Spider-Woman #4
Dennis Hopeless, Javier Rodriguez, Alvaro Lopez, Rachelle Rosenberg
Marvel $3.99
When it was first announced that Spider-Woman post Secret Wars would feature a pregnant Jessica Drew, there was some skepticism from the comics fandom. Even though Dennis Hopeless and Javier Rodriguez had been doing some wonderful work on the title, I can’t blame people for being a little concerned, as child birth and super heroes do not often mix well.
However, now that we’re 4 issues into the Mama Spider-Woman era, it’s safe to say we have nothing to worry about from this creative team. Spider-Woman #4 is arguably a perfect comic, as Rodriguez and company come together to end their (second) first arc on a massive high note.
Dealing with Skrulls while going into labor is a inventive way of seeing Jessica trying to escape her old life while trying to give her child a normal life. It’s a nice way for the creative team to embrace the roots of the character while trying to do something incredibly 
new with the character. And this is the issue that shows that Jessica hasn’t lost a step despite giving birth in this issue, in the most brutal and gorgeous fashion possible thanks to Rodriguez, inker Alvaro Lopez and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg.
I’ve sung Rodriguez’s praises on ton ever since he’s stepped aboard this book, and this issue is another visually impressive on. Aside from the aforementioned brutal double spread, there’s just as impressive 8 panel one, and an incredibly tense 16 panel one that shows that’s there’s NOTHING Javier can’t do. This issue also proves how important it is to have an great inker and colorist attached to book, with a 9 panel Captain Marvel page that REALLY works thanks to the bold clean inks and fantastic colors. If the art team takes off next issue (I know they’re off for the upcoming Spider-Women arc), I have zero complaints, because it’s a rightfully deserved break.
Meanwhile Dennis Hopeless is the Wolverine of writers, because he’s the best at what he does. There’s something to be said about how he GETS Jessica and how he manages to do hell of a job of writing a mother to be while being a heterosexual male. And I cannot get enough of his Captain Marvel, who’s such a badass while being such a heartfelt character. 
And the new Skrull prince Dirk is fun, despite being a bit of a a macguffin. Trope aside, Hopeless does so much good in this issue, be it the pacing to the dialogue, it’s easy to overlook a thing or two.
Spider-Woman #4 more than just nails the landing to a character defining arc. It’s a wonderful celebration of a character that really didn’t have too many great solo stories, and could have been easily lost in a sea of Spider-ladies. But this creative team goes above and beyond, crafting a tale that’s ridiculously good and some of the best super heroics being put out by anyone today. It’s a concept that may have stumbled a bit with a less experience creative team, but Hopeless, Rodriguz, Lopez and Rosenberg take an idea that we have all seen before and turn it into a high concept action comic.
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