Spider-Girl (Vol. 1) #46

Background

Felicity Hardy, daughter of the Black Cat, knows May Parker's secret identity. And she's determined to be young Spider-Girl's partner. But she's not the only one planning on being a super hero....

Story 'Suddenly... The Scarlet Spider!'

Shaken by an Avengers report that Angel Face and Funny Face--two criminals she let go--have returned to their nefarious ways, Spider-Girl barely notices her spider sense tingling as she swings through New York. Soon, however, she realizes that she's being followed, and pulls a quick U-turn to find herself face to face with Felicity Hardy. "I thought we agreed to be partners!" Spider-Girl insists that she didn't agree to anything, and leaves Felicity behind.

Meanwhile, at the Midtown police station, Phil Urich and Peter Parker are arguing about Peter's planned return to the webs. Phil tells him to think of his other responsibilities (like his wheelchair-confined wife), but Peter insists that he needs to do this for May. "Something is troubling May, and I can't get her to confide in me. All I know is that she seems to need help." Peter leaves, heading over to visit the Fantastic Five and get his new bionic leg. The leg is a perfect fit, but unfortunately Peter cannot disengage the sticking mechanism, leaving him stuck on a wall, much to the amusement of the Human Torch.

While this is happening, a woman has returned to New York City. She is Alison Mongrain, the woman who kidnapped young May several years ago. She has arrived for "a most bitter reunion." Unfortunately for her, she is also being hunted... by the man called Kaine.

May knows nothing of this, however, and is walking home from school. She hears gunshots, and suits up to investigate. By the time she arrives at the crime scene, the bank robbers she seeks have already been captured by the New Warriors, the super hero team she created. "So how come I wasn't invited to play with the rest of the team?" "You know the answer," says The Buzz. "You made a stupid deal with Angel Face behind our backs, and we don't trust you anymore." Emotionally wounded, May heads back to the Web Site to talk to Normie. The two share a tender moment, and then Normie gives her a cell phone custom designed to fit into her web shooter. Spider-Girl leaves, determined to hunt down the Faces, when she is brought up short by... the Scarlet Spider???

Yes, Felicity has picked out her new costumed indentity, and spends the next few minutes showing May all of her gimmicks. May still insists that she needs no partner, and ends up webbing Felicity to a chain link fence. Just then, her cell phone rings, and Phil Urich informs May of her father's plan to become Spider-Man again. Incensed, May starts hauling web over to the HQ of the Fantastic Five when a violent jolt from her spider sense stops her short.

Suddenly, the roof of the F5's building explodes with a roar. May, now panicked, dives into the wreckage. She quickly locates her father and the Human Torch, who are both unconscious. Big Brain, the robot housing Reed Richards' consciousness, lies destroyed. And the attacker?

"At long last, the Skrull Empire will have vengeance upon the team that was once called the Fantastic Four, and this pitiful planet known as Earth! So vows Apox, The Omega Skrull!"

General Comments

Never fails. Just when you think things can't get any worse, a Skrull pops in and starts causing trouble.

So Felicity is the new Scarlet Spider, huh? Guess there's no longer any doubt that Ben Reilly's "return" two issues ago was intended to provide backup info on his first costumed identity and nothing more. Yes, folks, this was the old Scarlet Spider... and now here's the new one! Sigh.... No real complaints about Felicity, per se, but this plot development isn't exactly blowing wind up my skirt, either, if I may quote Deadpool here.

I do, however, like the fact that this is the only Spider-Man book that doesn't completely ignore what happened in the Clone Saga. The Scarlet Spider is back, Kaine has been around several times, and now we have the return of Alison Mongrain. Sooner or later I hope we get to find out how Kaine tracked down young May, and what happened to Alison Mongrain, and everything else that DIDN'T happen in the official Spider-Man universe. Marvel has an opportunity to tell a good story and help erase the pain of the relaunch four years ago. Let's hope they don't blow it.

As for the Omega Skrull? Whatever. Hopefully he will deliver some good fight sequences next month, but this seems like an odd thing to put into an issue of Spider-Girl.

A decent enough issue, but nothing special. Tom DeFalco really needs to start doing something more with Felicity Hardy, though.

Overall Rating

Two and one half webs for this month. Could have earned another half web if I cared to see Skrulls at all.