Why does tumblr or other (allegedly) socially/politically conscious websites talk up Spider-Gwen, Kamala Khan, Riri Williams, Miles Morales or other characters from minority/marginalized groups but near universally do not talk about Mayday Parker?
She is still the female marvel character with the longest running, unrebooted solo-series in all history and in terms of comics unquestionably the most successful female Spider character ever.
In fact outside of She Hulk, Carol Danvers and probably Kamala Khan she is the most successful female spin on an established male Marvel hero.
Why no love her her near 150 issues and 10+ year continuous publication record, which involved being one of, if not THE first, digital Marvel series ever?
Why does Spider-Gwen get prominent roles in cartoons wherein she has been changed beyond recognition sans the fact that her Dad is a cop and she is in a band but we can’t even get Mayday in one episode about dimension hopping spider people?
Why does Spider-Gwen get given kudos and promotion and a whole month of variant covers when Mayday doesn’t even get to be featured prominently on the covers of a series which is about a group of Spider-Heroes…but Gwen gets most panel time in that?
Why does Spider-Gwen get more kudos at all than Mayday when, shit I’ll say it, she’s objectively an inferior character to Mayday?
Mayday has more personality, tension and yes even originality to her character inspite of playing upon themes and story elements from Peter Parker.
Mayday has more unique powers and skills than Spider-Gwen.
Mayday’s villains aren’t simply hipsterized versions of Spider-Man’s villains. Brenda Drago is for instance a far more substantive character than the original Vulture. Mayhem isn’t merely ‘another symbiote’.
Mayday’s supporting cast also do far more and have more substance of their own and relevancy within her narrative and no I’m NOT just talking about her parents.
Even Mayday’s interests are more unique and utilized within the narrative. Spider-Gwen…likes music. Okay…but they don’t use that too often though from what I’ve read. Mayday’s interests are science and basketball which then causes her to get caught between two different kinds of crowds in school who don’t mix much. As a superhero though she can bring her interests in athleticism to bear whilst complimenting it with her intellect. Case in point when she physically defeats her first villain by first out thinking him. Later on there is tension over the morality of her playing basketball since her powers give her an unfair advantage.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough for all the folks out there singing the praises of how progressive and wonderful Spider-Gwen is for merely existing I guess…Mayday literally volunteers at a woman’s shelter and I believe one of her creators implied continuing to work in that field would most likely be her chosen career path in the future.
All this and…her costume is way more awesome.
Yeah I said it. Hoodies obstruct vision and white is guaranteed to get dirty in their line of work.
Even her black variant costume is more awesome than Gwen’s. Just compare how OTT this thing is:
To the sleek simplicity (which was kind of the whole point visually of the OG black costume) of this
Bad ass.
