Mary Jane: Face It Tiger Comic Review - A Mixed Bag of Celebrating an Iconic Character
Marvel's Mary Jane: Face It Tiger special comic, created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Mary Jane's debut, falls short of celebrating the iconic character. The anthology consists of four stories, three of which depict Mary Jane and Peter Parker during their marriage, while the fourth story explores a modern timeline where they are no longer together. Each story delves into different aspects of Mary Jane's character and her relationship with Spider-Man, highlighting the mishandling of their love story by Marvel over the years.
The first story, "Faces in the Crowd," delves into Mary Jane's PTSD following a traumatic encounter with The Chameleon. In "Vamp #9," Mary Jane takes on a heroic role on a movie set, showcasing her resourcefulness. "Soft Words at Sunset" offers a glimpse into Mary Jane's future, reflecting on her life with Spider-Man. The final story, "Redux," sets the stage for a future miniseries, featuring Mary Jane confronting a villain with the help of the Venom symbiote.
While each story is technically well-executed with solid artwork and pacing, the final story, "Redux," feels out of place as it focuses more on action than character development. The other stories delve deeper into Mary Jane's character, highlighting her heroism, intelligence, and emotional depth. They also shed light on the flaws in Spider-Man comics post-"One More Day," where the marriage between Peter and MJ was retconned.
"Faces in the Crowd" and "Vamp #9" showcase Mary Jane's strengths and empathy, emphasizing her role as a hero in her own right. "Soft Words at Sunset" adds a personal touch by referencing Peter's favorite movie, Casablanca, underscoring the human side of the characters. These stories serve as a reminder of the heart and depth that once defined Spider-Man comics.
In its attempt to honor the past, Mary Jane: Face It Tiger inadvertently exposes the shortcomings of current Spider-Man comics. Despite Marvel's efforts to keep Peter and MJ apart, their enduring love story remains a timeless aspect of the Spider-Man mythos. As the comic suggests, "the world will always welcome lovers... as time goes by."
Overall, Mary Jane: Face It Tiger receives a grade of 6/10, highlighting its technical proficiency but also its missed opportunities to truly celebrate the character of Mary Jane and her relationship with Spider-Man.