#the writers said hmmmmmm we will make her miserable and beat up all the time

[acedavestrider]

my cringe fail wife getting her shit wrecked throughout all of act two

[thatwitchrevan]

Part two of my Spider-Girl commentary:

[Mary Jane: Go get our girl!]

I’ve seen and reblogged this panel before without context because I love Mary Jane and I love the Parker family but if anything it’s better in context. May’s being hunted by the Scriers, terrifying assassins, as well as the Hobgoblin, and Peter’s realized she’s in danger and decided the only thing to do is suit up and go after her, even though a) he hasn’t been Spider-Man in years, and b) he has a prosthetic leg. Mary Jane begs him not to go until he convinces her there’s no other way to protect their daughter, at which point she steels herself and tells him to go. MJ may not have spider powers in this verse, but she’s as strong and brave as ever, and in some ways the bravest of the family.

[Peter: I will, Mary Jane. That’s a promise from SPIDER-MAN!]

(high pitched squealing) I haven’t read much in the way of Spider-Man comics, and I certainly haven’t read the beginning of this retired Peter Parker, but I feel like I’m seeing his Spider-Man make a loud and exciting return after years of the suit collecting dust. I literally squealed at this panel. I love Pete’s Spider-Man. So much. Oh my god.

[May: Stop it! Stop it! I admit I could have done better. I wasn’t much of a friend...or a hero. Normie: That isn’t true, May. You always did the best you could. No one could ask more. May: Normie?! Normie: My life used to be a black hole. I was angry and bitter. You never gave up on me. I’m here to return the favor.]

May’s been basically killed by the Scriers at this point, and as a last resort Normie’s given her the symbiote to heal her. Meanwhile May’s been facing her demons in a near-death state and is about to collapse under the weight of guilt and fear when Normie shows up to give her a pep talk and convince her to bond with the symbiote so she can get back up and fight. And I adore this, okay. May’s beating herself up so bad and Normie just shows up like ‘I HEARD YOU WERE TALKING SHIT ABOUT MY BEST FRIEND’ and he’s just so?? sweet and gentle? such a good friend? God bless this man.

[Normie: I’m still in love with her (Brenda) - but I still love you. I hope you can understand the difference. May: I...I guess.]

I mean, first of all, I would hope his love for May is platonic, since he’s an adult and she is, as I mentioned, sixteen. Also, he’s getting married. It’s definitely a bit weird that they have to clarify this, and I think that indicates that either there is supposed to be some romantic tension that’s not going to be acted on (I mean..it better not) or the writers are looking to clarify this point, and given the way May and Normie act I think it’s the latter. Anyway, we stan close friendships on this blog!!

[Normie: It will do whatever you truly desire. From the kindest act...to the most heinous. Trust me, May - you have nothing to fear.]

Hmmmmmm that’s good content...I love how Normie isn’t even worried about her being ‘corrupted’ by the symbiote. I love when good hearted characters are able to play with fire and not burn anyone because hello, they still have the same morals! May does lose her temper a bit both during and after her bond with the symbiote but again, she is a teenager under high stress. She didn’t get her body hijacked by evil and giving her a dark sort of power didn’t make her go off the rails. That’s what I like to see!

[May!Venom: Now there’s a cue if I ever heard one! You just hit the JACKPOT, tiger! Peter: Ma- Spider-Girl! H-he said you were dead.]

Okay first of all, I love that May has clearly heard the story of how her parents met, probably multiple times each from her Mom, Dad, and Aunt. Secondly, AJKDNJAKDND this is the greatest dramatic superhero entrance I’ve ever seen. The drama?? the heart?? the cheese?? I worship at the feet of this panel. Also May is so in control and therefore I assume in-sync with the symbiote...nice. 

[May: You don’t understand! That maniac attacked my friends. He murdered my symbiote. I have a responsibility to face him...and I WILL! I have to do this, Dad. Please don’t get in the way. Peter: I..I’m not your enemy, May.]

Speaking of temper, this broke my heart, and not just because the symbiote is dead :( Peter doesn’t even begrudge May for her little freakout, though he could, because he does understand. He understands very well. And look at May’s spider-sense going off - she’s scaring herself worse than she’s scaring him. I’m so sad. May put your fucking father down.

[Her heart skips a beat. Is this the call that Mary Jane Parker has dreaded most of her adult life? The one informing her that a web-swinger is dead? Is it her husband? Her daughter?]

(cries)

[May: Hey, Hobby! We still need some guts to decorate the firmament - and I vote for YOURS!]

I! Love! Her! So! Much!

[May: (And) do the same to everyone I love?!? You’ve already used that threat. I hated it the first time. Can’t say it’s grown on me.]

Her response to the Hobgoblin gloating that he’s going to kill her painfully and slowly. I love when the hero just gets Tired of their enemies threats and decides not to cower any more. She’s no less scared than she was before, but she’s refusing to let fear paralyze her, or let the Goblin beat her down with it.

[May: H-he must have regained consciousness and shattered the chimney that anchored my webbing. I...I blew it...after all that we suffered. Peter: You can’t blame yourself, May. I might not be standing here if you hadn’t jumped in against the Scriers.]

May returns to beating herself up and Dad ain’t having NONE of that shit. Pete remembers how it is. Pete’s been that guy so many times. Pete’s not gonna watch his daughter make herself miserable like that. I love this family.

[May: What the - ?! Where’d they all go? Peter: T-they just faded into the shadows...but why?! Normie: M-maybe they had dinner reservations.]

In a comic with multiple Spider people Normie still manages to make the funniest joke I’ve read in it so far. 

I’m still not finished with this volume but I’ve been loving it and I’m so glad I picked it up. Spider-Girl is the best.