Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Vol. 1: Brawl in the Family by Gerry Conway

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book collects Amazing Spider-man: Renew Your Vows #1-5 of the main series. This spins off from a Secret Wars universe where Peter and Mary Jane stayed married and they end up with a precocious daughter named Annie who starts developing Spider powers.

Despite this all technically being one storyline, actually I'd suggest the 5th part is a 1-part story. Issues 1-4 set up our premise: Annie has developing spider powers and thanks to a device seized from the Regent, Mary Jane can tap into Peter's spider-powers. This leads to a battle with the Moleman. The story isn't neatly chronological, but reading it in a trade helps with that as we see the events from each character's perspective. Also Issue 1 has some very fun back up stories featuring amusing tales of Annie interacting with her mom and Dad. Overall, the first story is strong, but not perfect. The family really starts to explorer how this will work as well as beginning to muddle through what role a 9 year old girl would have in this.

Issue 5 them breaking up a bank robbery across from a family fun center based on Chuck E Cheese. This one is fun but light and a tad pointless, although there's hints of the plotline ahead.

Overall, this book is quite enjoyable. It's a great concept and the characters are likable enough. While the story's light-hearted, it doesn't shy away from the serious challenges this presents particularly when it comes to a young child fighting crime. The back up stories are fun and the emergence of Norman Osborne's prepubescent grandson as a villain is hilarious yet intriguing. Overall, this is just a fun comic for all ages. Highly recommended.



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