#but i feel like the way an adult dunks on their art vs how a teen does it is. noticeable

[bowtiestash]

i really find it interestin that you can kinda clock an artist's age based on how self-deprecatin they are lol

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Spider-Girls #1 Thoughts

FINALLY I’ve gotten to the series I was most anticipating!

 Just about the ONLY thing I was remotely interested in Spider-Geddon for was this mini-series.

My hype was strong because even though at the time I’d not finished RYV proper the prospect of seeing Mayday again, in her proper outfit (we’ll talk about that) and interacting with Annie was a fanservice dream, especially after Houser established that in the RYV universe (though this didn’t exactly make sense with the original RYV mini from Secret Wars) that Mayday was miscarried in this universe.

So how did this issue measure up in delivering on that enticing prospect?

Well in short it did a good job.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way.

Mayday’s costume is off model on both the cover and interior of the comic, albeit in different ways. On the cover she has webpits which she never had outside of her redesigned costume from Secret Wars: Spider Island and Web Warriors. In the interior the artist neglects to draw the red on her boots. At first I thought it was just because she was being drawn in motion or a mistake but no the art is consistent. Then I thought maybe in the prior issues of Spider-Geddon she also had no red on her boots but no, she did. So this artist just screwed up.

A nitpick? Perhaps but given how contentious the issue of Mayday wearing her true costume has been ever since Spider-Verse it’s worth talking about.

A more significant problem where Houser, much as I have liked her work in the past, really didn’t do her homework, was presenting Peter a(and arguably MJ) as wholly unaware of the Inheritors.

Why is this a problem. Because this version of Peter Parker literally debuted during Spider-Verse, specifically Spider-Verse #2, an anthology comic which was written with the explicit intention of teasing Renew Your Vows during Secret Wars. So he should absolutely know about the Inheritors. The only way this makes sense is if the RYV Peter of Secret Wars and the one of RYV the ongoing are in fact not one and the same. Which was a theory some held when Conway’s run began because of how much it didn’t line up with the Secret Wars mini-series.

Another little nitpick is the Vulture gang. They were pretty lame although I suppose that may have been the point and it echoes Spider-Geddon #1 where Miles fights the equally lame Vulturions.

A more significant problem which I grant you may be addressed in future issues is that Peter’s reaction to Mayday is simply the initial shock of her reveal and then he seems relatively non-chalant. Mary Jane, in a brief yet heartbreakingly brilliant scene, goes off on her own to be upset, but Peter doesn’t do anything like that or show signs of being that thrown for a loop from seeing his dead daughter alive and well.

Now look I’m going to be very harsh. Maybe extremely controversial here. Call me out if I am because I’ve never been through a tragedy like a miscarriage. In such a situation from what little I know, a mother being more upset than the father wouldn’t be unrealistic or unreasonable. Buuuuuuut...unless RYV Peter is way more different than the Peter we know and love from 616 seeing Mayday (let alone finding out her Dad is dead) should get under his skin and we should see that. In 616 after the Clone Saga there was more than one scene depicting Peter being upset about MJ’s miscarriage.

Another problem is that Mayday and Anya comment that it’s nice seeing the city so normal. I didn’t understand that exchange and can only summise that Houser is implying being with the |Web Warriors they haven’t seen a normal (for them) version NYC in awhile. This doesn’t really make sense because the Web Warriors isn’t Mayday’s day job, she still operates in her version of NYC regularly last we checked. Unless this series takes place REALLY soon after Web Warriors and Mayday has changed back to her old outfit and then just helped monitor the Inheritors leading into Spider-Geddon and little else. But that’s not the implication of the prior issues of this event.

Also, though this is more a problem with Spider-Geddon #1-2 I admit but i’m only just realizing it now, where was Anya until now? In Web Warriors she lives on Loomworld with Spidey-UK who is her (most recent) mentor. But she wasn’t around in any of the prior issues of this event until now. And for a girl who just lost her mentor (again) she seems nonchalant. Sure as a someone who at best is lukewarm to her character I don’t care about seeing her reaction. Heck I’d rather she be outright absent from this series and it be all about Annie and Mayday. But from a writing POV she should have a reaction to Billy’s death.

Finally Houser continues to insist Annie’s hyper Spider Sense was something her parents only recently learned of.

That’s about it for the negatives.

Pretty much everything else about the story was GREAT.

Do not mistake my above negatives for me disliking the story.

I didn’t.

I LOVED it.

Where it succeeded it really succeeded.

After the bitter disappointment of the last arc of RYV this was Houser very much back on form.

In a lot of ways this issue feels like RYV #24. But because it isn’t an issue of that series I can’t hold it against the story for again focussing on Annie. In this series Annie, Ayna and Mayday are the leads, Peter and MJ are the supporting characters and there is no pretense of that.

Now for sure, as is typical with most of Houser’s issues, Annie is more centre stage than everyone else, being the only character afforded an inner monologue. Now I’m actually okay with this for now because Spider-Girls seems to be to Spider-Geddon what Scarlet Spiders was to Spider-Verse (ironically including ‘siblings’ one of which sports the Spider-Ben outfit) and in that series every issue gave focus to a different lead. If that is the case then this was simply Annie’s turn and the next two issues will give the focus to Mayday and Anya. If that isn’t the case then...that might be a problem.

That all being said this wasn’t BAD focus for Annie. Throughout Houser’s run the main tension for Annie has been between wanting more independence and adult responsibility vs. her being able to live up to that. Case in point she does need her parents help in this story.

In that sense I suppose this issue was a little repetitive of themes we’ve hit on before. But no one said she finished that arc by RYV #23 nor that it should be over by that point anyway. She’s a kid so for her to get that independence and responsibility within like 10 issues would feel unrealistic and unearned. What’s nice about this issue is that the situation organically confers onto her that sense of independence, trust and responsibility. We just need to see if she’ll be able to handle it now.

We also get more expansion on her ‘unique’ Spider Sense. It’s a little inconsistent in this story because prior to this she got outright visions but the impression given at the start of this issue is that her latest vision is more vague. Now of course Mayday’s spider sense to a lesser extent was capable of seeing the future as was Kaine’s. I don’t mind her borrowing from the latter but given the similarities between Annie and Mayday already it was a problem; having such visions more frequently didn’t help that much. This issue does rectify this issue a little by connecting her more directly to the Web of Life and Destiny giving her Spider Sense a greater root in magic.

Love or hate that it’s certainly more unique. I typically dislike magic in Spider-Man, but given how RYV has ended and this may well be the last hurrah for the RYV characters there ain’t much to lose in going this direction.

On Mayday’s side (yeah heads up Anya is just kinda just there so I have little to say about her) Houser does little but what little she does goes a long way; more is less in this case.

Unlike Slott, Costa or Gage who either wrote Mayday out of character, generically or the way a human being wouoldn’t react, Houser seems to have enough knowledge of basic human emotion to get that you know, seeing her Dad alive and with a daughter who isn’t her would upset Mayday.

Rather than rearing to tear the Inheritors a new one like In Spider-Geddon #2 or Spider-Verse, Mayday here just vents a little too hard on the Vulture gang and is a little more distracted and quiet than she normally would be. It’s subtle. It’s in character. It’s well done.

I also appreciate that Mayday was able to one hit K.O. two Vultures at once. Mayday in that moment became the most bad ass character in the issue. It also created a nice subtle parallel with Annie. At the start of the issue Annie tells and shows off how being a hero for a long time has made her such a competent fighter. Mayday’s prowess in the previously mentioned moment shows that off too. Realistically Annie may well be a more competent and effective fighter than Mayday given how she’s been doing it for longer and has had extensive X-Men training. Although Mayday has had more direct training from Peter, the Avengers (including American Dream), Phil Urich and noticeably Elektra. I’d like for this angle to be explored going forward. Seeing how Mayday sigs where Annie zags is surely one of the most obviously interesting prospects of a series like this.

Apart from the great MJ scene where she is sad by seeing Mayday, the only other positive I have is the art.

Now I was less than thrilled by the post-time skip RYV art to be honest. I felt a lot of the time it felt sketchy, unfinished even.

Here Genolet, whilst not being s slam dunk super star Spidey artist like Ottley or Stegman, delivers smooth, clean, effective artwork that serves the story and has a dash of Phil Noto to it in my eyes.

So yes.

There are problems with this issue but so far it has a lot of greatness to it and I’m very interested to read on!

[calystegiaidol]

[[I said a while back that Kanami had some 260 voice lines. Well... I had time in the car so I, uh, wrote them all down. Under the cut.

Note: They’re not really formatted to match her inflections and what not.]] 

Atlus

P Studio

Persona 4 Dancing All Night

How’s that? Good? Bad?

I’m gonna do my best.

Here goes!

What?! Me?!

Uhhh… I-I’ll try my best.

All righty! I just have to do this!

Okay! Go me!

I’m supposed to wear this, right?

Sure! I’ll give it a try!

Whoa! You think it’ll look good on me?

Uhhhhhh… this is embarrassing! But I’ll try it!

Yay! What a fantastic costume!

Yes! I love costumes like these!

Whoa! N-now this is… new.

Uh… Is this okay to wear?

Hahaha! Leave this to me!

Okay. Time to show what I’m made of. Woohoo!

Yes! M-my heart’s pounding but I’ll give it a try!

I’ll be sure to make the most of this opportunity.

All right! One must seek out new challenges!

Ahh! You think I’m really up to this?

Whooooa! Y-y-you really think I can do this?

I’ll go out and dance with a smile!

1 and 2 and 1 and 2! Dance to the rhythm!

Woo! I’m looking forward to this very much!

Yay! Bring you’re A-game!

I’ll cheer you on until I’m hoarse! You can do it!

Ooo! This is what I was waiting for! Good luck!

Go do your best Yu-san! You’re so cool!

Oooooo! A dancing hunk! In other words, a dunk! How cool!

This is totally unfair! Rise-senpai’s friends are all so cool or so cute!

W-whoa! That’s amazing! She’s a kung-fu master! Huwa-ta! (you know, the chie sound)

That looks so fun! Just watching this is making me all excited! Wheeeeeeee!

Wow! What a beautiful lady! She’s going to be dancing right? Yay!

Oooo! She’s so stylish and cool!

Woohoo! Rise-senpai’s dancing! This is so exciting! I-I’m… so hopeless.

Just having her on stage changes the atmosphere! I wish I could be like her!

Whoa! H-He’s gonna dance in costume?! Doesn’t it get hot in there?

So adorable!~ I’m a little round and pudgy too, but he’s definitely cuter!

Whoa! He looks intense! But I feel like he might be good.

Uhhhh.. your brows all scrunched! Loosen up!

Uh! Are you nervous?! Y-You need to relax!

I like the vibe you’ve got going! Show us a fun dance!

Ooo! So cute! You’re the best Nanako-san!

Nanako-san! If you’re ever in trouble I’ll come help in an instant! Go! Fight! Win!

Margaret. You’re so beautiful.

Go, go! You’re the best!

Hurrah!

There!

Here goes!

Good!

1, 2, 3!

This is going well!

I’m joining in too!

Excuse me for butting in!

Let’s get fired up and do this!

Ohhh.. I can’t hold back anymore! I’m coming in!

Let me join!

Excuse me for joining in!

Let’s dance Nanako-san!

Nanako-san and I make Kanakokko!

Whoa! You’re so good Yu-san! Awesome!

Oooo! Pretty amazing Yu-san!

Oh my gosh that made me dizzy! But it was fun anyway!

Ooo! Yosuke-san’s on fire! Go! Go!

That was great Chie-san! Very good!

Such awesome legs! I admire them!

Whoa! Yukiko-san! Are you really an amateur?

You’re really elegant! So light and sparkly!

The invincible Rise-senpai’s dance is so cute! Ahhh~

Woo! Rise-senpai are you really making a comeback?! That’s the best!

Mr. Bear Suit’s dance is so exciting and fun!

That was a lot of fun Mr. Bear Suit! Loved it!

So intense! Like a huge explosion of power!

Your kick ass dance was intense Kanji-san! Totes amazing!

You’re on fire Naoto-san! 100%!

I think you could be an idol Naoto-san! You’re so cute and cool!

Wow! Nanako-san you’re so good!

Kanakokko is on fire! Hehehe!

Margaret, you’re beyond perfect!

I’ll strive to become a mature lady like Margaret!

Woohoo! Wow this is amzaing!

So cool! So cute! So impressive!

Very nice! Good job!

Whoa you’re glowing! So sparkly!

It’s okay! Don’t let it bother you.

No worries! You’re doing totally fine!

You can do this! Go! Fight! Win!

Don’t let it bother you!

Ooo how fantastic!

You might be better than me!

Impressive! I super admire you!

What was that just now?! Can I do that to?

Looking great Yu-san! Way too cool!

You’re so cool! Like completely and utterly rad!

Whoa! Yosuke-san’s dancing puts the pros to shame!

Yosuke-san’s living up to his name! ...No?

Whoa! You’re very cool Chie-san!

Wow! I wanna be able to dance like that too!

Wow! How beautiful! I’m so jealous!

Whoa! Are you really an amateur Yukiko-san?

Whoa! Rise-senpai is always so impressive! I admire you a lot!

Yes! You’re lovely and unbeatable Rise-senpai!

Damn. Even in costume he dances so well!

He’s starting to look cool! What should I do?

Whoooa! You’re so intense! That’s really cool~

You’re super amazing! And a blond to boot!

Whoooa! Incredible! You’ve got skills Naoto-san!

So nice! So cool! So jealous!

Oooo! Absolutely adorable!~

Uh~ Nooo~ I’m gonna die of cute!

*sing-song voice* The charms of a mature woman!~ *exasperated* I’ve got none of that.

So smooth! What do I need to do to dance like that?!

You’re tensing up a little bit! Try to stay relaxed!

You have to put your mistakes behind you! Dance like you mean it!

All that practice wasn’t for nothing! Keep on going!

You can still make it! Turn those tables around!

You have to believe in yourself! Let’s do this Yu-san!

Y-You have to stay calm Yu-san!

Huh?! What’s wrong?! I know you can go for it!

Nooo! Hang in there Yosuke-san!

Show me your guts! Your passion! Fight on!

Dancing is a martial art too! It’s a battle with yourself!

You have to recover! I know you can Yukiko-san!

No! Yukiko-san’s in danger! Hang in there and go for it!

It’s at times like these that you can’t worry!

Now that’s our Rise-senpai for staying calm! She’s electrifying, so amazing!

Time to make a huge comeback Mr. Bear Suit!

It’s not over yet! Let’s go all out from here on!

It’s the moment of truth Kanji-san! I’ll be cheering you on!

Waah! Time to get serious! Don’t give up yet!

Naoto-san! You can still come back from this!

Forget everything else, and dance with an empty mind! Like me!

Nanako-san, keep going and don’t let it bother you!

Tada! Your charm can still win them over Nanako-san!

Margaret isn’t doing so hot! Nooo! Don’t lose!

She’s not affected at all! *gasp* This is amazing to see!

Yeah! Let’s get this show on the road!

Entering Fever Time! Here goes!

Time to use every ounce of strength we have! Let’s all get fired up!

Whee! This is the highlight of the show!

I can’t stop anymore! This is so much fun!

All righty! Let’s nail this Nanako-san!

Wow!~ Yu-san really can do anything!~

You could be a star with that level of skill! I guarantee it!

Woohoo! Yosuke-san and I had a totally rocking time together!

We blasted right through that! Totally on fire, ahhh so much fun!

Super great moves Chie-san!

Whoa! The Fever Time Kung-fu dance! Wow! Hwuah-ta!

How fantastic! You’re a proper Japanese lady!

Hehehe! The two of us totally lit up the stage!

We’re an invincible duo! We exploded with energy on stage!

Oh gosh! That was seriously the best thing ever!

Fever Time! Fever Time! Go go go!

Dancing with you is such fun Mr. Bear Suit! How will I top it?

Whoa! Kanji-san’s moves are so powerful!

Your sense of rhythm is amzing! You’re no ordinary guy!

Forget all the complicated stuff… and just dance!

Naoto-san is cool through and through! She’s the raddest!

Awwwww~ What a precious little angel!

Thank you! That was our special double-act: Kanakokko!

Adult sexiness vs idol cuteness! What did you think?

Haha! We’re sexy and young!

Ohh I’m out of practice! This ain’t good…

Nooo!

Noo-! Oh dear…

Oooo nice moves!

Bravo!

What a charming duo!

Now then! Go! Fight! Win!

Looks like they’re both on fire!

Whoa! They’re great at livening things up!

Eee! A full blast of girl power!

Whoa! They’re both so cute I could die~

They’re so in sync I could watch them all day!

Oh my! These two are perfect for each other!

Wow!~ Men’s dances are pretty strong stuff!

Ohhhh myyy!~ *gasp* The girls will coming running to see this!

My excitement level went… Bam! Through the roof!

So beautiful! I just have to learn from this!

Oh gosh! Those two are pretty bold!

That was so cool! I just have to keep my eyes on these two!

Woohoo!

You’re looking great!

*quiet panting* I’m sorry..! Please, let me rest for a bit. It won’t be long!

Yay! 120 points out of 100! …Huh?

Yes! Yes! I did it! I can’t believe I actually got a perfect score!

Wooo! A perfect score! I did it! I did it!

Ohoho! That went totally awesome for me! Yup!

How was that? Have I gotten better?

Dancing is so much fun! I’m in such a good mood!

All right! I can’t be satisfied with this! I’ll try even harder!

Well, I knew I could do that much. I gotta practice more to get better!

I gotta try even harder! All right! Go! Fight! Win!

Uhoh… Tomomin might yell at me for this.

I need to take on more and lessons! I just have to practice harder!

Whuuuh… that was close. Too many mistakes.

Awwwnh… the path of an idol is harsh as ever.

I’m no good! It’s to the point that I mistake when the trash day is!

What am I doing?! Stupid me! Useless slowpoke Kanami!

That was so intense that I’m all dizzy! It was great!

Oh what fun! Hehe! …Oops. Sorry. I… couldn’t help it. Ehehe! Hee hee hee!

That was amazing! I’d definitely like to request an encore!

Thank you so much! That was extremely well done!

What the heck?! How are you that perfect?! *gasp* I don’t understaaand!

That was too amazing Yu-san! I don’t feel like I could ever top that…!

Whoa! That’s amazing! You didn’t make a single goof!

You’re a god of dance Yosuke-san! People from Inaba are scaaary!

Nooo! If you show off like that my confidence will melt like a candle!

That was sweet~ I’m head over heels for you Chie-san!

I’m so jealous… I wish I could pull off moves that awesome!

Amazing! Yukiko-san was like a celestial maiden! So cool!

Ahh! Rise-senpaiiiii! You were so marvelous that I could die!

Nooo! It’s no use! I haven’t gotten closer to your level at all!

So amazing! That was tons of fun! You’re the best Mr. Bear Suit!

I see that long legs aren’t that important when it comes to dancing!

Wow! That was flawless! So perfect it’s… scary!

Amazing! Kanji-san looks scary but he’s a great dancer!

Wow so smooth! You were on another level Naoto-san!

That’s it! I’m done! Geniuses really do exist! I can’t dance that good!

Woo! You’re the best Nanako-san! Totes adorable!

Nanako-san, you’re a prodigy! No… a genius! This girl’s got skills!

Wow! Your dance is top-notch pretty lady! It’s out of this world!

Whoa… whaaaaat?! That was perfect! Too perfect lady… (she almost sounds suspicious xD)

Whoooooa… I admire you so much!

So perfect! I guess she has more life experience to draw on… Ahhhhhnnn…

Wonderful Yu-san! You were in spitting distance of perfection!

Ahhhhn… Are you really an amateur? You’ve been training your whole life, right?!

These skills… *gasp* Is a Junes job the secret? Let me work there too!

So cool! You’re the dancing shop employee Yosuke-san!

Whoooa! Can I be like Chie-san if I learn Kung-fun too?

Whoa! You have an amazing sense of rhythm Chie-san! Woohoo!

Amazing Yukiko-san! I was moved by your hospitality!

Oooohhhh! She’s prettyyyy, has a great body, AND a stunning dancer! Life isn’t fair!

She’s got moves like that after a long break? Rise-senpai is incredible!

I knew it Rise-senpai! I gotta step up my game too! I’ll try even harder!

*gasp* Is there a secret to the suit that gives you intense dance powers?

Wha? How?! How can you dance so much with that costume on!

That was powerful dance! Hmmmmm… maybe I should put on some muscle!

He can dance, knit, and even cook! You’ll make a great wife Kanji-san!

Wow! It’s so cool that you’re smart AND you can dance!

So it’s possible to be both smart and a good performer! Very neat!

That was too wonderful! When I was little I wasn’t… that… good… Huh… Oh dear…

How is a little girl so good?! Inaba folks are pretty scary.

Those sharp moves! That much be the secret to your sexy bod!

That was soooooo close! You can get a perfect next time!

The most important part comes next! Try to get even better!

Ohhh! You really nailed that part! You’re on a roll!

You still have stamina to spare? Wow! I better work hard too!

It’s not good to hold back! Release your inner spirit!

That was so good Nanako-san! Keep taking lessons and you’ll hit the big time!

1, 2, 3… *gasp* Oh gosh! Isn’t this a new record?

Babam! This is amazing!

I’ve never seen anything like this! It’s a new record!

That’s Nanako-san for you! What a scary little girl…!

Tada! Level up! Ba da bing!

Whoooa! Your moves are getting better! You’re really improving!

Your dancing is looking up Nanako-san!