Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Volume 4: Still Friends

Mary Jane (Collected Editions) #6

by Sean McKeever (Writer), David Hahn (Contributor)

In the aftermath of recent shocking revelations, what's the story between Mary Jane and Peter? Between Peter and Gwen? Oh, who cares? Is that Firestar? What's the second most awesome redhead in the world got planned for Spidey this time?

Collecting: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane 16-20

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Spider Man, Romance, Young Adult

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2007

About the author

After writing indie comics (such as the ensemble teen-drama The Waiting Place) for six years, Sean got his big break writing an issue of The Incredible Hulk for Marvel Comics in 2001. Since then, Sean has written hundreds of comics for Marvel, DC Comics and other publishers, including notable runs on Sentinel, Inhumans, Mystique, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, Gravity, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Birds of Prey and Teen Titans.

Best known for delivering introspective, character-driven work, Sean also wrote several weeks of the Funky Winkerbean syndicated comic strip, much of which has been reprinted in the celebrated collection, Lisa's story: the other shoe.

In 2005, Sean won the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition.

Sean continues to write comic books; he also writes for the videogame and animation industries.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this too fast to review each volume, so I’ll be that ass who does the same review for all of them.

Why not? This reads so breezily and fun, and flows as if the whole story fell out of McKeever’s head in one continuous sheet, that it’s like I sat down for an hour and glimpsed the paradise of Parker in his carefree youth.

“Cute” doesn’t quite cut it. The *art* is cute, but the dialogue is amazingly natural and normal. The scenes between Spidey and his pals and their pals are cute/silly/emotional, but the temptation is to think it’s all juvenile high school horseshit and it’s more than that.

It’s been so long since I read a comic where the characters finest anatomy wasn’t featured by some horny artist, that I honestly don’t know how to react to kids in normal, sometimes even loose-fitting clothing.

Biggest surprise of the whole run? Liz Allen. A character I’ve never quite connected with, seems headstrong and … important to MJ. Like she’s the Greek Chorus of this whole tale, reflecting back on MJ all the tribulations and decisions MJ needs to deal with.

[Melissa Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I gave this series another try after reading issue #1 some time ago and putting it on the back-burner. The final scene/page/panel was a nice way to wrap things up. I'd recommend the series to readers who'd like something pleasant that you look forward to returning to, similar in that vein to the new (2015+) Archie series, but with no car crashes or people going to jail.

[LYS. · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I miss you." —Peter Parker, #20

actually 2.5 stars!

the duality of this . . . misogyny AND misandry all in one ! like not to bring up film terms but i don't think a single conversation throughout this entire series passed the bechdel test 😭 anyway the few pages of #20 was cute tho but that's all i gotta say

[Jaye Berry]

Rip the spider-man plushie bitch ass Harry Obsorn BEHEADED. 😠😠

The artist changed and while it was still cutesy, I miss the old style.

The endless drama, angst, and random new characters showing up and also wanting to date these characters took me out. Like damn, don't we have enough clowns in the circus??

Can't believe this ended with so much still unresolved.

[Burton Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still really cute, hits some pretty good moments.

[Zuleima Manville · Rating 3 out of 5]

So over Harry and Mary Jane.

[Eli Poteet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm willing to read anything from the spider verse, as a lover or lore I find value in dabbing into all available aspects for peak spider verse trivia. Also: In high school I totally would've read this "romance/comedy" young adult graphic novel/American manga thing. I appreciate the way teenage angsty feelings are braided with the original cast of high school Spider-Man world. Of course there is no real space provided or produced by this soft cover concerning socially deviant lifestyles. The characters are all painted as monogamous heterosexuals.

[Solitairerose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane/Mary Jane series has been very well done YA comics aimed at girls, but is close enough to what it feels like to be learning about relationships that it evokes nostalgia for a painful, awkward time. It takes the Spider-Man mythos and twists it enough that it fits a completely different kind of story, and it works wonderfully.

I wasn't interested in this book at all, but am glad I read it.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll say it again: Whoever recast the Peter & MJ story as a full-on teen melodrama was a genius. It's a guilty pleasure that's not guilty at all, as these characters bounce off each other in totally believable, ever-changing relationships. Silly and real and wonderfully, wonderfully fun.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss Miyazawa's art a bit. Hahn draws messed-up chins. But the writing is still great.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really, really sad that they got a new artist, but he did a decent job.

[Bookworm007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dang it, why'd they have to go on and change the artist?? EsPECIALLY in the last book!! In case ya haven't noticed, the drawings ain't look nuthin like the same!!! :P

[Hannah Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this so much, even though i haven't read the other books in the series. :)

[Devin Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last read November 2007.