"My Funny Valentine"

by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Reviewed by: Razeth Kota

June 18, 2002

Selling the book: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have done it again. Known for their work on DC’s Batman: Long Halloween and it’s sequel Batman: Dark Victory, writer Loeb and artist Sale now bring their mindblowing talents to Marvel Comics *AND* Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman!

Synopsis: The story opens on Valentines Day. Peter Parker, feeling lonely and nostalgic, begins recording a message to his lost love, Gwen Stacy. (It is this recording that stands as the narration throughout the book) The opening images are that of Spidey webslinging throughout New York at night, carrying a single rose in his hand. He reaches the Brooklyn Bridge, the scene of Gwen’s infamous death, pauses, in a moment of rememberance. Then, as he begins to swing away, he drops the rose. The rose falls, symbolizing the fall of Gwen, it floats from the heavens and safely lands on the water, causing ripples as Gwen’s death did in Parker’s life.

It’s not long before we cut to a flashback (as the entire book is one big flashback) of Spidey, tied up and unmasked, face to face with the Green Goblin in an abandoned warehouse. It is here that the Goblin believes he finally will see the end of Parker. A Mistake, obviously. Peter, tied to a chair, carries on a conversation with the Goblin while working his arms free (oblivious to the Goblin). Once Spidey gains his freedom (and kicks the Goblin off his glider), he replaces his mask and begins one of the most famous fights in all of Marvel history.

A Vivid exchange of webbing and pumpkin bombs ensues as the abandoned warehouse collapses around them. The witty banter continues, as well, of course. Soon, the room around them is reduced to flames and wreakage. The Goblin, on the ground, coughs and sputters. From under his mask, Norman Osborn’s voice, affirming that he has no knowledge of what the costume is he’s wearing or even where he is at the moment (He even says he has to get home to his son, Harry). Spidey removes his mask and assures him that everything will be alright.

Outside the warehouse, Spidey turns custody of Osborn over to the fire crew who’s arrived on the scene. When asked where the Goblin was, Spidey replies:

“Dead. The Green Goblin is dead.”

An obvious lie, as Osborn *IS* the Goblin.

From there, we cut to Peter Parker in J. Jonah Jameson’s office at the Daily Bugle, turning in some fresh pics of Spiderman fighting the Green Goblin. Jameson isn’t quick to believe the story of the Goblin’s death, but accepts it as he knows it will make him a mint in newspaper sales. Joe Robbie Robertson reveals to Jonah that Osborn has been taken to Memorial Hospital, that it could be a photo-op. After some arguing and persuasion on Robertson’s part, Jonah agrees to let Parker handle it.

At the Hospital, Parker arrives as Harry Osborn is visiting his father. Harry is admitedly surprised to see Parker, as he hardly knows him by this point. It’s here that it’s revealed that Norman as no memory of ever being the Goblin, let alone trying to kill Spiderman or even knowing that Peter Parker *IS* Spiderman. It is also here that Parker meets Gwen Stacy for the first time. From here, Peter decides to impress Stacy. Seeing as Gwen rides with the “wrong crowd” (Flash Thompson. ‘Nuff Said.), he decides it’s clear how to do this: Buy a motorcycle. More shocking than Parker’s notion that wooing Stacy with a motorcycle is a good idea, is the fact that it works! The last page is Aunt May speaking with the shadowy figure of a beautiful woman. It’s revealed to be Mary Jane Watson, daughter to one of May’s closest friends. May thinks it’d be best that Peter go out with a “nice girl”, like Mary Jane.

While Peter is out laying his wiley geekish charms on Gwen Stacy, his Aunt May is planning a date between he and Mary Jane! What ever will Peter do?!

Raz’s Assesment: The story in Blue is essentially the retelling of the now famous story leading up to Gwen Stacy’s death, an event that left such an impact on Peter’s life that it’s repercussions still haunt him today.

Everything’s there: Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker, the Green Goblin/Norman Osborn as well as his son Harry. And yes, even Mary Jane Watson.

Jeph Loeb seems to have a way with these characters. He’s taken a story that’s essential to the Spiderman mythos and almost made it his own. He’s really shown a knack for capturing what many would call “Old School” Spidey. The smartass punk kid behind the hero’s mask. Couple that with Tim Sale’s vivid and haunting art style and you’ve got a winner.

Score: 4 1/2 out of 5