Marvel Masterworks: Spider-Woman, Vol. 4

by Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, Roger Stern

Jessica Drew (A.K.A. Spider-Woman) has migrated up the left coast to San Francisco, and her adventures are about to escalate to a whole new level! The Yakuza have infiltrated the SFPD and marked Spider-Woman for death, while the mystic Morgan Le Fay seeks out Jessica with revelations about her connection to the demonic Darkhold! And things get personal in a saga featuring the Silver Samurai and Viper that has shocking implications for our hero's parentage! Chris Claremont and Steve Leialoha then make way for the new creative team of Ann Nocenti and Brian Postman. Their run closes out Spider-Woman's original series with her untimely demise -- but death is not the end when you have the Avengers as friends!

SPIDER-WOMAN (1978) #39-50, and AVENGERS (1963) #240-241, and ANNUAL #10.

Written Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, and Roger Stern

Penciled Steve Leialoha, Brian Postman, Allen Milgrom, and Michael Golden

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

400 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Chris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.

Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.

Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fair-to-middling volume of Jessica Drew’s original adventures, taking us right up to the end of her first 50-issue run. The stories are entertaining without ever really getting really good and the same can be said for the art.

FORTY-YEAR-OLD SPOILERS BELOW

I had no idea Spider-Woman’s first run ended with her death and the magical erasure of her memory from the minds of everyone who ever met her. I’m going to have to do some research now to find out how they reversed that when she returned…

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice read. I really enjoy going back and revisiting some of these more obscure stories. Recommended

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Claremont, why do I hate you as much as I like you?

Much like his work in X-Men, writing in this volume is filled with overblown, dramatic inner monologues and continuous exposition. It’s irritating because he just nails the characterization and plot.

To put it in other terms, Claremont is like a guest that livens up a party and brings lots of beer. But then fucks it up by staying too long and crying about his ex-girlfriend.

So the writing is equal parts good and bad. How about the art? Steve Leialoha is really great. But couldn’t draw a face to save his life. Michael Golden did an outstanding job in an Avengers annual. But this was the phase in his drawing career when he drew eyes so large every woman looks like a bug-eyed alien. Unknown artist Brian Postman is surprisingly good. Too bad he didn’t stay in comics, he would have been compared to Todd MacFarlane and George Perez.

[Mihkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slayer-woman. I was shook and disappointed by the actual ending of the comic run, but I’m glad that there was a continuation in this issue with my fave sheroes coming to help. I stopped reading when I finally got the happy ending I wanted so yeah

[Del · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just too dense even by Claremont standards, silver age comics are a breeze compared to this. I enjoyed the first 2 volumes of spider woman, but goes downhill from vol 3 onwards it seems. Plots aren't great, which doesn't help, so I couldn't even finish it, much better stuff out there. I love Claremont's uncanny X-Men, so it's sad to see this wasn't anywhere close to that kind of level, which is a shame. Art is solid throughout.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know she wasn't the most popular Marvel character, but I always rather liked Spider-Woman, even though they kept changing her storyline. This is the final volume, and in issue #50, they abruptly kill her off. Not to worry, this is Marvel, so she doesn't stay dead for long. Lots of unresolved plots, though.

The artwork is improving, and the stories are low-key but interesting. A fun book.