The Amazing Spider-Girl: Whatever Happened to the Daughter of Spider-Man? collects Amazing Spider-Girl #0-6 written by Tom DeFalco with artwork by Pat Olliffe, Ron Frenz, John Romita Sr., J. Scott Campbell, Al Williamson, Sal Buscema, Bill Sienkiewicz, Scott Kablish, & Tim Townsend, colors by Gotham, letters by Dave Sharpe, cover art by Frenz, Buscema, and Paul Mounts, and editing by Molly Lazer. This continues May “Mayday” Parker’s adventures as Spider-Girl following her first appearance in What If…? #105 and her 100-issue tenure in Spider-Girl (actually 102 issues including #0 and #½) prior to the relaunch as Amazing Spider-Girl.

This volume begins with Mayday having taken time off as Spider-Girl after nearly dying in battle against the Hobgoblin. Now she balances school and friendships, though the old sense of responsibility lures her back when her friends are in danger and the Hobgoblin threatens a women’s shelter where May volunteers. She slowly finds that she cannot balance others’ expectations for her with her own sense of responsibility as Spider-Girl, leading her to feel torn between both worlds and full of the Parker self-doubt. As a relaunch, this volume succeeds in reintroducing readers to the character while also honoring the prior stories.

As part of the MC2, this story takes place in what was then the current day with the mainstream Marvel Universe – at least the Marvel U up through the comics of the 1990s – having taken place approximately 20 years prior to the events of this story. DeFalco’s writing is stong as always while the art team ages May up to reflect the passage of time, making her appearance resemble a young Mary Jane Watson-Parker while her actions reflect Peter, thus capturing the best of both her parents. This collection will entertain fans of Spider-Girl who know her from her own titles or from her appearances in the Spider-Verse materials. ( )

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