Araña, Vol. 1: The Heart of the Spider

Araña (Collected Editions) #1

by Fiona Kai Avery, Mark Brooks

She's fierce, she's sassy...she sticks to walls! Amazing Fantasy is where it all begins: Meet an all-new, all-different heroine! Fiona Avery (Amazing Spider-Man) and Mark Brooks (Marvel Age Spider-Man) launch a surprising series of teen-friendly adventures set in the current Marvel Universe! Sugar and spice and everything nice - that's what this little girl is totally not made of!

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2005

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very forgettable story and terrible art. Anya and Lynn were cool, though. I might check the next the next two books out if I'm bored enough.

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anya Corazón is a young high school student who lives with her over protective single father. One day, while in the park at night to fight a school bully, Anya is nearly killed by strange assailants and her life is saved by a man named Miguel.

Miguel explains to Anya that in every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness the Wasps. She is the Slayer Hunter.

Miguel is Anya's Watcher Mage, a member of the Watchers Council Spider Society, whose job it is to train her and to aid her in the battle against the vampires Wasps.

Yeah... This was super fresh and original.

[Delanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's like Marvel went to a group of staffers and went "We want a Latina teen hero series by next week".

What had the potential to be a great corner of the Marvel universe turns out to be rather a let-down. Horrible pacing, unremarkable art, and underdeveloped cast. CLEARLY a rush job; but a decent introduction to the Girl-Who-Would-Be-Spider-Girl and interesting concepts.

I'm not sure if I'm invested enough to read Vol. 2, but who knows? This only came up because I wanted some Spider-related reading after finishing the spider-verse run.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Amazing Fantasy (2) #1-6 (August 2004-January 2005). Anya Sofia Corazon is a normal teenage girl trying to get by in Brooklyn with her father. When she becomes entangled in a fight with the Spider Society and the Sisterhood of the Wasp, Anya “dies” and is reborn with the help of a mysterious man named Miguel. Now Anya has powers and is the newest member o the Spider Society…and Araña is born!

Written by Fiona Avery, Araña Volume 1: The Heart of the Spider is a six issue storyline that ran in the relaunch of Amazing Fantasy. The story features art by Mark Brooks and Roger Cruz.

Araña got a lot of attention upon her debut. Marvel has always been a rather diverse comic “universe”, but there had been lots of complaints about the limited minority heroes who were starring in comics. As a Latina superhero, Araña even got media attention for the storyline…here, the character is introduced and you can really weigh if the exposure was worth it.

One of the biggest problems with trying to “create” minority heroes is that they are often created just to be a minority superheroes. While Avery does a nice job trying to establish Anya as a rounded individual (something that Marvel generally excels upon), it does feel like she’s a little forced out by the system. Being a Latina woman seems to define Araña instead being a piece of her life as a whole. A great contrast would be the work being done with Ms. Marvel who feels much more rounded in her creation, but Araña feels like a good step (and a step up from characters like Luke Cage or Shang-Chi who while revolutionary were also stereotypes at the time…but they also were given more time to develop into their own characters).

The problem with this collection is that it is generally all origin. There isn’t much “superheroing” occurring…for six issues. Anya gets her powers and learns how to use them for most of the six issues. There are a lot of characters and ideas introduced, but it all just feels like set-up instead of a complete story.

After this storyline, Araña got her own series, but with characters (especially concept characters), there needs to be a real plan and it is work to incorporate them into the bigger Marvel Universe and Marvel seemed to do the character of a bit disservice in that sense. Araña was born and just kind of left out there to dangle. When she failed, it is written off as “no one liked the character”. I can’t say that is the case with Araña, but I feel like I barely got the chance to know her. Araña 1: Heart of the Spider is followed by Araña 2: In the Beginning.

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anya is an interesting character. The comic has a lot of life when it's focused on her life and relationships. Unfortunately, she has to get thrust into an incredibly boring origin story. I've read the whole thing, and even with the reference to Ezekiel (from JMS' Spider-Man run) I still don't really get what Web Corps is, why they're fighting the Wasps, or why they have to do it in secret? I still don't even really have clarity on whether Anya got her powers because of some innate quality within her (she's a "chosen one") or if it was due to Miguel's magic and he picked her due to her like purity of heart of whatever. On top of that, the whole thing is bizarrely paced.

So, yeah, about 80% of the time it's a truly bad comic. BUT, Anya rules. She's funny and charming. When she gets to be herself the book almost works.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read. Certainly piqued my curiosity about Anya as a character! I'm looking forward to reading the other two volumes and learning more about her. However, I would agree with other reviews that said it was rushed. It doesn't take a lot of time to develop the Spider Society or any of Anya's supporting cast.

[Nick (LackingZones) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... it's Buffy: the Vampire Slayer. But instead of vampires, you've got magic corporations that fit into Spider-Man continuity. I can't say I particularly liked or disliked the first volume, but I'll probably seek out the next one.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's clear why someone thought the story of a young, Latina Spider-Woman would be fun. Similar stories were told re: Tom DeFalco's Spider-Girl and Brian Michael Bendis's Spider-Man.

But it's not really clear why someone wanted to tell this story. It seems kind of like a second-rate Animorphs or Organization XIII or something?

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how much of this takes place in recognizable Brooklyn between Fort Greene, Dumbo, and what looks like a little bit of Park slope. That aside, is collected for six comics were just OK

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heavily Buffy-inspired story about a spidey Chosen One. Quite fun and I like Anya, but I wasn't a massive fan of the caricaturey art.

[Marcela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof.

[Larakaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a mixture of Spider-Girl and Witchblade both in visual and narrative presentation

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting addition to the Spider-verse but character development is lacking. I don't think I'll pick up the next volume.

[Nicholas Fossum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda felt messy and strange, but I liked it I think, hope the next is better

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Comics that I name my Pit Bull after. She's smart, amazing, and The Amazing Spiderman's side kick.

[PAUL KEIRNS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable story. I really like the main character, she is a great addition to the Marvel Universe.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting hero but boring story. Everything in this was just set up with very little time for character development

[Adam Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduces Anya Corzon as a teenager who almost dies and is inducted into a secret society fighting strange evils.

As far as she goes, Anya is an interesting and likable character and she has an interesting father figure. However, ultimately, the story feels a bit lifeless and meandering, as well as generic. I also am not sure I buy a heretofore unknown secret organization popping in the Marvel use.

The story's not bad, but it's not good either. The character is intriguing, I'll probably try another volume, but this one was not a great

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect here and while there were things I liked, I found it a little clunky. Anya is a fun character and I enjoyed seeing her thrust into this mystic spider-world, but this volume was all lead-in and no story. There's three volumes and I plan to keep going. Onward and upward, Arana.

We talked about this series over on the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Aiden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aiden Broderick
Araña

Spider-Man is a very interesting character already, with a great story. But when that concept is rethought, it becomes even better. Anya is a girl who just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and sorcery becomes the only way to save her from death. As a result, Anya gains abilities that are quite different than any other superhero. Because of these powers, Anya has to join an organization that fights evil (as usual).
Araña is a book for comic book fans, but don’t be fooled; it’s not a Spider-Man comic. Sure, there are a few moments that may remind you of Spider-Man, but it is a completely new story. There are several problems in the book, such as how Anya learns about her powers; the same way everyone else does. She accidentally uses her powers, and then talks to someone who knows about them, and they explain it all. This book really isn’t all that special, but it is a good quick read if you are looking for a cool and new comic to read.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, if you're someone who's familiar with a lot of the minutiae of Marvel comics, you might say "But Ryan, there's already a Spider-Girl. She's an alternate-reality daughter of Peter and Mary-Jane Parker, in a reality where she didn't disappear to never be mentioned again after being kidnapped by the Green Goblin." You'd say that, and you'd be right - but this isn't Spider-Girl, this is Arana, because one teenaged girl with spider-based powers apparently isn't enough for Marvel comics.
I should clarify - while Arana shares some thematic elements with JMS' Spider-Man work, there's no connection to Parker in the story, and it's never actually confirmed the the story takes place in the MU proper; rather, we have a story of secret societies, and spider-spirits, and chosen ones, and it all sounds really interesting, but the story never gets off the ground.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I may have read the first issue way back when. I know that I definitely didn't read all of this. I know that I wanted to after Anya showed up in Ma. marvel, but I think this flat story-telling turned me off.

When I started the issue, I really thought Anya and Lynn were supposed to be lesbians. And frankly I think this was a missed opportunity. Lynn calls Anya girlfriend and then storms down the hallway to get to her and then Anya is pretty protective of her. I can't help but wonder if that was the intent of issue one and then some editor decided she needed a male crush in later issues. This seems very possible. Or maybe the writer just didn't realize what she was writing, which wouldn't surprise me. This feels like an early draft by a new writer. It's pretty generic story wise and the dialogue is pretty stilted.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to write a bullet point review since I'm tired and using my phone.

- This has nothing to do with Spiderman whatsoever.

- Wow, does anyone oversee the artwork? There were some specific frames that could have been drawn by a 9 year-old beginning art student.

- Anya is ridiculously gullible. Who's to say she's not working for the evil company? Some strange guy comes up and says, "Hey, you work for me now" and she's just totally okay with it.

- Not the best dialogue in the world. Maybe it will get better.

- My biggest complaint: why did they choose to print this darkly colored comic on cheap, highly textured (non-glossy) paper? I could hardly see the images half the time. Ugh.

- Regardless of all that, I will probably continue the series to see if it gets any better.

[Mont'ster · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel so I take writing and art into consideration of my rating because both influence my "experience" with the book. Talking about just the writing (by Fiona Avery), I'd give it 1 star - "Didn't Like It" but the art is really good in my opinion - 4 starts "Really Liked It" (pencils by Mark Brooks & Roger Cruz, inks by Jaime Mendoza & Victor Olazaba, colors by Larry Molinar & Jeannine Lee). Unfortunately the poorly written dialogue and predictable storyline got tiring and so overall I can only give the book 2 stars.

In Fiona Avery's defense, she may have been given a "template" by Marvel and she was apparently in comics for only a couple years.

[Blair Conrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute-ish beginning that introduces our heroine and a few of the major characters in her life. I like seeing Webcorps acgain, but am not entirely sure about Araña's team, nor their interactions with one another. I think the problem is that the comic is written for teens, and as I close in on 40, the appeal of teen lit is fading. Or maybe it's just teen comics.
The artwork is acceptable, although a tad exploitative. (Can you exploit a comics character?)
So, nothing earth-shattering, but there's potential.

[Kay Mcgriff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think superhero fans will like this graphic novel. Anya is a reluctant recruit to the secretive spider society. Miguel believes that she is the chosen one, to be the next hunter. When he saves her life from an attack by the Wasps, she is bound for life. All she wants is to be a normal high school student. Will she come to terms with and claim her destiny before it's too late? The color illustrations in this one seem to explode off the page. I really need to slow down and look more at the pictures when I read a graphic novel.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl, chosen, given powers that she alone can use. A secret society pledged to help her. A wise representative of that group that helps her most directly. Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Yet there is something special about Anya. Her attitude is practically adult, and she asserts herself long before she starts developing powers. She also has a living father, so she can treat her mentoring mage as a proper partner.

With charming, almost cartoon-like art typical of books targeted toward a youth/YA audience, this book is a fun, light read.

[victoria.p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly I read this because I really like Anya when she's teamed up with Rikki Barnes, and it seemed like a good idea to read her backstory.

While I really like Anya and her dad, I feel like the storytelling was rushed and unclear, especially the ending, which felt unresolved. On the plus side, I like that Spider-Man stops by to mentor her occasionally.

I feel like this is another character Marvel just doesn't quite know what to do with, but I like her a lot.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm probably not the ideal audience. I got it for free and read it to see if my kids might like it (I'll probably offer it to them in a few years). It was dry and a little nonsensical at times. As tween superhero drama, it might be fine, but it's not my thing.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle of the road story telling, middle of the road artwork, hard to follow, did not do much for me.