Spider-Woman #3 *Spoilers*

[jackolover]

This series has to address a few problems with Jessica Drew. Why is she so intimidated by Madam Hydra (who I assume is the Countess), when Jess has been the captive of the Skrulls for a long duration? Was Veranke aware of Jessicas character at all when she was doing her character in the NA. Since Jess has come back to the NA series, she has been a wall flower, whereas Veranke was this mean, nasty, person who intimidated the likes of Electro and Black Widow

As to this episode, it had me wondering what Jess wants to be in life:

spoilers:

Madam Hydra coaxes Jess into her craft when more cops show up and MH threatens to kill more of them. They have this long conversation where Bendis establishes this hold that MH has over Jess, and Jess is this wimp with no backbone. I like Veranke better at this stage. When they arrive a HYDRA base, Jess attacks MH but her spider bite has no effect, because MH has a force field. After all the histrionics are over, MH wants Jess as a Skrull hunter as well, and asks her to intervue a captured Skrull, (MH has a Skrull detector watch as well. HMMM). When Jess sees who the Skrull is, she is OMG!

end of spoilers

Bendis takes an awful lot of time to establish Madam Hydra and her hold over Jess, so this should have had a cover with her on it, but we get that next issue. I'm trying to think what has made Jess like what she is, and I hope it's something to do with these Skrulls she's about to meet, because as of right now, Jessica Drew has as much personality as a wet sock. She could be Jessica Jones but with spider powers, but this is a real hero who is supposed to be hardened by super encounters.

[Bevbos]

Did this come out already?

[mattbib]

Originally Posted by Bevbos

Did this come out already?

Yes, last Wednesday.

[coveredinbees]

who I assume is the Countess

It's Viper.

[Bevbos]

Originally Posted by mattbib

Yes, last Wednesday.

Shoot, how'd I miss that? oh well.

[Nyssane]

Why doesn't she ever wear the actual Spider-Woman costume? The title is so misleading.

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by Nyssane

Why doesn't she ever wear the actual Spider-Woman costume? The title is so misleading.

I think Bendis is going very Daredevil-y with this comic. He should remember, his run started with DD in costume before he didn't have him in it.

[kcekada]

Meh. I prefer a more traditional take on the character. Noir be damned!

That's Madame Hydra/Viper?! Could have fooled me!! Looks nothing like past versions of the character -- going way back to the 60s as created by the great Steranko.

Didn't Bendis himself say that he likes Spider-Woman's costume? Might be nice to see it aside from the cover.

Yeah, I don't like wimpy Jessica. Even at her lowest points in the past, she never came across as a wallflower. Really, this ain't the greatest way to launch a series.

[lilyinblue]

Crazy as this may sound, I don't really mind the 'wallflower' depiction of Jessica right now. In a way, it makes sense (to me).

She's completely lost. She really has no idea what's going on in the world. She doesn't know if she has any friends left. She's hanging back against the walls (something that's been physically depicted a lot over in New Avengers) until she figures out her place in the world again.

It makes sense now. Where I would be annoyed is if she doesn't grow out of it eventually.

[Agent_Torpor]

Originally Posted by Nyssane

Why doesn't she ever wear the actual Spider-Woman costume? The title is so misleading.

The "BENDIS" on the cover should have alerted you to the mediocrity mired inside.

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by Agent_Torpor

The "BENDIS" on the cover should have alerted you to the mediocrity mired inside.

It's been better than his New Avengers as of late. At least he hasn't had any fight scenes to eff up.

[coveredinbees]

Has the new, crappy Madame Hydra dyed her hair green yet?

I suppose she's not sure what to do with herself and depressed after losing all that time. A year? I also miss Veranke, however. Maybe she'll come back to life soon.

[Agent_Torpor]

Please don't tell me that Bendis ****ed with Madame Hydra?

[jackolover]

Originally Posted by coveredinbees

I also miss Veranke, however. Maybe she'll come back to life soon.

This is what's hanging over me, also. I have this picture in my head of what Spider-Woman is, and it is Veranke, and not Jessica Drew. Bendis has to fight against this perception, (while giving us this wimpy Drew character), that keeps raising our expectations of the what a SW should be like. Jessica, to this moment, is withdrawn and suicidal. It's like putting the Puppet Master in her costume, and Bendis is wondering why we aren't interested. I just wonder where Bendis will lead us with this. Is he doing a story of regaining self-confidence and esteem? Does Bendis just start over on a new palet, and make a completely different Spider-Woman with what the Skrulls left us? The Dark Reign has transformed what confidence all the heroes used to have, into a shell of their former selves, so Jess neddn't be any different. We are getting re-jigged Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and Don Blake out of this Siege deal, (as well as BND Spider-Man). Clint Barton is heading back to the bow; Hank Pym is back to being a major player and an Avenger with clout now. The X-Men have been reduced to Silver Age levels, (but there can never be enough Wolvy and DP books, can there)?

So if all the heroes have been trip-switched back to levels they were in when the MU first started, then all things point to Jessica Drew being put back into the same box she crawled out of, in the 1970's, which was a dark noir story book, wasn't it?

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by Agent_Torpor

Please don't tell me that Bendis ****ed with Madame Hydra?

No, it's Viper. Maybe Jessica doesn't know that there's a new Madame Hydra?

I'm quite enjoying the lovely art, and even though this is totally decompressed (it is Bendis, do we really expect any less?) it's not that bad. I'm sure it'll read better in the first trade (#1 and 2 read better with 3 already) as does most Bendis work, but I can't fault the man when he's got someone like Maleev making such beautiful images.