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The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) (Collected Editions)
The Amazing Mary Jane: Down In Flames, Up In Smoke
Spinning right out of the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! The web-head's favorite redhead (and yours!) is taking a chance on her dreams. But if you've read AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25, you'll know MYSTERIO is behind Mary Jane's big shot, and someone worse is behind him! What's real and what's illusion, what's illusion and what's Hollywood phoniness? Leah Williams (AGE OF X-MEN: EXTREMISTS; GIANT-MAN) and Carlos G�mez (UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL, Red Sonja) brings you all this intrigue plus more action, glamour, grit and -we'll say it - sass than anyone's previously dared to fit in one fabulous book! Face it: You don't wanna miss this!
COLLECTING: AMAZING MARY JANE (2019) 1-5
COLLECTING: AMAZING MARY JANE (2019) 1-5
112 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2020
About the author
Leah Williams
235 books194 followersLeah Williams is an American writer originally from Oxford, Mississippi. She has written comics for Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Vault Comics, and is working on more. Her debut novel was a YA Fantasy book titled The Alchemy of Being Fourteen and she is currently writing its sequel, The Divinity of Hitting Fifteen. Leah has nonfiction articles and essays published in The Atlantic, Oprah Magazine, and Salon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 19, 2020
I see a title like this, and think ooh, Marvel is going to do something different and very cool with MJ... they don't! Even worse I've seen a few blogs claiming sexism against the female writer and female lead-character is why this book was cancelled after only six issues when COVID struck... nah, it's because the book had a remarkable lack of depth, characterisation and innovation! 2.5 out of 12
I read #1 to 5, and also #6, the first issue of the next arc, which was way better than anything previously... such a shame.
I read #1 to 5, and also #6, the first issue of the next arc, which was way better than anything previously... such a shame.
August 2, 2022
This was a nice surprise. I didn't expect much going in. MJ goes off to make a movie about Mysterio. Early on, she realizes something isn't right and discovers the director is actually Mysterio. After he talks her into staying, she has to help out with a bunch of on-set struggles along with attacks from the Vulture and the rest of the Savage Six. I like seeing Mary Jane with agency, working out of jams herself instead of calling Spider-Man for help like the old days. The book is actually a lot of fun with bright, shiny artwork from Carlos Gomez and Carlos Lopez that fits in perfectly with the setting.
BTW, there is a 6th issue that starts a new story line but the book was cancelled immediately afterwards due to COVID.
BTW, there is a 6th issue that starts a new story line but the book was cancelled immediately afterwards due to COVID.
March 21, 2020
This was a nice fun surprise.
MJ is off on a new movie set, but she's the first to realize the director is not who he says he is. It's actually Mysterio! But all he wants to do is make art. A movie that will live on forever. So MJ agrees to keep his secret and together they try to make this movie that'll change the world. But at every turn they hit a snag, from money loss, losing actors, and getting attack by the Sinister Six!!! Will they be able to finish?
MJ is a great lead. She's always been a really good character but to let her shine here was really nice. Also Mysterio made me laugh a few times, it was a nice change of pace. The art was cartoony but fit the narrative. I mean nothing happened was a surprise or blew my mind. I think it's a very cliche story in ways but the charm of it keeps it from being dull.
Overall good stuff, a 3 out of 5.
MJ is off on a new movie set, but she's the first to realize the director is not who he says he is. It's actually Mysterio! But all he wants to do is make art. A movie that will live on forever. So MJ agrees to keep his secret and together they try to make this movie that'll change the world. But at every turn they hit a snag, from money loss, losing actors, and getting attack by the Sinister Six!!! Will they be able to finish?
MJ is a great lead. She's always been a really good character but to let her shine here was really nice. Also Mysterio made me laugh a few times, it was a nice change of pace. The art was cartoony but fit the narrative. I mean nothing happened was a surprise or blew my mind. I think it's a very cliche story in ways but the charm of it keeps it from being dull.
Overall good stuff, a 3 out of 5.
August 29, 2020
This was actually quite a lot of fun and it had decent artwork, too. I’ll be honest, I was just relieved when I opened the book and found that (my nemesis) Humberto Ramos was only doing covers and not the interior art.
The main thing that stopped this book getting a higher mark from me is that I just don’t buy that MJ would be OK with (actually, downright enthusiastic) about helping a supervillain commit fraud. I mean, I get that lives aren’t at risk, but that’s still quite a major crime. Also, the scene where MJ not only fends off but actually defeats half of a supervillain team that have almost killed Spidey a number of times stretched my suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point, if I’m honest.
Still, a fun little book. I’ll definitely be checking out volume two.
The main thing that stopped this book getting a higher mark from me is that I just don’t buy that MJ would be OK with (actually, downright enthusiastic) about helping a supervillain commit fraud. I mean, I get that lives aren’t at risk, but that’s still quite a major crime. Also, the scene where MJ not only fends off but actually defeats half of a supervillain team that have almost killed Spidey a number of times stretched my suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point, if I’m honest.
Still, a fun little book. I’ll definitely be checking out volume two.
November 3, 2020
Mary Jane is at her most awesome here as she tries to lead Quentin Beck a.k.a Mysterio through his attempt to make a movie about his own life that depicts him as a poor misunderstood woobie. Mary Jane apparently REALLY wants to get back into movies but also thinks this will help redeem him. The Vulture and other supervillains dislike their portrayal in the film, though, and it doesn't help the film is financed by fraud. The art is gorgeous and so is our titular character. Lots of fun for fans of Marvel's top non-powered gal. It's a silly book and sometimes that's what you want.
May 21, 2024
Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio has used his illusions to make people think he is a movie director to get a movie green lit about himself. Of course he has. He has also roped Mary Jane into it pleading with her to give him a chance and not spill the beans. She agrees and the mayhem of trying to get this movie shot ensues. This was pretty fun with some nice crisp colorful art. I wish there was more so we could see the movie come out and see if it was successful.
July 8, 2020
From the very beginning of his Amazing Spider-Man run, Nick Spencer reignited one of comics’ greatest romances as Peter Parker rekindled with Mary Jane Watson. Even though this relationship didn’t always get the spotlight during Spencer’s run, whenever it was shined upon, it was wonderful, especially when M.J. was off on her own adventure. With the chance of returning to her job as an actress for an upcoming movie, she moves to Hollywood and thus where her solo title begins.
Starring as a love interest in a biopic of Quentin Beck, MJ confronts the director Cage McKnight about the role she plays and the film in general, only to discover the director is actually Mysterio himself, who hopes to redeem himself with a magnum opus that will shine a positive light upon him. Understanding that sense of redemption, MJ agrees to help him in a film production that has disastrous setbacks that you would expect in the Marvel universe, such as the Savage Six led by the Vulture, who has a bone to pick with his old partner-in-crime.
This is not the first time that the Spider-Man comics had crossed paths with Hollywood as Brian Michael Bendis wrote a few issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, in which Peter interrupts an official Spider-Man movie being made. That storyline as well as this shows a slightly cynical side of the Hollywood business, although the creators of Amazing Mary Jane are having fun throughout its five runs, where people with super powers are incorporated as part of the film crew, including Screwball, Master Matrix and even the robot H.E.R.B.I.E.
Although there is a bit of action here and there, much of the conflict is the difficult film production where the lack of budget, onset accidents and the looming presence of super-villains are recurring obstacles. The stakes don’t seem that high, but writer Leah Williams writes some fun characters, the best of which is our two leads. With her upbeat attitude, Mary Jane just works as a character with her own agency, whilst never forgetting her true love as the scenes between her and Peter over the phone are sweet. As for Quentin Beck, who has been through a lot if you’ve been reading Spencer’s run, and despite his attempts to redeem himself, he ends up humorously being that pretentious movie director who will shout at everyone in order to achieve that what he is making is art.
Speaking of art, now would be the time to talk about the work by artist Carlos Gómez. Considering the busy nature of making a movie with multiple crew members moving all over the place, it is credited to Gómez that presents a glamour to every page as along with colourist Carlos Lopez, the art just pops with a colourful vibrancy with every character standing out in their own way, not just Mary Jane who is a stunning presence. Like I said before, there isn’t a great deal of action, but when it shows, it looks great, even if I never buy the solutions, such as MJ standing her ground against six super-villains.
As a spin-off of Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man, Amazing Mary Jane is not one of high dramatics, but is a really fun spin on a Hollywood production set in the Marvel universe, anchored by arguably the publisher’s greatest redhead.
Starring as a love interest in a biopic of Quentin Beck, MJ confronts the director Cage McKnight about the role she plays and the film in general, only to discover the director is actually Mysterio himself, who hopes to redeem himself with a magnum opus that will shine a positive light upon him. Understanding that sense of redemption, MJ agrees to help him in a film production that has disastrous setbacks that you would expect in the Marvel universe, such as the Savage Six led by the Vulture, who has a bone to pick with his old partner-in-crime.
This is not the first time that the Spider-Man comics had crossed paths with Hollywood as Brian Michael Bendis wrote a few issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, in which Peter interrupts an official Spider-Man movie being made. That storyline as well as this shows a slightly cynical side of the Hollywood business, although the creators of Amazing Mary Jane are having fun throughout its five runs, where people with super powers are incorporated as part of the film crew, including Screwball, Master Matrix and even the robot H.E.R.B.I.E.
Although there is a bit of action here and there, much of the conflict is the difficult film production where the lack of budget, onset accidents and the looming presence of super-villains are recurring obstacles. The stakes don’t seem that high, but writer Leah Williams writes some fun characters, the best of which is our two leads. With her upbeat attitude, Mary Jane just works as a character with her own agency, whilst never forgetting her true love as the scenes between her and Peter over the phone are sweet. As for Quentin Beck, who has been through a lot if you’ve been reading Spencer’s run, and despite his attempts to redeem himself, he ends up humorously being that pretentious movie director who will shout at everyone in order to achieve that what he is making is art.
Speaking of art, now would be the time to talk about the work by artist Carlos Gómez. Considering the busy nature of making a movie with multiple crew members moving all over the place, it is credited to Gómez that presents a glamour to every page as along with colourist Carlos Lopez, the art just pops with a colourful vibrancy with every character standing out in their own way, not just Mary Jane who is a stunning presence. Like I said before, there isn’t a great deal of action, but when it shows, it looks great, even if I never buy the solutions, such as MJ standing her ground against six super-villains.
As a spin-off of Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man, Amazing Mary Jane is not one of high dramatics, but is a really fun spin on a Hollywood production set in the Marvel universe, anchored by arguably the publisher’s greatest redhead.
December 13, 2020
This book thinks VERY highly of MJ - like, superhero levels of bravado and combat effectiveness when facing down the Savage Six. That’s not necessarily bad, but it puts me a bit on edge as a red pill brigade swarming target of the goons who never seem to complain when a white dude goes from normie to full-on power fantasy Demi god.
Otherwise the book is weird and not-at-all paced like a normal book - more like a book that knows it could get cancelled at any time so might as well cram in ALL the ideas at once.
Otherwise the book is weird and not-at-all paced like a normal book - more like a book that knows it could get cancelled at any time so might as well cram in ALL the ideas at once.
April 18, 2020
This was much better than I was expecting. Mj holds her own which i was originally quite skeptical about. On a film set and trouble arises. Its a little over the top and the art is that cartoony marvel style but it was fun.
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June 7, 2023So wait…MJ hides the fact that she’s working with A VILLAIN from Peter?! Their marriage had always been rocky, but this is just….wow.
March 18, 2022
mary jane should leave spider man to date me sincerely, me
April 11, 2020
Amazing Mary Jane spins out of Amazing Spider-Man (oddly enough), with MJ heading off to Hollywood to film a movie, only to discover that the movie's director is in fact Mysterio in disguise! But instead of beating the crap out of him, she decides to help him make his movie, only to attract the ire of the Vulture and his new Savage Six.
Amazing Mary Jane's an odd little book. It really shouldn't work. The storytelling relies on a lot of coincidences and characters being dumb as a bag of bricks, but it's oddly charming, and the idea of MJ fighting for the little guy isn't exactly out of left field. Reconciling Mysterio's new status quo with his appearances in Amazing Spider-Man takes a little doing, but there's just an unbridled glee to the rest of Leah Williams' script that shows that she's really enjoying herself, and it's hard not to get wrapped up in that.
Carlos Gomez handles art, and he's pretty good. His characters are well formed, and he manages to pack a lot into five issues. His physical comedy on the movie set is well-executed as well. It's a good looking book, for sure.
The plot's daft, the characters are dafter, but I'm strangely charmed. Amazing Mary Jane's okay in my book.
Amazing Mary Jane's an odd little book. It really shouldn't work. The storytelling relies on a lot of coincidences and characters being dumb as a bag of bricks, but it's oddly charming, and the idea of MJ fighting for the little guy isn't exactly out of left field. Reconciling Mysterio's new status quo with his appearances in Amazing Spider-Man takes a little doing, but there's just an unbridled glee to the rest of Leah Williams' script that shows that she's really enjoying herself, and it's hard not to get wrapped up in that.
Carlos Gomez handles art, and he's pretty good. His characters are well formed, and he manages to pack a lot into five issues. His physical comedy on the movie set is well-executed as well. It's a good looking book, for sure.
The plot's daft, the characters are dafter, but I'm strangely charmed. Amazing Mary Jane's okay in my book.
May 7, 2020
Mary Jane is such a fun and dynamic character. Shame on people who thinks she’s just a love interest for Spider-Man. Leah Williams truly understands MJ and Peter and it’s so refreshing to see. Not to mention this story is super fun to read.
October 27, 2020
A fun quick read that puts MJ in a situation I never thought I'd see her... helping a villain achieve redemption. Taking an acting job to star in a Mysterio biopic (Called "Up in Smoke, Down in Flames) showing him as misunderstood and the good guy, she is surprised to find out that the hotshot director in charge is secretly Quentin Beck in disguise! Not liking that they are in the movie being portrayed by actors, the Savage Six (Vulture, Rhino, Scorpion, Tarantula, Stegron, and King Cobra) attack the set more than once and try to stop the movie from happening. We end with a wrap on the set, and head into Volume 2, which I'm sure will have Spider-Man as a much larger part.
This book exists for two reasons: 1) MJ has had the spotlight in the main MU for a while (getting back with Peter, working for Stark) and she was due her own book. She is always positive, has a big heart, for others and can totally kick butt when she needs to. 2) Artists love drawing MJ... she's gorgeous and gives quite a bit of fan service. LOL
Overall, a fun quick read, and will be nice to have another lighthearted Volume to read soon.
Recommend.
This book exists for two reasons: 1) MJ has had the spotlight in the main MU for a while (getting back with Peter, working for Stark) and she was due her own book. She is always positive, has a big heart, for others and can totally kick butt when she needs to. 2) Artists love drawing MJ... she's gorgeous and gives quite a bit of fan service. LOL
Overall, a fun quick read, and will be nice to have another lighthearted Volume to read soon.
Recommend.
June 25, 2022
Isso é divertido e com uma proposta interessante em trazer protagonismo mas nossa mj e seguir com a vida dela com sua vontade de ser atriz ou até mesmo roteirista oque é muito bacana, só não gostei muito da decisão do sexteto indo atrás da produção e queria ter mais empatia pelo quentin mas como fã da MJ eu me senti muito bem lendo o quadrinho e vendo ela tomando espaço sem ser a sombra do aranha então no final o saldo é positivo com certeza
September 30, 2020
This is different from most comics I've read, and even though it was a lot lighter it was still fun. Peter was in this way less than I thought he would be, which opened up more room for Mary Jane to shine. The movie set was a change of pace and even though this could have used some more depth, I really like seeing Mary Jane's professional career.
December 12, 2021
I wanted to read this title mainly because of Mary Jane Watson, and 'The Amazing Mary Jane, Vol 1: Down In Flames, Up In Smoke' gloriously, gleefully highlights what a confident, funny, sassy, smart, self-aware, sexually-aware and comfortable, opportunistic and optimistic lady she has always had the potential to be. She is an actress doing so many parts for a blockbuster superhero/supervillain movie, and make no mistake, she is the star.
Nothing will get in her way. Absolutely nothing.
This Mary Jane solo comic is bizarre, goofy and nonsensical. Basically, the plot is that Mary Jane is starring as the love interest in a movie which aims to be high art for a supervillain/antihero redemption piece. It's a biopic for Mysterio - which she discovers is directed by Mysterio himself!
It's his take on his own life story - it's the "'Breaking Bad' of super hero movies", as MJ puts it - made for the express goal of making people sympathise with him, and see him as an auteur. A real artist. No illusions, no tricks, no schemes (though it is funded through fraud, and D-list villains are involved in its production), no hidden agendas. Everything in the film, with its troubled and often destructive and bankrupt production, must be as authentic as possible, according to Mysterio.
Of course MJ agrees to help him realise his dream, under certain conditions; like giving her character actual development not related to the male lead.
(Maybe it's because I'd barely heard of Mysterio beforehand that I'm okay with him having a redemption arc of sorts to begin with.)
Then there is the Savage Six, a group of villains who are not happy with how they are being portrayed in Mysterio's movie, and they will sabotage it in every way they can. Destruction of sets and locations, parasitic paparazzi, and threatening actors, are up their nefarious sleeves...
Not every plot element and character, with or without an arc, is followed up on in 'The Amazing Mary Jane, Vol. 1', and some elements and themes are forgotten about entirely by the end of the volume. Said ending is also a little rushed and feels incomplete, but maybe it's setting up for the sequel.
The comic isn't as meta as it could have been. It might be commenting on the Hollywood film industry, such as how the MCU movies are made, as we know it today. But it doesn't go any deeper than how sexist the female leads are portrayed. It's surface level criticism; much like how toxic work conditions in filming being alluded to doesn't go beyond surface level titbits. #MeToo allusions might as well not exist for the zero impact they serve; it's half-arsed lip service at best. There is social commentary on how sexist and misogynistic the media is in how it treats famous women who are rumoured to be "difficult" and a nightmare to work with; thus they are immediately blacklisted, whilst their male counterparts never receive nearly as much backlash and punishment for doing far, far worse. But this is only present in a few panels. Many themes and issues are included but go nowhere; another example is the misogynistic "women sleeping their way to the top" mentality, which in this context serves Mysterio's development, not MJ's, because he is a "genius" who isn't "deceived by womanly wiles". WTF? Talk about taking it in the entirely wrong direction! 'The Amazing Mary Jane' is also very vague on who or what it might be parodying, as if Marvel comics is afraid of getting sued by somebody.
We go through the whole comic barely knowing anything that happens in Mysterio's movie, which is a missed opportunity. Behind-the-scenes action takes precedence.
Where the hell is the visible LBGTQ rep? It's Hollywood, for crying out loud!
And yet... 'The Amazing Mary Jane, Vol. 1: Down In Flames, Up In Smoke' is infectious in its optimism. Mary Jane herself is infectious; all smiles and wits and taking everything in stride and taking crap from no one. She and by extension the comic don't take themselves seriously, and just have fun with what they've got. A deeper look into Hollywood's scummy-ness and its toxic working environments reflecting real life cases might have been too jarring a tonal shift.
MJ shares sweet, funny and sexy phone calls with Peter Parker, as a civilian, a scientist, and as Spider-Man (they are a couple and not married here). MJ is friends with production crewmember Mallorie, who is a POC, and is in charge of pretty much everything in the filmmaking process, like set managing, scheduling, and financing.
Oh and did I mention? Mary Jane Watson puts on a Spider-Man outfit later on in her movie, for last minute stunts. Then she, an ordinary person without powers or any real hero training, manages to take on the Savage Six all by herself! Well, almost - the badass production crew help out, too!
How can you not love this woman after that?!
Nothing would get done for Mysterio's movie - nothing would happen in this comic - without Mary Jane and her determination, spirit, and humour. She's given a producer credit by Mysterio, too, so her efforts are not unappreciated. Years spent as a superhero's girlfriend has made her fearless and daring, able to hold her own and take care of herself. She's worthy of respect as her own person and not an extension of Spider-Man's character. She's clearly confident in her sexuality, as well!
Looks are not everything for this actress, and her personality and talent are no illusions.
'The Amazing Mary Jane' - star-studded, silly, wacky fun!
Final Score: 3.5/5
Nothing will get in her way. Absolutely nothing.
This Mary Jane solo comic is bizarre, goofy and nonsensical. Basically, the plot is that Mary Jane is starring as the love interest in a movie which aims to be high art for a supervillain/antihero redemption piece. It's a biopic for Mysterio - which she discovers is directed by Mysterio himself!
It's his take on his own life story - it's the "'Breaking Bad' of super hero movies", as MJ puts it - made for the express goal of making people sympathise with him, and see him as an auteur. A real artist. No illusions, no tricks, no schemes (though it is funded through fraud, and D-list villains are involved in its production), no hidden agendas. Everything in the film, with its troubled and often destructive and bankrupt production, must be as authentic as possible, according to Mysterio.
Of course MJ agrees to help him realise his dream, under certain conditions; like giving her character actual development not related to the male lead.
(Maybe it's because I'd barely heard of Mysterio beforehand that I'm okay with him having a redemption arc of sorts to begin with.)
Then there is the Savage Six, a group of villains who are not happy with how they are being portrayed in Mysterio's movie, and they will sabotage it in every way they can. Destruction of sets and locations, parasitic paparazzi, and threatening actors, are up their nefarious sleeves...
Not every plot element and character, with or without an arc, is followed up on in 'The Amazing Mary Jane, Vol. 1', and some elements and themes are forgotten about entirely by the end of the volume. Said ending is also a little rushed and feels incomplete, but maybe it's setting up for the sequel.
The comic isn't as meta as it could have been. It might be commenting on the Hollywood film industry, such as how the MCU movies are made, as we know it today. But it doesn't go any deeper than how sexist the female leads are portrayed. It's surface level criticism; much like how toxic work conditions in filming being alluded to doesn't go beyond surface level titbits. #MeToo allusions might as well not exist for the zero impact they serve; it's half-arsed lip service at best. There is social commentary on how sexist and misogynistic the media is in how it treats famous women who are rumoured to be "difficult" and a nightmare to work with; thus they are immediately blacklisted, whilst their male counterparts never receive nearly as much backlash and punishment for doing far, far worse. But this is only present in a few panels. Many themes and issues are included but go nowhere; another example is the misogynistic "women sleeping their way to the top" mentality, which in this context serves Mysterio's development, not MJ's, because he is a "genius" who isn't "deceived by womanly wiles". WTF? Talk about taking it in the entirely wrong direction! 'The Amazing Mary Jane' is also very vague on who or what it might be parodying, as if Marvel comics is afraid of getting sued by somebody.
We go through the whole comic barely knowing anything that happens in Mysterio's movie, which is a missed opportunity. Behind-the-scenes action takes precedence.
Where the hell is the visible LBGTQ rep? It's Hollywood, for crying out loud!
And yet... 'The Amazing Mary Jane, Vol. 1: Down In Flames, Up In Smoke' is infectious in its optimism. Mary Jane herself is infectious; all smiles and wits and taking everything in stride and taking crap from no one. She and by extension the comic don't take themselves seriously, and just have fun with what they've got. A deeper look into Hollywood's scummy-ness and its toxic working environments reflecting real life cases might have been too jarring a tonal shift.
MJ shares sweet, funny and sexy phone calls with Peter Parker, as a civilian, a scientist, and as Spider-Man (they are a couple and not married here). MJ is friends with production crewmember Mallorie, who is a POC, and is in charge of pretty much everything in the filmmaking process, like set managing, scheduling, and financing.
Oh and did I mention? Mary Jane Watson puts on a Spider-Man outfit later on in her movie, for last minute stunts. Then she, an ordinary person without powers or any real hero training, manages to take on the Savage Six all by herself! Well, almost - the badass production crew help out, too!
How can you not love this woman after that?!
Nothing would get done for Mysterio's movie - nothing would happen in this comic - without Mary Jane and her determination, spirit, and humour. She's given a producer credit by Mysterio, too, so her efforts are not unappreciated. Years spent as a superhero's girlfriend has made her fearless and daring, able to hold her own and take care of herself. She's worthy of respect as her own person and not an extension of Spider-Man's character. She's clearly confident in her sexuality, as well!
Looks are not everything for this actress, and her personality and talent are no illusions.
'The Amazing Mary Jane' - star-studded, silly, wacky fun!
Final Score: 3.5/5
January 27, 2020
Really cute ending and smartly written! Would re-read! Glad I read it. Look forward to this series continuing.
June 29, 2020
Very fun book with great art.
If Get Shorty were set in the Marvel universe and supervillain attacks were just another problem to contend with when getting your film funded and produced.
If Get Shorty were set in the Marvel universe and supervillain attacks were just another problem to contend with when getting your film funded and produced.
January 22, 2022
Em A Espetacular Mary Jane: Hollywood ou Morte!, Leah Williams, Carlos Gómez e o brasileiro Lucas Werneck desenvolvem uma história em que a eterna namorada do Homem-Aranha, Mary Jane Watson está envolvida com a produção de um filme que envolve o cabeça-de-teia. Mas no centro dessa trama não está seu querido amor Peter Parker, mas sim, Quentin Beck, o Mystério, que resolve fazer um longa-metragem contando o seu ponto de vista em sua história de enfrentamento ao Homem-Aranha. Temos um quadrinho bastante divertido, cheio de personagens de baixo escalão do universo aracnídeo sendo aproveitados para situações inesperadas. Temos também Mary Jane tomando as rédeas dos bastidores da produção de um filme, tendo de lidas com reações intempestivas de Mystério. A arte de Gómez e Werneck cumpre bem o seu papel, trazendo sequências cheias de detalhes de um set de filmagens. A Espetacular Mary Jane: Hollywood ou Morte! é um quadrinho descompromissado e divertido que pode agradar a todos os fãs do escalador de paredes.
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January 18, 2021Spider-Man's on-off other half, in her model-turned-actress day job, gets a role in a wannabe Breaking Bad biopic of Spidey's old adversary Mysterio. Which turns out to be directed by, and ends up starring, Mysterio. The obvious way to go with this would be a Disaster Artist farce, but no, it's more a sweet story about the redemptive power of art, interrupted by occasional attacks from other supervillains because that's just how life is in the Marvel Universe. I'm not entirely sure why this book exists, but given how many other Spidey characters got their own spin-offs, you can hardly say MJ didn't earn a chance. I mean, fuck it, the current big Marvel event is driven by his old costume arguing with an offcut.
June 17, 2023
The friendship that grows between Mary Jane and Quentin Beck was so unexpected and I am HERE for it😭I fully support this weird friendship.
I just wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. The plot also randomly jumps which was really weird (this including the sudden art style change)…
I just wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. The plot also randomly jumps which was really weird (this including the sudden art style change)…
May 12, 2020
3.5/5
Read this as single issues. Overall a very fun story centered around MJ. MJ lands a leading role in a new movie...but it turns out it's a vanity project directed by Mysterio. Even worse: it's not a very good movie! Now MJ has to take the reins and help him direct something isn't a complete disaster while trying to secure producers and keep their disgruntled employees from walking off the set.
There's lot of jokes about female superhero characters, how women are written in movies and movie adaptations of superhero stories in general. The dynamic between Mysterio and MJ was great. However, the art is distracting...while not the worst I've ever seen by any means, it's pretty cheesecakey and dated. Additionally, we don't really get an actual resolution to this story but are instead immediately shoved into a new, more contrived-feeling storyline.
Despite those shortcomings, it was a fun read and I hope the series continues. It's always fun to have a main character in a superhero setting that isn't a superhero.
Read this as single issues. Overall a very fun story centered around MJ. MJ lands a leading role in a new movie...but it turns out it's a vanity project directed by Mysterio. Even worse: it's not a very good movie! Now MJ has to take the reins and help him direct something isn't a complete disaster while trying to secure producers and keep their disgruntled employees from walking off the set.
There's lot of jokes about female superhero characters, how women are written in movies and movie adaptations of superhero stories in general. The dynamic between Mysterio and MJ was great. However, the art is distracting...while not the worst I've ever seen by any means, it's pretty cheesecakey and dated. Additionally, we don't really get an actual resolution to this story but are instead immediately shoved into a new, more contrived-feeling storyline.
Despite those shortcomings, it was a fun read and I hope the series continues. It's always fun to have a main character in a superhero setting that isn't a superhero.
April 21, 2021
A simple but fun story of Mary Jane and Mysterio committing fraud to make a movie together. I never would have thought of a story featuring these two, but it’s fun to see them interact given both of their backgrounds in film and acting. MJ going along with fraud definitely feels out of character, but it’s nice to see a story built around her that shows how good she is at her craft.
February 7, 2021
Apparently this got cancelled when covid hit, which despite how I feel about the comic itself is always a shame, to see a writer and artist taken off a book by one of the big two. I’ve seen many reasons suggesting why but I imagine it’s because the book didn’t sell well. It had all but fallen off my radar by the time I got around to buying this. I’d actually pre-ordered it, and was surprised when it turned up.
It was fun though, even if it is a forgettable story. Mary Jane is cast in a biopic about Mysterio, written, directed and starring Mysterio, disguised as a big shot director. It fits in slightly with Nick Spencer’s incredible run on Spider-Man, and it’s great to see MJ getting her own series. There’s some fun moments and some really sweet moments between MJ and Peter, and the art is really beautiful. I feel I might forget about this quite quickly and then eventually revisit it when I’m in an incredibly Spider-Many mood, and then remember it quite fondly. I’d say give it a read it’s only five issues and fun, but it’s not important as part of the Spider-Man canon and unfortunately seems to be going no further, which’s is fine as no loose ends are left open, really. The main Spider-Man canon might revisit, but this won’t be needed to follow it.
It was fun though, even if it is a forgettable story. Mary Jane is cast in a biopic about Mysterio, written, directed and starring Mysterio, disguised as a big shot director. It fits in slightly with Nick Spencer’s incredible run on Spider-Man, and it’s great to see MJ getting her own series. There’s some fun moments and some really sweet moments between MJ and Peter, and the art is really beautiful. I feel I might forget about this quite quickly and then eventually revisit it when I’m in an incredibly Spider-Many mood, and then remember it quite fondly. I’d say give it a read it’s only five issues and fun, but it’s not important as part of the Spider-Man canon and unfortunately seems to be going no further, which’s is fine as no loose ends are left open, really. The main Spider-Man canon might revisit, but this won’t be needed to follow it.
February 19, 2020
A remarkably fun and wholesome story about Mary Jane helping Mysterio reform (yeah, yeah, it won't stick, of course it won't, watch him go full genocide a year later) and shoot a movie about himself. It's a bit slow and doesn't really know whether it wants to be kooky humor in the vein of Zdarsky or straight action, so it tries to mix both with varying results. But the series has its heart in the right place and there's a good bit of charm to Mary Jane herself and the way she interacts with the world around her. Definitely a pleasant surprise with some potential for more gripping emotional stories in the vein of Tom Taylor's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man or the great, late Web of Spider-Man series.
February 21, 2020
Absolutely charming and fun.
Mary Jane gets her big break and goes off to Hollywood to make a big budget movie. Only to find out Mysterio is actually behind the film and his former Sinister Six colleagues aren't pleased about the depiction. And said big budget film is about to get its budget cut...
Great art, a fun compelling story that let Mary Jane stand away from Spider-man and cultivate her character more. Loved it.
Mary Jane gets her big break and goes off to Hollywood to make a big budget movie. Only to find out Mysterio is actually behind the film and his former Sinister Six colleagues aren't pleased about the depiction. And said big budget film is about to get its budget cut...
Great art, a fun compelling story that let Mary Jane stand away from Spider-man and cultivate her character more. Loved it.
May 11, 2021
COLLECTS AMAZING MARY JANE (2019) ISSUES #1-5
This was better than I expected. Spider-Man appears, but he is not the main focus. In fact, Spider-Man's villains get much more screen time, with MJ being the star of the show. Mysterio is a key player in this story, and while I'm planning on reading on in the series, I am curious as to where things could go from here. It felt like the story came to a natural conclusion in this first volume.
This was better than I expected. Spider-Man appears, but he is not the main focus. In fact, Spider-Man's villains get much more screen time, with MJ being the star of the show. Mysterio is a key player in this story, and while I'm planning on reading on in the series, I am curious as to where things could go from here. It felt like the story came to a natural conclusion in this first volume.
July 5, 2021
3.5? MJ is starring in a new movie that puts Mysterio in a sympathetic light, but the Sinister Six are angry about their portrayals...and the director isn't who he seems. Honestly, this was delightful and funny and sweet. I love MJ taking charge production wise, and all of the production workers. Plus, Peter and MJ are just a hoot together--loved their 20 second dance off while he was grocery shopping. I'm curious if there will be any fallout from the secret she kept from him about Cash.
October 8, 2022
The best endorsement is I can give is this book does what it sets out to. Mary Jane is the focus, solving problems by being Mary Jane. Mysterio gets a redemption arc. Hollywood shenanigans ensue. That's not to say its boring, I had a lot of fun with this book.
Art was good. Expressions on point. We get some cameos from obscure Spider-Man characters. And this is a Mary Jane book, we get to see her perspective. Her relationship with Mysterio is wholesome. It's a short book, pick it up if you're at all interested.
Art was good. Expressions on point. We get some cameos from obscure Spider-Man characters. And this is a Mary Jane book, we get to see her perspective. Her relationship with Mysterio is wholesome. It's a short book, pick it up if you're at all interested.
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