Random Back Issues #61 - Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #19

It was difficult for Flash to make his friends understand that trying to meet Spider-Man by causing lots of grease fires was a good plan, actually.

We last looked at this series 14 months ago, in the Before Times. When thoughts of working from home didn't even exist in my mind. At that point, MJ and Harry were both deemed the biggest flirts in school. Now, the two of them are dating. Like drawn to like.

This issue is mostly about Flash, though, who is sleeping a lot in school and during practice, and hearing about it from his girlfriend Liz constantly. No one knows what's happening, but while on a date with Harry, Mary Jane happens to spy Flash in the kitchen. His dad lost his job, and his new job doesn't pay a well, so Flash is helping support the family. He doesn't want Harry or Liz to know, because they'll either give him a lot of grief, or Harry will just give him a lot of money. Self-sufficiency is nice, but Flash admits that if he does well in football and keeps his grades up he could get a full ride to college. So maybe he should accept help that allows for that.

 

Spidey shows up at MJ's door as she gets home, hoping to talk, but she asks if they can wait until tomorrow. He agrees and swings back off into the night. The next day, MJ goes against Flash's wishes and tells Harry and Liz anyway. Harry laughs and offers money, Liz complains a lot about Flash not telling her (while making some hilarious facial expressions.) Swell friends. Still, when she insists they all need to help Flash somehow, those two listen.

MJ meets Spidey for a rooftop chat. He's dating Firestar (completely forgot about that) and she wants them to reveal their secret identities to each other. He's hesitant because there's another girl he's still hung up on and not sure about. If he shows Firestar who he is, that's a serious step, and he doesn't want to take that if he's still thinking about this other girl. Sensible enough, I suppose. MJ says it's a sign of how good a person he is this worries him, and that he should trust himself to make the right choice. 

 

When she gets home, she finds Liz and Harry waiting, who have come up with a way to help Flash. Harry bought him a pillow that'll help him sleep better, designed by a 'rocket scientist or something.' Liz got him a coffee pot with an alarm clock, so he'll have a 'fresh dose of piping hot caffeine waiting' in the morning. She also tells Flash she's gonna yell at him, but not today. Mary Jane was going to get Peter Parker to tutor Flash, but realized that was a bad idea. Flash agrees. Yeah, Peter's got better things to do than help a guy who makes his life miserable. Like saving lots of ungrateful dickhead New Yorkers from the Vulture or something.

The issue ends with Flash thanking Harry, and Felicia Hardy (who previously made Liz very insecure about her relationship with Flash) apparently setting her sights on the Osborn heir. There's only one issue left, so I'm pretty sure most of these plotlines did not get resolved.

 

Also, there's a Mini-Marvels back-up where the Hulk tries to follow everyone's advice when he takes Betty on a date. But Thunderbolt Ross sends a robot to spy on them and a fight breaks out. Lots of references to not trying any "funny stuff" and Bill Cosby which, yeah.

[10th longbox, 119th comic. Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #19, by Sean McKeever (writer), David Hahn (artist), Christina Strain (colorist), Dave Sharpe (letterer). Mini-Marvels "Hulk Date", by Chris Giarrusso (writer/artist)]