Review by Ian Keogh
It’s consistently been the case that Karla Pacheco has Spider-Woman operating under limitations. She has an infant child to consider, or she’s not confronting someone in the ideal location, or she has to hold back because the person she’s fighting is misguided and stupid rather than evil. Devil’s Reign begins with the broken arm sustained in Back to Basics. That being the case, visiting a friend doing stunts on a film set seems a good way to avoid trouble. Hmmm. About that…
The volume title, though, is Devil’s Reign, which ties in with the Kingpin outlawing all superheroes and hiring villains to hunt down anyone who doesn’t hand themselves in. As a New York resident Jess is high on the list, but that doesn’t begin to indicate the tension Pacheco sets via revisiting the greatest trauma of Spider-Woman’s career. The opening chapter is fun, but the two following are harrowing. It’s difficult to reveal exactly why without giving the surprise away, but there’s a direct confrontation with the Kingpin before the revelation of what he’s let loose. Jessica has plenty of friends to call on when her son’s life is threatened, but she’s unable to trust anyone other than herself. It’s a thriller.
As shown on the sample art, the page designs provided by Pere Pérez are becoming ever more ornate, and that’s the case for the civilian scenes as well as the way he breaks down the action. Let’s also give him credit in this day and age for drawing the entire series with no need for fill-in artists. The sample page is from a story featuring multiple threats as many of Spider-Woman’s enemies gather, but cleverly none of them come to fruition. It’s Pacheco poking fun at Jess’ lame rogues gallery, some of her own devising, and coupling that with a much needed conversation results in the best chapter here, yet also lives up to the promise of unbelievable non-action on every page. The purpose is to compensate with an all-action series closer, which becomes sillier as the pages turn, and that’s also fun.
By the standards of 21st century Marvel any series lasting long enough to generate four collections has been a success, yet it’s puzzling that the series didn’t last longer. It’s consistently offered fun, well-plotted and well-drawn action and some memorable emotional moments. Spider-Woman has fans as well, so just what will it take to turn her into a headliner?
