I agree with you. Last issue was better. The heavy focus on Mysterio's (frightening? lovable?) antics, his artistic vision, and budget issues feels like a mistake this issue. It's just hard to have much motivation to care about whether or not Mysterio gets to make a movie. Maybe if it felt like there was more at stake for MJ personally.
Alternatively, if this was even just a bit more connected and complementary to Spider-Man--but with a primary focus on Mary Jane, her interests, and her perspective--it would be a much more valuable addition. In fact, that's much more how the first issue felt, and to me it worked a lot better.
I mean, it's MJ's big break back into acting, and she believes in Mysterio's vision for the movie. How's that not a personal stake? And she's the one who manages to come through with the money (and suggests how 'cage' can reinvent himself to get it).
And how could it be connected to Spider-Man? They're on different coasts, and the movie doesn't actually have much to do with Peter personally. It's the Amazing Mary Jane. You want Spider-Man, he's got his own book.
Honestly, I like where it's going and I'm on board with it.
I don’t necessarily think this is a case of MJ not being strong enough on her own. This is just a bad concept right now. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying I want a MJ ongoing or anything like that. I’m firmly against that. But I do think MJ could handle a series much better then what’s being shown now.
I feel like I must have read a different issue because the views in this thread aren’t as visceral as mine lol. To each their own.. I understand that. However I can’t see anything positive from this issue. It was just so bad and it does nothing to showcase the magic of the MJ character. I typically give issues an additional read through after I’m done but there’s no way I could stomach getting through this again.
In theory, yes, MJ has a stake. I would have been happier if the issue had invested more in playing up MJ's motivation and interests and spent less attention on Mysterio's. But it's just one issue, and I'm still on board overall. I simply thought the first issue was stronger.
Frontier mentioned the concept being a good idea, and I agree. I was commenting on the concept, not this particular storyline. In terms of the concept of Mary Jane having her own book, I like having Peter play a role as a supporting character (much as I like having MJ show up as not just a supporting character but an essential character in Amazing). But even that doesn't have to be every issue.
I agree.