Review: Spider-Woman Motion Comic # 1 by Todd Matthy

Everyone’s been talking about Motion Comics lately but unfortunately most of them are dramatizations of previous released material, until Marvel came along with “Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D.” by the Daredevil team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.
The first issue was a typical Bendis opening chapter. Jessica Drew is having trouble dealing with the Skrull Queen assuming her form to lead the “Secret Invasion.” Contemplating suicide, she receives a mysterious envelope from Abigail Brand, leader of the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, otherwise known as S.W.O.R.D. Meeting on a bus, Abigail makes Jessica an offer she can’t refuse, to join S.W.O.R.D and help them apprehend renegade Skrulls. Jessica joins, beginning her journey in Madripoor where she is accosted by her male counterpart…or is she?
I have to say that the Spider-Woman Motion Comic is head over heels better then the Watchmen. From the onset the combination of art, dialogue, music, and sound effects come together to create a nourish mood that is a reflection of the characters plight. Bendis’s Jessica Drew is written a normal woman whose been violated, making her relatable despite her extraordinary experiences. Bendis’s script is complemented by the art of Alex Maleev. Still, dark, and moody Maleev’s art sucks you into the dark world of Jessica Drew and is enhanced by the motion effects of Motherland, creating a the visual experience of a moving painting. The bass heavy music and sound effects of Simplissimus are reminiscent of “Blade Runner” and the original “Terminator” creating an atmosphere of constant tension and danger. Then there is the weakest link, the voice acting.
Nicolette Reed does a decent job portraying Jessica Drew. The main problem I found was her accent seemed to shift from British to Eastern European. She also had a tendency to over-emote at times. Still, this is only the first chapter so there’s plenty of room for improvement. Stephanie K. Thomas’s Abigail Brand could use some work. During her conversation with Jessica I couldn’t tell who was speaking at times due to the similarity in voice.
Overall, the Spider-Woman Motion Comic is off to a decent start. If I were to compare it to anything I would definitely say it reminds me of MTV’s animated adaptation of Sam Kieth’s “The Maxx”. If you are a fan of the animated “Maxx” or loved Bendis and Maleev’s Daredevil I highly recommend you give it a shot. After all it is only .99 cents.