Marvel Age Mary Jane: Circle of Friends

Why should Peter Parker have all the fun? Now, Spiderman's true love, Mary Jane Watson, gets a comic all her own in which Peter and Spidey are only peripheral characters. MJ's story is about being a high school teen, sorting out who she wants to be and, equally important, who she wants to be with. Befitting a comic about classic adolescent dramas, the focus is on the homecoming dance. MJ's best friend, Liz, has her sights set on becoming Homecoming queen. Her boyfriend, Flash, the star quarterback, has been dragging his feet on getting his application for king handed in. MJ doesn't have a date for the dance, but Liz has that sewn up: the perfect guy, Harry Osborn, is up for grabs, and has his eye on our Mary Jane. She likes him, but does she really "like" him? He's no Spidey, but he sure is nice, and he pays for everything. MJ's efforts to raise money for a new dress and the identity of Flash's secret crush add even more complications, and all the suspense makes for fun escapism. Miyazawa renders the high school sturm und drang in a beautiful landscape of strong lines and pastel colors—it's a world of great hair, stylin' clothes and clear skin for all. (Nov.)