FRANCO FRIDAYS Meets SPIDER-MAN WEEK: THE MANY LOVES OF PETER PARKER…
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Welcome to SPIDER-MAN WEEK: THE MANY LOVES OF PETER PARKER, our second-ever theme week that’s solely driven by our artist pals: Kerry Callen, Des Taylor, Walt Grogan (who did that fab banner), Chris Franklin, Dakota Alexander, Franco, Bill Morrison, and special guest Mark Chiarello. For more on this groovy feature, click here. — Dan
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By FRANCO
Rumor is there’s a BRAND NEW Spider-man movie out toDAY!
Ha! See what I did there?
It’s a movie and there’s bound to be a love interest or two but here at 13th Dimension we’ve been doing this weeklong thing and I just want to throw in my two cents as well. On the comics side, many would argue his love interests fall to Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy. Who is the biggest love of Spider-Man’s life? That’s a debate all comic readers have had for quite a bit of time now. But I’m one of those troublemakers who likes to stir things up!
If we were talking about someone who’s able to keep up with our spider guy, I offer a third alternative: Felicia Hardy!
That’s right, Black Cat herself. Creators Marv Wolfman and Dave Cockrum (What? That New Teen Titans guy? And that X-Men guy? Yep. Those guys!) gave us not only a new villain/adversary but an eventual new love interest. Felicia is a bit different, though. Where MJ and Gwen love Peter Parker, Felicia had no interest in Peter (at first). She was all about the Spider-Man.
My argument is this: When the rest of the world doesn’t like Spider-Man, and MJ can’t relate to what’s happening with Spidey, you have someone more on his level who understands the superhuman side of things. Accepting the costume when a “civilian” might have a difficult time of it. She’s also the only one who encourages the excitement of the costumed life rather than just the burden of all the responsibility.
I know, I know, “with great power comes great responsibility.” He’s supposed to be that guy and he’s always gotta do the right thing. Yeah, but sometimes you also have to have some fun. High flying/swinging high above the New York City buildings/wearing a leotard kind of fun!
Unless you’re in the Noir universe where things would be more fedoras-and-molls fun.
One thing I love about writing these posts is the fun arguments people bring up and banter with me about. So I can’t wait to hear from you!
I had a good time drawing both these versions. Both slightly different, but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Want more MANY LOVES OF PETER PARKER? Click here.
Want more FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS? Come back next week!
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MORE
–– Comics’ Equivalent to THE ODYSSEY: I Say BONE — What Do YOU Say? Click here.
— The Meaning of the MAN OF TOMORROW — and Giving Thanks During the Hard Times. Click here.
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Franco and his forehead have traveled the world and he writes and draws stuff. Franco is the creator, artist and writer of Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! Franco has worked on books/comics, including Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures. Franco was also a high-school teacher and is one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. Dan made Franco add that he has won three Eisners.
His new books, Action Cat & Adventure Bug: Let’s Do This!, with Art Baltazar, and Ninja Kaiju: Unleashed, with Scoot McMahon, both from Papercutz, are out now.
