Araña: The Heart of the Spider

(Marvel, 2005)
™ and © 2005 Marvel Characters, Inc.
Continues from Amazing Fantasy (2nd Series)

The last thing either we or Marvel needed was another Spider-Girl, and, in spite of a disinformation campaign promising just that, happily, Arana is altogether something else. In spite of her having the traditional codename, powers, and costume, young Anya Corazon is much more a manga character than a super–hero. Instead of her civilian life being treated as something that had to be grudgingly plowed through so the reader can get to the “good part” (i.e., the fighting), the heart of this series is Anya’s school and family life. And she certainly doesn’t enjoy having been designated the new “Hunter” for the shadowy Spider Society and having to risk her life fighting their enemies The Wasps. It’s ably written and features an attractive lead who has plenty of pluck. The art is strong enough to survive being scrunched to manga paperback size. And, while some bitterly complained about how long it took getting her in costume, reading the first story arc in one sitting shows that the deliberate pacing was essential to setting up the characters and situations.

— S.A. Benentt

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