REVIEW: ‘Spider-Woman’ Issue 1

Spider-Woman Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Watters, art by Andrea Broccardo, colors by Mattia Iacono and letters by Joe Sabino.

Jessica Drew is on the case of a vicious killer, just as another one enters the city.

The most surprising aspect of this opening issue is just how violent and dark it is. Spider-Woman is serving as a detective, delving into the murders of the Hangman. Multiple deaths early in the comic. When Spider-Woman Issue 1 starts, with Jessica speaking with Ben Urich, there is an air of a noir story within it. The history of New York is a key feature of the narration, and that’s what creates the atmosphere.

The rest of the story turns into a thriller, searching for the villain’s target. But Watters does a superb job of balancing the superhero elements alongside the thriller. The pace always moves forward, with occasional moments of intense energy as Spider-Woman digs deep into the underworld. Towards the end of the issue, there is a brilliant dissection of the story.

Two forms of consequences unfold. As Jessica digs into the personal life of the Hangman, the man himself delivers a horrific display of violence. The violence is alarming and engrossing, showing just how dangerous Spider-Woman’s situation is.

It has been a while since Spider-Woman has been at the heart of her own series. Jessica Drew is a terrific character with a lot of depth. The narration provides an exceptional encapsulation of her troubled life. She carries the scars of what happened to her, revealing a rare progression within comics.

It’s not a total reset, and that shows in how she acts. Some of the beatdowns she delivers bring remnants of rage and cruelty, which are lingering effects from bonding with Carnage.

All of this history and baggage could be somewhat confusing to newer readers. However, it informs an exceptionally in-depth character. She has a fantastic level of intrigue and detective skills. Her sarcastic humor takes something of a backseat because of how grizzly and vicious Spider-Woman Issue 1 is.

There is also a selection of characters from within the Spider-Man/New York scene that flesh out the story. Tombstone is both a genuinely terrifying gangster and a ridiculously violent villain. It’s great to have Ben Urich be such an integral part of the investigation too. A constant assistant to Daredevil and Spider-Man, it’s nice to give Jess a partner in crime-fighting, one who is intelligent and experienced. The Hangman isn’t a new villain either, but is absolutely a deep cut and a fascinating figure to return and make even more ferocious and terrifying.

The art is spectacular. Jessica carries the scars of her previous ordeals, both the physical and mental. One of her eyes is missing and surrounded by scar tissue, a major change from her standard design. It’s an example of how violent and dark Spider-Woman Issue 1 is going to be, dealing permanent damage.

It’s interesting to see how the costumes are implemented too, as Jessica has multiple guises. The original design is used on the battlefield, while her modern outfit is used when she’s investigating and interviewing. Broccardo creates a perfect mix of the two. When Jess first flies through the air, she’s composed and looks superb.

But then, in a fight, the movements intensify, and the comic shifts into violence. Spider-Woman is rough and aggressive, taking it to an extreme extent. That’s not it when it comes to the bloody nature of the comic; however, it’s taken even further towards the end of the book in a breathtaking explosion of gore.

The colors are superb. The world and the city are very murky and muted, almost exclusively gray and brown. It makes the contrast of her costume so much more intense because it’s so wonderfully bright, making Spider-Woman the center and most exposed part of every panel. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Spider-Woman Issue 1 transforms into a terrifying thriller. The former spy becomes a detective as she gets embroiled in an extremely violent serial killer case. The amount of blood and darkness within these first pages is entirely unexpected, as is the level of trauma that the main character is still struggling with. It’s a crime drama dripping with blood and brutality, which makes the whole comic gritty and gripping.

Spider-Woman Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.