Spider-Man Blue: A True Love Story

Spider-Man Blue is a must in every comic book collection. This dynamic creative team brings you a heart wrenching story that will leave you feeling sympathetic for all characters in this story.

Creative Team

Jeph Loeb (Writer), Tim Sale (Artist), Richard Starkings & Wes Abbott (Letterers), Steve Buccellato (Colorist)

John “JG” Roshell (Designer), Brownyn Taggart (Original Series Editor), Kelly Lamy (Associate Managing Editor), Nanci Dakesian (Managing Editor), Jennifer Grunwald (Collection Editor), Sara Brunstad (Assistant Editor), Alex Starbuck (Associate Managing Editor), Mark D. Beazley (Special Projects Editor), Jeff Youngquist (Senior Editor), Axel Alonso (Editor in Chief), Dan Buckley (Publisher), Alan Fine (Executive Producer).

Published by: Marvel Comics

Spider-Man’s Heartbreak

Welcome to this emotional roller coaster known as “Spider-Man Blue,” written by Jeph Loeb and art by Tim Sale. This iconic duo teamed up bringing to Marvel Comics what is known as the “Color Series.” The basis for this series is to bring to life in more focused detail, the heart shattering loss that a select few of Marvel’s heroes have suffered. We will be focusing on Spider-Man (Peter Parker)’s loss.

Majority of Spider-Man fans know this story all too well, and some may say this is one of the better Spider-Man stories. This collection of six issues weaves us through the back story of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, and Mary Jane Watson (MJ). It is very well known that Peter and MJ within the Spider-Verse are always in a romantic relationship, spanning all the way to marriage and having children. But there is another story that to an unseasoned fan, you may not know. That is what this collection of stories is about.

This series opens to the setting of Valentine’s Day. For some reason, Peter is scavenging through the attic of his home. It is very important to note that at this time, Peter and MJ are married. While digging through items, Peter stumbles across an old tape recorder. Due to it being Valentine’s Day, Peter can’t help but think of his first love. Now you may be thinking that it is so sweet that he is thinking of MJ, but she is not his first love. This story is about the courtship and ultimately the loss of Gwen Stacy.

Jeph Loeb is a fantastic storyteller! He (Loeb) takes the reader through the history of Peter and Gwen in such a fluid way as if you are sitting there in person. Peter and Gwen started officially dating on Valentine’s Day many years before he and MJ were wed. All three individuals were best friends with one another. It’s no secret that Peter had feelings for both ladies, but his heart yearned for Gwen more. Now this isn’t just a love story without any action sequences. That wouldn’t be a Spider-Man story. You are taken through multiple battles with various notorious villains. That plays into Peter shielding the people in his life from his actions as Spider-Man.

As the story progresses, you learn more about both women in Peter’s life, but the main focus is Gwen. That is till we reach the portion of the story when Gwen tragically dies at the hands of the Green Goblin. During the entire story, Peter is using the tape recorder that he found to record this story, and the feelings he had during pivotal moments in their (Peter and Gwen) history. But it is when he reaches the topic of Gwen’s passing that he starts to share those deep inner feelings that he regrets not sharing when he had the opportunity.

Peter is an emotional wreck, and justifiably so. Losing the love of your life right before your eyes and knowing that you couldn’t save her would break any man down. Peter, now weeping as he is still recording, notices that someone has found him in the attic. MJ is standing in the doorway, and Peter has no idea how long she has been there or how much she has overheard. MJ simply looks at Peter and tells him to tell Gwen that she loves her, she misses her, and she will see her again…

The Art of Spider-Man Blue

Tim Sale is an absolute genius with his art style. The amount of attention to detail in facial close-ups is out of this world. Being able to use rough lines to capture pivotal emotions while leaving enough room for Steve Buccellato to work his magic with colors is utterly astonishing. Typically, in our modern comic book era, a book with color(s) in the title typically means that color(s) are the only one(s) used. Not in this case. Yes, the color blue is used many times as a background color to panels as well as for shading. Which is a beautiful touch to this story.

My Thoughts on Spider-Man Blue

Spider-Man Blue is one of those stories that tears at your heart strings. I was warned when this book was recommended to me by a fellow comic book fan, to have some tissues ready when reading this story. That individual was not wrong. This story is so emotionally told with its amazing dialogue that it brought tears to my eyes. Loeb and Sale did the telling of Peter and Gwen’s story so much justice that it rightfully deserves to be placed on the mantel of greatest Spider-Man arcs of all time. Do not refrain from getting a copy of this collection with a bias that it is just another “romance” story. This is worth having in your collection, and I urge you to secure a copy for yours.

My Grade: 10/10

To see the entire Marvel Color Series: Marvel Color Series

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