These questions were taken from posters on The One, True Spider-Girl Message Board. Questions can be submitted there or e-mailed to me. These answers where taken from various interviews and the source comic, and strive towards a degree of objectivity. Questions of a subjective nature are attempted to be answered objectively, however a degree of the personal opinion of the web master is only included in the further exploration of a subjective truth. Updates and corrections from the creators and the fans are welcomed.
Q: Who is Spider-Girl?
May “Mayday” Parker, the daughter of Spider-Man and Mary Jane, who has inherited her father’s amazing spider-like powers.
Q: When does this comic take place?
Approximately 15 years into the future of the main Marvel continuity. Howerver, since the original What If story, over a year has passed in the continuity at this time.
Q: What happened to Peter's leg?
During his final battle with Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin, a terrible explosion occurred which killed Norman and mangled Spider-Man’s leg. Going to the Fantastic Four for medical treatment, Mr Fantastic was forced to amputate Peter’s leg.
Q: When did Spider-Girl first appear?
May “Mayday” Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Girl, first appeared in What If? Vol. 2 #115 in 1998.
Q: What happened to the Parkers' baby in the regular Spider-Man books?
When Mary Jane gave birth to May, a nurse was there who was secretly working for Norman Osborn. The nurse took the baby away, and Mary Jane was told later on that the baby was stillborn. Later on, that same nurse was seen cradling a small package and telling Norman Osborn that she had “the package” that he wanted. The woman told Norman that she had become “attached to it”, and Norman told the woman to “look out for the package” and keep it hidden on his yacht.
Q: What is MC2?
It’s short for “Marvel Comics Two”, the imprint which originally hosted the Spider-Girl comic. Since the discontinuation of all the other books in that imprint, Marvel officially labels the universe the “981”. However, fans of Spider-Girl still use “MC2” (or MC-2) to describe this reality. Alternatively called “Spider-Girl’s World”.
Back in 1998, Tom DeFalco wondered what it would be like if Peter had a baby who grew up to be a hero. In conference calls between Bob Harras and Ron Frenz, the story was given life in What If? Vol. 2 #115, a series that was destined for cancellation shortly thereafter. The outpour of support from the fans inspired further adventures in this alternate future. Planned originally to be distributed to Wal-Mart store in “comic bags” of three comics each, Tom and Ron drew up the blueprints and molded the original MC2 books which included Spider-Girl, J2 and A-Next in the first year, and Wild Thing and Fantastic Five planned for the second year. Tom modeled Mayday’s behavior and relationship with her father on a niece of his.
Regretfully the Wal-Mart distribution plans were scrapped, and all MC2 titles except for Spider-Girl were scrapped along with them despite the fact that at the time the MC2 books were selling phenomenally well in the market. Fan interest and support, however, where enough to preserve Spider-Girl from cancellation with issue #17.
Q: Who are the other MC2 heroes?
There’s lots! Please refer to freewebs.com/savemayday for a synopsis of the other books of the MC2 universe.
Q: Weren't there other MC2 books?
In the first year of the MC2 there was A-Next and J2. Both ran for 12 issues.
In the second year, there was Wild Thing and The Fantastic Five. The MC2 imprint was cut short in the second year, and so both series only ran for 5 issues.
There were two limited series at the start of the third year. Darkdevl and The Buzz. Both ran for 3 issues.
In 2005, Last Hero Standing ran for five issues.
In 2006, the “sequel” to Last Hero Standing will be Last Planet Standing.
Q: Have fans really saved this comic from cancellation?
Yes. According to all official sources, each cancellation was indeed genuine. Although the series is constantly under threat of cancellation, the most serious incidents came during –
Spider-Girl #17 – A petition from the fans saved it during this issue.
Spider-Girl #38 – A combination of a petition and a letter writing campaign saved it.
Spider-Girl #61 – A massive and unrelenting letter writing campaign from a united fanbase who did not want to see the book perish brought the book back from the dead even after the book was already canceled for a full month before Marvel informed the fans.
Spider-Girl #100 – A massive and unrelenting letter writing campaign combined with letters to the mass media AND fliers promoting the series throughout the entire country from a united fanbase will save the book again!
Q: Who is Darkdevil?
Reilly Tyne, the son of Ben Reilly. To save his life when Reilly’s body started to show signs of “clone degeneration”, Kaine invoked Zarathus, the Spirit of Vengeance. The spirit of the recently slain Daredevil, Matt Murdock, battled Zarathus for possession of the boy’s body. Both spirits now inhabit Reilly Tyne’s body in a precarious balance between justice and vengeance!
Q: Who is the Buzz?
Jack Jameson, the grandson of J. Jonah Jameson and son of John Jameson. He named himself after a fallen friend who was like a surrogate father to him. He works closely with his friend, Richie Robertson, who supplies tech support.
Currently Jack Jameson believes that Spider-Girl is none other than a police woman at Midtown High thanks to a simple mistake when Richie backtraced a spider-tracer found on the Buzz’s battlesuit.
Q: Is J. Jonah Jameson still around?
Yes. He is the publisher of the Daily Bugle. He still hates Spider-Man, but has mellowed somewhat in his old age. He considers Spider-Girl to be a decent hero who has picked the wrong person to emulate.
Q: Is Davida Kirby Ladyhawk?
Probably not, but it’s something that Tom DeFalco delights in teasing about!
The Ladyhawks are sisters, and daughters of a slain crime lord. However there is a strong resemblance between the Ladyhawks and Davida Kirby.
Q: If Normie Osborn is in the Venom symbiote, then who's the Green Goblin
It’s Phil Urich.
During the 1990’s in the main Marvel continuity, Phil Urich was a hapless college drop-out and intern at the Daily Bugle. One day he discovered one of Harry Osborn’s secret “Goblin Lairs”. Taking an accidental dip in goblin goo and putting on a goblin mask to scare some pursuing thugs, Phil became the “Good Goblin” for a short while until his equipment was irrevocably damaged.
In the MC2, Phil missed his old costume days. Normie Osborn has taken Phil under his wing, and is supplying him with the equipment needed to continue being the Green Goblin. This, however, does not sit well with Fury, the Goblin Queen, who wants Normie to take up his “rightful” heritage, and despises Phil for being a weakling.
Q: Is the MC2 really the future?
It’s a possible future. Although many Spider-Girl fans would argue strongly that it is a “should be” future!
Q: When did the MC2 diverge from the main continuity?
During the “Gathering of Five” arc, Spider-Man killed Norman Osborn. Also, in the MC2 reality, Aunt May was the person who died in ASM #400. Mayday was the baby that Allison Mongrain had stolen from birth, and was later rescued by Kaine.
Q: Is Uncle Phil really May's uncle?
No. Phil Urich works closely with Peter Parker at the Midtown Police Department as police scientists. Phil was a close friend of the Parker family for a long time, and May has bonded to him as an uncle.
Q: Did Mayday ever meet Aunt May?
Twice.
In Spider-Girl #10-#11, she went back into time and met her namesake in person.
In Spider-Girl #90, Mayday had a vision of her departed Aunt May.
Q: What powers does Mayday have?
Spider-Girl has the ability to adhere to any surface, although she must concentrate to do so. She can lift five tons over her head, and make vertical leaps of almost 20 feet. Though hardly a physical match for her father in his prime, Spider-Girl is far more agile.
The spider-like adhesive powers of the Parker family are bio-magnetic in origin. A freak accident with electricity has enhanced some of Mayday's powers. She can bio-magnetically "repulse" objects from her hands with terrific force. In addition, she can "magnetize" any surface she comes in contact with, causing anything touching that surface to adhere to it. The range of this power is unknown.
Spider-Girl also inhereted Ben Reilly's web shooters. In addition to shooting webs and creating web constructs, it's also been modified to fire impact webbing and "stingers". It even has room for a cell phone!
In the past, Spider-Girl has also used a "spider-spot light" fitted to her web shooters. She has also used her father's spider tracers before with the help of a tracking device (her spider-sense is of a different "frequency" from that of her father's).
Her spider-sense is also much more sensitive than her father’s. Not only does it warn her of imminent danger, it also allowing her to track people with powers or criminal intent within a certain range even if they’re not threatening her. It also allows her to “sense” a villain’s weakest point.
Q: How many people know Spider-Girl's secret identity?
Confirmed in the MC2, the people who know are --
Peter Parker (father)
Mary Jane (mother)
Phil Urich (close family friend)
Felicity Hardy (daughter of Felicia Hardy)
John Storm, the Human Torch
Reed Richards, Mr Fantastic
Ben Grimm, The Thing
Allison Mongrain (the woman who kidnapped Mayday as a baby)
Kaine (failed clone of Peter Parker)
Normie Osborn
Presumably, although not yet confirmed,
Wild Thing
Wolverine
Franklin Richards
Felicia Hardy
Q: What color are Mayday's eyes?
Official Marvel sources have it listed as “brown”. It’s often been colored blue in the comic book. Ron Frenz once described her eyes as “green/blue”.
Q: What is A-Next?
A is next to B.
(Kidding.)
A-Next was the comic book title featuring the MC2 Avengers. It ran for 12 issues from 1998 to 1999.
Q: What happened to the Avengers?
A trip to a parallel universe devastated the ranks of the original Avengers, killing many and maiming even more. Hank Pym was killed, and Janet Van Dyne went insane and died. Hercules went insane from seeing so many of his friends die. Hawkeye suffered a terrible trauma to his eyes. Known survivors include Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Hercules, Captain America and the Scarlet Witch. It has yet to be revealed if there were any further casualties on that trip, but it was enough damage to cause the Avengers to disband 10 years prior to the events in the MC2.
Q: How is American Dream related to Captain America?
Shannon Carter is related to Sharon Carter, a close friend of Captain America. Inspired by tales of Captain America as a young girl, Shannon honed herself into a top athlete.
Q: What happened to Valeria Meghan Richards?
To date, that is still unrevealed.
Q: Is Ben Grimm really married to Sharon Ventura?
At the present time, no. They’re divorced. However, they do have two children: Jacob and Allyce. They are trying to follow in their father’s footsteps by becoming members of the Fantastic Five. Jacob has inherited his father’s rugged good looks, and has taken the name of “Grim”. Allyce, whose superhero name is “Rad”, can create a “radiation aura” around herself which allows her to fly, and fire bolts of radioactive energy.
Q: Who is Gene Thompson... and how come we haven't seen him yet? (the second part of the question is possibly more of a question for Tom DeFalco) 
The son of Flash Thompson.
The reason we haven’t seen him yet is because he’s going to marry May Parker in the final issue, so stop asking that question!
(Kidding … maybe.)
Q: Is Coach Thompson the same as Flash Thompson?
Yes. A few pounds heavier and a few years older, but Eugene Thompson sr no longer uses the nickname, “Flash”. He teaches girl’s basketball and gym class at Midtown High.
Q: Is Blacklight really the daughter of Monica Rambeau and Derek Freeman?
It has not been officially revealed, however Tom DeFalco, the creator of the character, has strongly hinted that this is indeed the case.
Q: You mean the fans actually made a difference in the company's decision?
Yes. The decision still rests with the company, but many fans taking the time to write a real letter and mailing it in makes a powerful statement.
Q: What's so great about this book that you'd go to all this effort again and again?
Literature draws much of its power from being an experience for the reader. Literary greatness, therefore, is an experience and not always something easily quantifiable in universal terms. One could say that Huckleberry Finn is great, but to another it could be experienced as an overhyped chaotic anti-plot.
The experience of many Spider-Girl fans for the book is that, unlike various reinterpretations and reinventions, Spider-Girl is actually a direct continuation of the Spider-Man story. The inherent goodness of the character endears Mayday to many readers, and the stories and continuity that it draws from appeals to many fans of “old school”. The stories are compressed, easy to follow, complicated in structure, and provides a great experience to the fans of the book.
The creative team listens to the fans, and constantly strive to improve the book. Readers who give the book a try right now will be hooked.
It’s a book that no parent would be fearful to hand to their child, and it’s enjoyable by boys, girls, men and women. It seeks to embrace a wide audience. Many who truly wish that the comics industry would break out of the direct market see this book as great model of what comics used to be and could be again.
In short, it’s the perceived uniqueness of Spider-Girl and the MC2 which many fans feel are precious enough to defend because that which is precious is often rare.
Ron Frenz once said that the relationship between Spider-Girl fans and the creative team was reminiscent of the relationship Stan Lee enjoyed with the fans. This is not wholly accurate. Shared adversity and a common struggle to promote and improve conditions brings with it over time unbreakable bonds of camaraderie between fans and creators.
Q: Who is Tom DeFalco?
Some funny looking guy from New York. He got his big break in comics by interning at Archie Comics in the early 1970s. A prolific writer and former Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, and writer of Spider-Girl, his writing credits are so vast that even Tom himself has a hard time remembering everything that he’s done. He claims to be older than 25, although some would think he is immortal as there is a striking resemblance between him and Odin.
Q: You mean the same guy has written the whole thing? Isn't that unusual?
It is not without precedence. Stan Lee’s 100 issue run on Spider-Man is nothing compared to Will Eisner’s run on The Spirit, and Charles Shultz’s nearly 50 years on Peanuts. For decades Joe Kubert has told (and continues to author) many Sgt Rock stories for DC Comics.
For many fans, the thought of an MC2 Spider-Girl without Tom DeFalco is similar in idea to a Peanuts with Charles Schultz. His sensitive and respectful approach to the book, and relationship to the characters and the fans themselves endears it to many as something more than just a story.
Q: What's with that costume? Where'd it come from?
Spider-Girl’s first costume was a spare Ben Reilly costume that Mayday found in the attic. At the end of the first Spider-Girl story, the costume was destroyed in a fire by Peter and Mary Jane. Determined to save lives in a world more interested in punishing the guilty, Mayday later went on to sew together a second costume based on the original Ben Reilly design. This costume was destroyed in Spider-Girl #59 in battle with Seth. The superhero community presented Spider-Girl with a third costume of similar design in Spider-Girl #60. This too was destroyed due to an unfortunate laundry mishap, and Spider-Girl bought a black costume from a fashion boutique. This costume was also destroyed one issue later when Mayday tore it off to calm her frightened mother. Later on, Spider-Girl was presented with an entire wardrobe full of black and classic styled costumes by Black Tarantula. While wearing the black costume upon occasion, Mayday favors the classic Ben Reilly design. Following the events of Last Hero Standing, Mary Jane was forced to burn Mayday’s costume once more. However, since she has several crates full of spare costumes thanks to Black Tarantula, it is unlikely that Spider-Girl will be running out of anymore costumes no matter how many get destroyed, ruined or thrown away.
Q: Isn't this just another teenaged spin-off book?
If one does not take into consideration the uniqueness of the book in contemporaneous comparison to other comic books, then yes.
Tom DeFalco was once quoted in an interview as saying that Spider-Girl was a female spin-off. However, considering the uniqueness of the book, he is wrong. In the MC2, Spider-Girl is not in competition with Spider-Man. Indeed, she is the only member of the Parker family to actively engage in heroics as her father is now retired. She reflects his legacy into the future and is a continuation AND expansion of the Spider-Man story in the world of the MC2.
