves and Jessica ends up in the same boat when she realizes her radiation spawned powers might become a lethal condition for her own son. There’s a bit more to it but I don’t like to go heavy on spoilers unless necessary so that’s just gonna be another reason to buy a copy and read this comic for yourself.

In the meantime let’s talk about how thrilling it is to see Spider-Woman juiced up to power levels we haven’t seen even hinted at since her time as a New Avenger (which part of that was a Skrull so it only kinda counts, long story definitely read New Avengers and Secret Invasion if you haven’t already) but at the same time she’s also dying from a science experiment going potentially all wrong. How her bombastic new strengths are displayed make the art of Pere Perez standout even more than the stellar work did on it’s own, even just when she’s flexing her pheromone based powers. Pacheco even introduces a brand new supervillain capable of throwing hands on equal playing ground with Jessica Drew via a deep dive into Spider-Woman history.

While that may seem small, it’s the one thing Jessica Drew is often missing in her solo outings: a writer who’s clearly a fan of all things Jessica not just the “no duh it’s awesome” parts. Take a second and think back and pretty much anytime you can tell a writer is a legit fan of the character by their handling of them, you’ve been treated to a fantastic read and this is no exception. Karla Pacheco nails the balance of sincerity, maturity, sassy and wit that makes Jessica Drew such an endearing and empowering character. Female versions of established male heroes is nothing new, femme fatales in comics also is nothing new but Spider-Woman has always found a way to stay relevant by taking trace elements of those things and spinning out her own unique flavor. The end result being a character who has undeniable charm and staying power despite not being as “famous” as her male counterpart.

So what you get here is exactly what the doctor ordered, Spider-Woman busting heads, same well executed humor, absolutely delectable art and just a rock solid story that will have you anxiously waiting for the next issue. The self contained nature of the book should also be noted a major selling point, no gimmicks, no event crossover fatigue right outta the gate, just a great comic for literally anyone who just likes to enjoy a great read.