Read about Spider-Man’s Valentine’s Day in Blue.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone – I know it’s a bit late in the day to be writing a post about the Hallmark holiday, but better late than never, right? (rhetorical question, the answer is yes).
Even comic book nerds get to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and if you’re single – it’s okay, I’m right there with ya! Although it’s a day about love, very often we don’t speak of the loves we’ve lost on this holiday. And maybe for good reason. But true to my spirit, I’m going to go against the grain and write exactly about that – and tie it to comics, particularly one that we all know so very well. Today’s recommendation is Spider-Man: Blue.
Who remembers Gwen Stacy?
Very much like how this holiday is portrayed with happiness and love, Spider-Man is usually known to be quick and witty. But for every love story that ends in ‘happily ever after,’ we have much more that end in tragedy. Most of us, if we are so lucky, have had our hearts broken – and in true fashion, the writers of Spider-Man show us once again just how relatable our beloved character is.
Sample page for Spider-Man: Blue.
Written beautifully by Jeph Loeb and brought to life by Tim Sale’s illustrations, Spider-Man: Blue shows us in a six-part issue how Spider-Man feels ‘blue’ on Valentine’s day as he reflects on the loss of his first love, Gwen Stacy. Each issue represents a tape (you know, one of those things we used to use to record our voices and whatnot) as he narrates his feelings to a lost love who is no longer there. If you’re a serious Spider-Man fan, you’ve probably already read this iteration, but if you haven’t, I strongly recommend that you do. The art style is classic Spider-Man; it switches from hues of blue and shadows to brightly colored panels that complement the feeling of loss, nostalgia, and love. My words do this comic no justice if you can find the six-part issue in your local comic book store, read it. It goes by fast, but my advice is to take it slow and really take in what it has to offer. Maybe reflect on your past loves (but don’t call them), and appreciate what you once had.
