Spider-Girl #79
Script, Plot, and Pencils: Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz
Finished art: Sal Buscema
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
The story:
Normie Osborn is kidnapped by Elan. Elan is intent on turning Normie into the next Green Goblin, following in his grandfather's footsteps. May Parker, aka Spider-Girl, helps around the house, goes to school and worries about her life. May discusses grades and boys with her friend Courtney. May wonders why she falls for the wrong men, like Normie, who is much too old for her. May runs into Chris Jarkoe. May invites Chris to the coffee shop where Courtney and some other friends are meeting after school.
During study hall, May changes to Spider-Girl to visit Black Tarantula. Special Agent Weadon has Black Tarantula in custody in a clandestine location. May asks Black Tarantula why he gave up instead of putting up a fight with her. Black Tarantula explains it was to avoid hurting her in a fight. After the chat, Raptor talks with Spider-Giirl and says that she hasn't heard from Normie and is concerned. Just then, Spider-Girl gets a call from Elan, and she and Raptor decide to rescue Normie.
When Spider-Girl arrives at Elan's warehouse, Elan is dressed in goblin armor. Elan explains that she intends to eliminate Spider-Girl. Normie is hanging by a rope above Elan's version of the formula that first turned Normie's grandfather into the Green Goblin.
A fight ensues. Raptor, who came along with Spider-Girl, is supposed to rescue Normie while Spider-Girl keeps Elan busy. Raptor instead attacks Elan and gets knocked out.
Spider-Girl is wounded, Normie drops into the formula, and things look bleak. Spider-Girl finds the strength within her to defeat Elan. When the warehouse catches on fire, Spider-Girl gets Raptor and Normie out, but can't carry Elan too. When she goes back to look, Elan is gone.
Spider-Girl returns to Agent Weadon's hideout for medical treatment and learns that Black Tarantula has escaped. Spider-Girl talks with Normie, and finds he got a clean bill of health despite falling into the chemical vat for a few minutes. Normie tells Spider-Girl that he is ready to commit to someone; unfortunately for SG, it's Raptor.
On the way home, May runs into Chris, who she stood up earlier, and does finally decide to go out for that coffee.
What I Liked:
I really enjoyed the story. DeFalco keeps me interested in both this month and the continuing story so I keep coming back for more. It starts with family, then friends, school, allies, an over-the-top female villain for Spider-Girl to fight, then back to allies, and back to friends and home. What more do you want in a story? I liked the scenes of Normie and Elan in the warehouse - the background art was rich in detail
