The Amazing Mary Jane #4: People Are Going to Laugh at You

Gone are the pacing problems I mentioned in my last review. Throughout Amazing Mary Jane #4, the tension continues to build at a consistent rate. It starts with the actor playing Spider-Man quitting, and each beat moves the story towards the climax of the first arc. Like past issues, the conflict comes from one thing going wrong after another. Only this time they flow seamlessly into each other, connected and building up to a potential meltdown.

The art by Carlos Gomez and Carlos Lopez contributes to that forward motion. By providing two layers of action, the story drives forward even though expositional dialogue occurs in the same panel. The fact that this foreground versus background movement furthers to highlight background characters is something that makes it more endearing to me.

While reviewing Gwenpool Strikes Back, I had commented on how Leah Williams crafts excellent dialogue. This issue does a great job highlighting that in the conversation between Mary Jane and Master Matrix. She makes clear the themes and motivations of the book, the seeking and assisting the journey of redemption, without smacking the reader in the face with it.

Their conversation about Mysterio and Master Matrix’s redemption, and the secrets the two are keeping from Peter Parker, could have slowed down the plot. Instead, the emotion feels real and adds weight and stakes to the plot. It also makes me curious enough about Master Matrix that I’m going to pick up the annotated issues.