Spider-Woman (Vol. 3) #7

Background

Where we left off, the new Spider-Woman has had some weak victories against Shadowcaster and Flesh & Bones. She is now restless in wanting to understand her foes and powers better.

Story 'Bits and Pieces'

While know-it-all Morris Maxell, Spider-Woman Jessica Drew and Spider-Woman Mattie Franklin chat in the pawn shop recapping the story thus far (as people often do), Mattie complains about her lack of understanding of her new foes. She accidentally asks triggers off Morris' powers while pondering "Where can I fight some bad guys that I can understand?" Which begs the question: How does Morris run a business? What happens when someone asks him, "How much for this antique watch?" Does he drop to the floor spouting out the "true" value while his store is looted?

Anyway, Jessica and Mattie hop on a plane from New York to Death Valley to see "the bad guy she can understand." Good thing they don't have any other responsibilites like school or earning an income! Spider-Woman takes to the skies (in this issue's costume: red and black) to take a look around. Following some strange swirls in the sand and a lizard, she stumbles upon an alien craft that chases her through the desert.

Meanwhile, spiny earthy aliens attack Jessica. She quickly finds out that with each attack on the creature she calls "Cluster", the alien splits into two smaller but identical critters. Mattie discovers the same thing and is taken into the flying saucer. While the aliens within the craft annoy Spider-Woman by echoing everything she says, Jessica discovers her super strength returning while clinging to the side of the craft. The saucer approaches the mothership!

Back in New York, Flesh consumes a young haggard woman as she continues her search for missing partner, Bones.

General Comments

Quote:

"Where can I fight some bad guys that I can understand?"

"Sheesh, three aliens at once... does Spider-Man have these problems?"

Seems like a) Things are so dull in the Byrne universe that you have to go looking for trouble, and b) The super-hero (who is adored by the public) and who goes looking for a fight starts complaining when she finds three bad guys at once. Sorry, but Mattie comes across as a spoilt, whining brat. I can handle undeserving (heh, I love Deadpool) but when you add boring, shallow and whining, you have a devastatingly unreadable combination.

Overall Rating

This is terrible, pointless, meandering drivel. One web.