Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #601 (Story 2)

Background

This is a six-page backup story, or perhaps an "afterlude" from ASM #601.

Story 'The Best Version of Myself'

Peter drops in to visit Mrs. Jessica Jones-Cage (and baby) at the Avengers Hideout. Jessica call's Spidey "Peter" and he begs her to be more careful to protect his secret identity. In return, she tells him how affected she was by Peter/Spider-Man's heroics during the events of Amazing Spider-Man #4 when Spidey battled Sandman.

As you may or may not recall, Jessica attended Midtown High at the same time as Peter, though he didn't really notice her much. She had been in a coma for a while, and had acquired her super-powers. Uncertain as to what to do with them, Spidey's battle with Sandman gave her the understanding that... she had an obligation of some kind.

Perhaps "With great power, comes great responsibility?" suggests Peter now. "Yeah, that's about it."

Spidey then suggests that if Jessica wants to teach her baby the meaning of responsibility, then the best way would be to show her. He's talking about Jessica returning to her super-hero persona as "Jewel". The rest of the New Avengers turn up, and look on approvingly.

General Comments

If I didn't know better, I might imagine that Brian Michael Bendis was keen to get Jewel back into action. I guess this is a pretty good way to go about it. In fact, BMB tends to go about pretty much everything in a pretty good way.

Overall Rating

Bendis created Jessica, and the New Avengers. These are his characters and he knows what he's doing. Four webs. Welcome back to active duty, Mrs. Jones-Cage.