Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #9
	Story Title: 'The Gwen Thing' Writer: Sean McKeever Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa Colorist: Christina Strain Letterer: Dave Sharpe Cover Art: Tak, N. Lee & Strain Asst. Editor: Nathan Cosby Editor: Mark Paniccia Publisher: Dan Buckley Published by: Marvel Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

I don’t know how much longer I will last with this series, especially with Takeshi Miyazawa (art) set to leave with with #15. More than the story itself it is the ‘cool’ art that appeals to me…and hey, if I can spare for the latest ‘The Flash: Fastest Man Alive’ issue (#3), I sure can do the same for this title too. After all, unlike that title, this one has something actually happening in it.

With a title of ‘The Gwen Thing’, its clear as day as to what this issue is all about. Having first appeared in #5, Gwen Stacy’s presence in this story has become almost as much as Peter (both in and out of costume) or even Mary Jane herself. She’s even gone past other supporting characters with only MJ’s best friend Liz Allen being the only person with just as much exposure.

Anyways, continuing with the mood of the previous two issues, we have both MJ and Gwen…only this time they are together. With Peter having something important come up (read: Spidey-business) and MJ just having finished with her drama practiced, she accepts Gwen’s offer to hang out. Now it might be that the two girls want to get to know each other or maybe they are just testing the waters of how the other feels about their Friendly Neighborhood Nerd, but in the end, both end up becoming friends.

This new development only adds another layer of confusion onto MJ and her ‘should I or shouldn’t I’ dilemma over whether she should confront Peter or stay quiet, even more in the light of Gwen’s developing feelings towards him…feelings which may or may not be mutual (and returned).

Having made a trip to the school counselor MJ decides to take the plunge, and rushes for it…only to ‘see’ that she is (or might be) too late.

Conclusion: Last words go to Liz (Allen). ‘The Homecoming Queen and the pretty new blonde chick are after the same nerd. What’s wrong with this world?’

RATING: 7.5/10