Spider-Woman (2015-2017) #1

Spider-Woman (2015) (Single Issues)

by Dennis Hopeless, Javier Rodriguez (Illustrator)

Baby on board! Jessica Drew is a private investigator, a super hero and...a mom to be? Since we last saw her, Spider-Woman's got a whole new responsibility- she's super heroing for two now, after all! Ben Urich and Porcupine are still along for the adventure, too, and aren't making Jess' life any easier- half the time they won't even let her leave the car! How's a gal supposed to save innocent people and keep herself out of harm's way? See how in the mother of all Spider-Stories!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Spider Man

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2015

About the author

Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum is an American comics writer from Kansas City, Missouri who has written for Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Boom! Studios, Arcana Studio, and Oni Press.

See also under Dennis Hallum

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spider-Woman has been taking a back seat in her in the fight against crime because she's currently eating for two.

Along with Ben Ulrich and Porcupine, Jessica Drew is helping fight crime the best way she can while pregnant.

Now comes the hardest part for a woman always on the go, maternity leave prior to the baby's birth.

Having kids of my own I can appreciate the struggle Jessica Drew is undergoing. Clearly not the physical portion, but rather the life changes people must make as parents.

The topic is a good one, but it seems odd for Marvel comics. I'm not sure how much of their target audience wants to read about a pregnant hero preparing for child birth. I appreciate it now, but I'm not sure how I'd feel as a teen. It seems somewhat mundane for someone who hasn't done it and isn't planning on going through it anytime soon.

[Solace Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this whole story is in response to the picture of Spider-Woman that got so much attention earlier this year. They decided to prove they could still write a good Spider-Woman story without making her a sexual object, though she's still beautiful, but that's always been part of her appeal, I mean, hello, pheromones. This issue focuses mostly on her pregnancy, but it does it in a way where it should not deter men from wanting to read it. It embraces pregnancy for what it is and how a woman like Jessica Drew would handle it. There's action, but she mostly is on the sidelines, and she has a humor that keeps this moving. If you can handle light on action, heavier on pregnancy and humor, than you'll enjoy this, if you only read these sort of comics to get into the action, you might be disappointed.

[Vinton Bayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping this series would continue to be just as good after Secret Wars. What I could have never imagined was that it was going to get better! Great issue 1!

[Tar Buendía · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un personaje al que no conocía prácticamente, en un número uno y que me ha calentado completamente el corazoncito y me ha hecho feliz. No se puede pedir más.

Enamorada estoy.

[Sarah Wagoner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Jessica Drew story so I dont know if this is a good representation of the character. I thought the writing for her monologue at the beginning was quite effective. However it did a out of telling and not showing. I loved the art. I related to the character even though I have and don't plan on being a mother. The banter was kind of cute and fun and banter usually annoys me. The second half of this issue wasnt for me. The party seemed unnecessary and like ir was just a set up for a joke and to show the other marvel characters (2 with dialogue, the rest in the background). The alien maternity ward had a lot of fun potential and I didnt like that it was a lead-up to Skrulls. Personally, I think Skrulls are overused.

[Sarah Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best part of the issue? Spider-Man’s spidey sense going off as Tony Stark tries to ask Jess who the father is

[Jelke Lenaerts]

I was sad to see the previous Spider-Woman series end but this kicking ass already!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the single issue of the new "Shifting Gears" Spider-Woman series. For the full collected volume of issues 1-5, with the same cover, see Spider-Woman: Shifting Gears, Volume 1: Baby Talk, which I review here.

This issue was done brilliantly: some staggered storyline flashbacks get you right to the action and then set up the cliffhanger for the next series of issues.

Admittedly, this one is a bit disorienting. In the last installment (Spider-Woman (2014-) #10) Jess had just hit her stride in her new P.I. role, footloose and fancy-free. At the beginning of Shifting Gears, #1, she is 9 months pregnant! So clearly some significant events have been jumped over. But this was the right way to do it, because it sets up the shock factor well, and gets right to the heavy lifting of what it means to be a pregnant superhero.

For new readers, I recommend reading the volume collection that precedes this issue, Spider-Woman, Volume 2: New Duds, which sets up the parameters of her new life, and then reading this issue as part of the next volume collection, Spider-Woman: Shifting Gears, Volume 1: Baby Talk, which has the complete pregnancy storyline, including a prologue teaser that was originally in Amazing Spider-Man (2015-) #1.

[Joansie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under normal circumstances pregnancy stories just make me quiver and queasy however Dennis' witty dialogue had me pushing back less vomit and letting out an actual giggle or two here and there. While I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this as a teen I can certainly appreciate the risk taken in establishing a series revolving around a less-kickassy pregnant superhero, now as an older reader. I don't think it will appeal to Marvel's usual audience but it's worth the read none the less. Definitely one of the better told-ya-so response stories I've read in a while.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Drew is Spider-Woman, a hero with enhanced agility, adhesive fingertips, and the ability to shoot venom blasts. But she's been sidetracked now that she's on superhero maternity leave! This issue is an interesting look at how women are treated while pregnant and how they adjust to the changes. While this issue is fairly uneventful until the end, I really enjoy how this issue is being tackled and will be checking out the next ones!

[Natasha]

This was okay. Mostly fine but I don't know if I'm going to pursue the storyline.
It has a lot of characters deal with the baddies while talking glibly to each other on the phone, which I find kind of annoying. Like, I guess it's a cool way to show how capable the characters are but it makes all the fighting feel like it's very low-stakes.
In general, I enjoyed the characters talking about stuff more than the fighting. Pretty dope to see a pregnant lady kick some ass though.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

so spider woman has been reluctantly taking a break from crime fighting while she is pregnant, however, she soons finds out she will have to fight to keep her baby safe. I loved this! It had a lot of action and humor. It was very different seeing a pregnant super hero. Sure some parts were a little unrealistic but it is about superheros and aliens after all. I really enjoyed this!!

[lauren ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don't know how I feel about a pregnant Jessica Drew....

[Lina K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am deeply relating to Jessica Drew right now.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is solid, but it's the great dialogue by Dennis Hopeless that carries this issue. I've heard as much about the series as a whole. Definitely worth picking up.

[Marta Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to still be badass while on maternity leave. Loving it.

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still don't know how I feel about a pregnant Jessica Drew (babies/pregnancy story makes me feel uncomfortable......) but this was actually a good #1 issue so ok then 4/5!

[Aliyah Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her being pregnant is SUPER awkward. Love the art though.

[Monie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did it take me so long to read this? I loveeeeeee Jessica Drew!

[Casey Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like it. Feel like I needed to start back further but, I like her. The pregnancy thing is different.

[Violet Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how to open my books.

[Hanneleele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lugesin ka kevadel juba, aga ei pannud kirja. Vahva, aga mitte eriline.

[Sidsel Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first issue didn't quite catch me but it was funny.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange but oddly interesting.

[Mario · Rating 3 out of 5]

De verdad que lo de dibujo de Javier Rodríguez es magia o algo así.