Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Volume 3: My Secret Life

Mary Jane (Collected Editions) #5

by Sean McKeever (Writer), Takeshi Miyazawa (Illustrator)

You've watched Mary Jane's life progress through her eyes, now take a look at her through the eyes of her supporting cast. What do they think of her, especially now that she's...changed? And what does this change mean for her relationship with Peter Parker?

Plus: Gwen Stacy has a problem with Peter, and MJ has a secret.

Collecting: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane 11-15

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Spider Man, Superheroes, Romance, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 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.

[Dinah ✨Keefe's Only✨Setter #7-15 J · Rating 2 out of 5]

OOOOOOOOOOOOK.

I'm never reading it again. there. period. It was terrible! I hated every inch of it! you know how like, you hate a book, but have to know how it ends? Yeah, these books are like that! Ughhhhhh! I have to read more to know how it enddddddssss! This is SOOOOOO frustrating!!!!!!!!! Please!
I do like how short they are. And when they like section it in parts. What really makes me mad, is that I read the books on my Kindle, and so I can't get the fourth book! I honestly was trying NOT to scream when it ended because it is like a soap opera, but for books! I don't know if I sound dramatic, but these books, they are, I don't even know! 😅😅

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible teenage drama! Someone disparagingly referred to this as "The OC but with Spider-Man", but you know what? I'm here for it.

[ryan]

.5 stars

[Zuleima Manville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely getting juicier and better! Hopefully I can read the last chapters.

[Jaye Berry]

The best one so far, maybe because Peter & MJ drama takes such a big part lmao.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Jane puts up a front acting like a "plastic" to shield her emotions while Gwen is persistent in figuring out why peter's disappearing on her all the time. The story does center around Mary Jane, naturally, but when Peter gives into confiding in Gwen with his secret, the way he confronts Mary Jane about the situation was really straightforward. Peter Parker always puts up an exaggerated front to keep his secret identity in check, but there's signs here and there that show he's not a wimp/coward/push-over [like in the first volume when he talks back to Flash] and in this volume, he approaches MJ directly about the secret. Peter and Spider-Man are dorks in their own way but it's nice to see that blurred line between the two personas; McKeever captures the characters real well. Of course, Liz has her moments but for me, never crosses the line in being too annoying. Things sure did escalate rather quickly in the end can't wait to read the next volume.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean McKeever continues his Spider-Drama. In this installment, MJ frets about Peter's relationship with Gwen Stacy and tries to cover the hurt by being a flirt. Takeshi Miyazaki's artwork keeps growing on me. I wish there could've been a bit more action in this book, but this is all about the drama. Ultimate Spider-Man does a better job blending the two, but this is a nice second-best book.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally love whenever a new volume comes out; it always makes me giggle with delight. It's also interesting that as fun and pleasurably melodramatic as a teen drama should be ... it also points out how a lot of the stupid behaviors we exhibit as adults are pretty much the exact same stupid behaviors we exhibited as teenagers. :P

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cool to see Sandman in this volume after watching him in the last Spiderman movie...and even the lil' Spidey doll made an appearance...how many times have I wanted to buy one of those at Target? Lots of fun...I can't wait to recommend this series to some young adults!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is aimed at young girls, but it is actually one of the best Spider-Man books currently on the rack. Disgustingly cute and sweet and fun.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite comic series ever.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the artwork, and the story is fun.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Naive Mary, Annoying Gwen, Dumb Flash, Mean Liz, Jerky Harry, and Shy Peter. *sigh* I forgot how much I liked the comics.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Mary Jane....too many boys to choose from....what's a girl to do? Teen angst at its best.