Spider-Man: Spider Island News

First, in ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #671, part five of the ‘Spider Island’ story arc, Mary Jane Watson gets to learn first hand what her former hubby felt like as the Amazing Spider-Man when she gains identical spider powers! Mary Jane is, of course one of the most famous supporting characters in all of comics, having debuted in ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #25 in 1965. She eventually went on to marry Peter Parker and enjoyed one of the longest running marriages in comics.

Unfortunately, the marriage was wiped from existence in the infamous ‘One More Day’ storyline.  Peter Parker has since begun dating a police detective (and roller girl!) named Carlie Cooper, who has also developed powers as part of this storyline.  It should be pretty interesting to see this former super hero spouse with powers of her own!  She’s been on the sidelines for decades, now she’s suddenly in the game! The issue is written by Dan Slott and illustrated by Humberto Ramos and streets this Wednesday, October 12th.

Wonder Woman News

In DC news,  ‘Wonder Woman’ writer Brian Azzarello revealed to the New York Times, that he’s undoing the hero’s origin! As created by William Moulton Marston, she was molded from clay by the Amazonian Queen, Hippolyta and bestowed with life by the goddesses of Olympus.  Azzarello states that in issue #3, she will learn otherwise!  She will, in fact, have a father… none other than Zeus, the King of the Gods!  This makes her an actual demigod and sibling to the gods she often invokes!  (Although she may want to drop “Great Hera” as I am sure Hera isn’t pleased by this.)  The reveal will be made in ‘Wonder Woman’ #3.  Here’s a peak at the cover! Symbolic, wouldn’t you say?

My opinion?  I think this is okay.  The molded from clay origin was just another obstacle in people embracing her, by making her, technically not human.  If you look at her adaptations, the Lynda Carter live action show and the animated ‘Justice League,’ they completely omit that part.

I’m not opposed to her having a father, but at the same time, I’m not sure about it being Zeus.  For one thing, he was (in the previous continuity, at least) also the father of Cassie Sandsmark, Wonder Girl.  In addition to this, Hippolyta also had “relations’ with Zeus’ son Heracles.  Kinda ick.  At any rate, I’m okay with Wonder Woman having a father and I dug the first issue of the comic, so I’ll just reserve full judgement until I read the development in context.