TITLE: Spider-Man: Blue vol. 1, Issue #4
YEAR: October 2002
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Storytellers: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (Illustrator)
Colorist: Steve Buccellato
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Wes
Design: Comicraft’s John Roshell
Editor: Bronwyn Taggart
With the success of “Daredevil: Yellow”, writer Jeph Loeb and illustrator Tim Sale returned with a six-issue limited series titled “Spider-Man: Blue”.
The story would take place during a time when Peter Parker is reminiscing about the love of his life in his past, Gwen Stacy. With Valentine’s Day taking place, he can’t help but think about her. Sure, Peter Parker is married to Mary Jane but he still remembers the past and how her death had affected him.
Finding a tape recorder, Peter records his feelings about Gwen and how they fell in love.
In the fourth issue of “Spider-Man: Blue”, Peter Parker continues to record his feeling on his tape and with Peter Parker going to college in the city, Aunt May asks Peter if it’s OK that she and Anna Watson moved in together just for company.
Peter is good with it and Aunt May would like him to take Harry Osborn up on his offer to b his roommate but also suggests that he should go for Mary Jane Watson instead of her dating Harry.
And as Mary Jane and Harry are going out together, Harry reminds Peter about his offer. And reminds him to come by his pad, as Gwen and others will be there.
Meanwhile, a new person has taken the vulture’s costume and while Spider-Man is swinging above the city, the new Vulture attacks and is intending to kill Spider-Man, while Peter’s friends are wondering what is taking him so long to get to the get-together.
Overall, “Spider-Man: Blue” is an entertaining and heartfelt story. After Gwen Stacey’s death, we have seen Peter Parker go through emotional moments but there was no story that really captured the emotions of one who has lost someone he had loved years later in the Spider-Man stories. If anything, Peter Parker moved on, while still remembering the losses of his Uncle Ben and Gwen.
But what Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale were able to accomplish is a six-story story that shows Peter reminiscing of a woman who meant a lot to him and remembering how they met.
And for that, if you have the chance, definitely check out “Spider-Man: Blue” on TPB.