Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Vol. 4: Are You Okay, Annie? by Jody Houser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The worst thing about this book is that it's title doesn't sound like a Superhero book, it sounds like a bad after-school special. Come on, Marvel, what was with this title?

That issue, out of the way, there's a one-shot and a four-part story.

Six issues and two storylines after shooting the Parker's eight years into the future, the book begins by taking them eight years into the past as Peter and Mary Jane decide to take a cruise. Mary Jane makes a persuasive case for why Superheroes should take cruises and throughout most of the story, we just get to see them and their relationship and them enjoying each other's company. Of course, there's a monster attack and a welcomed cameo.

Then we have the four-part story Weird Science which is set in the established timeline after Annie started her own superhero team. She has a dream about a character with her hair attacking innocent people and wakes up to find out it happened and is on social media. She denies that it was her, but Wolverine smells her scent.

This is a pretty typical superhero plot but it's well-executed. It's a not bad story with a somewhat predictable arc. The characters sell it. I like the Parker family, I like Wolverine as this wise old godfather figure and friend of the family. It's a decent story that's fun and well-realized. It's not really a suitable conclusion to a series. The final words letter on the last issue seem like nothing more than a tacked on rush job, but that's editorial mandates for you. I hope we do get to see more of them even beyond the Spider-girl mini-series.



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