'Spider-Gwen: Smash' is a very flawed, but still enjoyable and funny 'Spider-Gwen' comic, filled with interesting characters and ideas. And, wow, it is a 'Spider-Gwen' comic that can be read as a self-contained book and miniseries (well, sort of, but outside continuity isn't too egregious a problem here), and you don't have to read her other comics and their convoluted, multiversal rubbish to like this one.
Smash! Shocker!
'Smash' isn't about the Spider-Verse, and there is no travelling between multiverses - thank *&@"£! for that - instead, it is about Gwen Stacy/Ghost-Spider and her band, The Mary Janes, and her role as a famous drummer versus her role as a (in)famous superhero (which is no longer a secret identity in Gwen's Earth-65 universe, apparently), and her contentious, complicated relationship with Mary Jane Watson, which is constantly on a thread thinner than a spiderweb. Yet it appears to be heading in a newer, fresher, and still further complicated direction...
There are bands, concerts, tours, meaningful song lyrics, and nonstop danger, kidnappings, and mutant experimentations.
Other Marvel characters include Dazzler (I haven't seen her in many things, and it's a nice change of pace that she's a major player here), Natasha Romanoff (what a twist! and in this universe, she remains a badass), the Hulk, Pixie, Mortis (my introduction to her, and I am vibing and gravitating towards the dark witch girl), Mysterio, and, uh, Carnage. Is that a spoiler? Oh well.
'Smash' is like an old school Marvel comic - short and sweet, and as simple as it can be when dealing with so many characters, each with their own individual baggage.
The superheroine comic is very girly, in that it contains a predominately female cast, and complex female relationships, that are nonetheless loving and positive. Gwen's bandmates, Glory and Betty (to be honest, I keep forgetting their names), end up being surprisingly supportive, sympathetic and understanding towards her, in her dual drummer/Ghost-Spider role, even when Mary Jane, or "Em Jay", isn't. Gwen's identity crisis is taking its toll on her, and endangering her relationship with Em Jay, in more ways than one...
Let's just say that 'Spider-Gwen: Smash' shares more in common with the 'Jem and the Holograms' comics than the outrageous, sci-fi girl bands.
Another highlight is the sweet heart-to-heart talk between Gwen and her dad near the beginning. She is his hero, as well as vice versa (I think this was established in 'Gwenverse'?), and he is her number one reason to stay on Earth-65, even when things are terrible, which they usually are. I really like how their relationship seems to have developed and evolved over time.
I'm not a fan of the artwork. It looks cartoony in an off-putting, early 2000s way, if that makes sense. But it's not all bad, as it's expressive and well detailed, even though the last issue makes the characters look like chibi children.
I would be remiss not to mention the amazing art on this universe's Carnage, however. It's one of the multitude of reasons to read 'Spider-Gwen: Smash'. What a triumph.
In conclusion, 'Spider-Gwen: Smash' is a highly interesting and new take and direction to, uh, take the superheroine Spider-Gwen. It is fun, femme, digestible, and perhaps aimed at a younger audience, but it doesn't tone down or ease up on the dark plot twists. It hits a lot of the (drum)beats of what makes any Marvel 'Spider' comic good, leaving its mark on the canon.
My reviews of the two other 'Spider-Gwen' comics I like can be found here and here.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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