Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #10
	Story Title: 'The Right 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

Blame it on the water. That is my excuse for this review being almost a week late. Blame as in, last Tuesday there was something funky in the water and though I noticed it soon enough (or so I thought then), by Wednesday afternoon I was in full-fledged bed-hugging mode. Almost a week and its only now that I can get up and move about without downing down Tylenols and gargling and in general coughing, snorting and wheezing (csw) like the world is going to end tomorrow and I have to get a whole life’s worth of csw done today itself. That the weather is depressing all by itself, what with the rain and all, added a completely new level to the being blue.

Talking about being blue, that is what exactly Mary Jane is in this issue. Having closed off last issue by having her witness the first kiss between Gwen and Peter, this time around the story starts with the aftermath from it, though as is the mood of this series, any and (almost) every major vocal blow-up falls under the heading of ‘Done by Liz’. It’s the next day at school and seeing that Gwen and Peter are still together and that MJ has withdrawn from the semi-trio to leave the two as a ‘couple’, Liz confronts MJ but to no avail. MJ looks set to play the martyr and not come in between the budding romance between Ms. New Girl and Mr. Nerd Supreme. A pause here…Liz makes a certain comment that though completely in keeping with her age did not fit well with me (NOT at all), all in light of what we know about the character she makes it for. It would be the same if someone said for Dick Grayson that his parents take a tumble to the ground (during their acrobatic routine). The emotions Liz was feeling could just as well have been expressed another way.

There is also a new subplot involving Flash Thompson and the plans of his teammates to involve him or not, in their disruption of the play that the drama club is putting on, one that happens to fall on the same day as the big game. Not much going on here…not yet anyways.

Spidey also makes an appearance and so does the Looter, only to get his identity revealed to MJ. Even this rather oddball event didn’t quite tick with me. While in the last issues, this character’s (civilian) appearance came across as organic and useful, here its only for (rather wasted) shock value.

Conclusion: One of the weaker issues, both in the story and the art. Regarding the art, even though it got better over the issue the starting few pages were rather weak (in comparison what has been the norm for this series).

RATING: 7/10