There's a Spider-Girl?
These are the amazed cries heard in comic book stores from girls who find Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Girl comic among the stacks of violent and male-centered comics. Many of them are happy to learn Spider-Girl comics are appropriate for all ages, and often get comic book subscriptions to The Amazing Spider-Girl.
But who is Spider-Girl – and what makes her so popular?
Origin of Spider-Girl
Spider-Girl is May "Mayday" Parker, the daughter of Peter Parker and his wife, Mary Jane Watson. Hailing from an alternate universe called MC 2 where Peter Parker lost his leg in battle with the Green Goblin and retired as Spider-Man, May grew up never knowing her father was a superhero.
But upon turning fifteen, May finds she has inherited her father's spider-powers – including superhuman strength, speed, agility, the ability to stick to walls, and a danger-warning "spider sense."
Raised with a strong sense of responsibility, May decides to use her powers to help people – starting with her father when she learns Normie Osborn, the grandson of the Green Goblin, is threatening to kill Peter Parker. Donning an old Spider-Man costume, May becomes Spider-Girl and defeats Normie in battle.
A Marvel Superhero for the New Generation
Unlike Peter Parker, who often wanted to stop being Spider-Man because of the pressure it put on his personal life, May loves being Spider-Girl.
According to Spider-Girl artist Ron Frenz, May is friends with both nerds and jocks… when she's with her geek friends she has to deny her inner-jock and when she's with her jock friends she has to deny her "geekitude"— but as Spider-Girl she's using her brains and her physicality in a way she doesn't have to apologize for… so there's this great joy for her in discovering this aspect of her heritage.
Peter, however, doesn't want his daughter to become a superhero since he knows how dangerous crime fighting is. Many early stories show May secretly becoming Spider-Girl and arguing with her father over her right to follow in his footsteps. Eventually, Peter realizes how important being Spider-Girl is to May and trains her to be a superhero.
For all the joy May experiences as Spider-Girl, she often worries she is not worthy of her father's legacy – especially since Spider-Man is a legend in her time. Ironically, many of the mistakes May makes as Spider-Girl, particularly missing appointments with her family and friends, mirror problems Peter Parker faced during his own superhero career.
Imbued with strong morals, May always tries to do the right thing, both in and out of her Spider-Girl costume. In one issue, May, her school's star basketball player, realizes her powers give her an unfair advantage and decides to quit the team.
What Makes Spider-Girl So Special?
In an era of antiheroes and overly sexualized females, Spider-Girl stands out as a female hero more interested in saving lives than exacting vengeance. Many issues show Spider-Girl trying to reform her enemies – in fact the first villain she fought, Normie Osborn, later befriends May and saves her life.
Spider-Girl's stories also deal with social issues, particularly dating violence. One storyline shows May trying to convince a friend to leave her abusive boyfriend while struggling to keep from beating him up herself. Subsequent stories show May volunteering at a domestic abuse clinic.
Unlike other female comic book characters like Catwoman, Spider-Girl is realistically proportioned and doesn't dress in skimpy clothes – early stories even portray May as tomboyish. May's Spider-Girl costume, likewise, combines the familiar look of a Spider-Man costume with some modern touches (one of her web shooters contains a miniature cell phone).
Simultaneously classic and contemporary, Spider-Girl provides fans with something to always look forward to in their monthly comic book subscriptions.
For many, May represents the logical progression of Peter Parker's life and growth. But above all, her comics – like all good stories – are just plain fun.
Fun Facts
- May is named after Peter's Aunt May.
- After losing his leg, Peter Parker became a police scientist for the NYPD.
- Mary Jane had another baby in Spider-Girl, May's brother Benjy. Benjy has spider-powers of his own and appears in + + The Amazing Spider-Girl as "The Spectacular Spider-Baby."
In addition to sticking to objects, May can also repel objects stuck to her hands -- something her father could never do.
Sources
WIkipedia - Spider Girl
The Amazing Spider-Girl