The Death of Jean DeWolff
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"The Death of Jean DeWolff" is a story arc from the popular Marvel Comics comic book Spider-Man. It comprises the comics Spectacular Spider-Man #107 - #110 (1985). The storyline was produced by writer Peter David and penciller Rich Buckler.
In this arc, Peter Parker (Spider-Man) hunts down the person who murdered Jean DeWolff, one of his closest friends. When the murderer kills another person close to Daredevil, the two superheroes pair up to find the murderer. Over the course of the story, matters between both heroes become hostile as Spider-Man has much more militant ideas on how to deal with the killer than the lawyer Daredevil. When the two encounter the murderer, there is a shocking climax which redefines the relationship between the two superheroes. With this series, the strong professional friendship of the two New York adventurers was established.
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[edit] Synopsis
Shortly before Christmas, after capturing a trio of muggers assaulting a Mr. Popchick (a friend of his Aunt May's), Spider-Man learns that his close friend Captain Jean DeWolff has been killed in her sleep. Stricken with grief, he checks out the man in charge of the investigation, Sergeant Stan Carter. He tells him the killer calls himself the "Sin-Eater".
In the meanwhile, attorney Matt Murdock (Daredevil) is assigned to represent the muggers at their arraignment; he succeeds in getting them released on bail. Peter, who witnesses the hearing, is disgusted, and Matt also feels guilty. However, the judge —Murdock's friend and mentor— scoffs at Murdock, calling him soft and unwilling to do the dirty work of the law. Suddenly, a madman tries to shoot the judge. Unwilling to give away his secret identity in front of the judge, Murdock hesistates, and the assassin kills the judge and escapes in the bedlam. It is the Sin-Eater.
In the meanwhile, Spider-Man checks out Jean's apartment and makes a startling discovery: Jean was apparently romantically interested in him. This revelation makes the loss of the Captain twice as hard for Peter. At Jean's funeral, Murdock recognises Sin-Eater's heartbeat, but again, he refuses to speak out, not daring to blow his identity. Later that night, the priest who attended Jean's funeral hears the confession of an unknown man. After confessing, Sin-Eater shoots the priest in the face.
Feverishly, Daredevil and Spider-Man comb the underworld. Then a "Sin-Eater" attacks the Bugle, wanting to kill J. Jonah Jameson, who is on vacation. He is overwhelmed by Peter Parker in street clothes. The culprit is arrested, but Murdock - who can tell when people lie by listening to their heartbeat - is convinced they have the wrong man. In the meanwhile, Mr. Popchick steps into the subway and is threatened by teenage muggers. In self-defence, he pulls a gun, shoots and seriously injures one of the youths. He is arrested, and awaits a hard sentence.
Spider-Man and Daredevil find out that Carter is the Sin-Eater. Carter/Sin-Eater breaks into the Jameson house intending to kill JJJ, but only finds his secretary Betty Brant, who is watching over the house. Sin-Eater nearly shoots her, but the two superheroes save her. Sin-Eater then explains his "motivations" for his cold-blooded murders, infuriating Spider-Man.[1] Spider-Man loses it and beats Carter/Sin-Eater into a pulp, so severely that Daredevil has to pull him away. The two superheroes fight, Daredevil taunting Spider-Man as the real criminal, and Spidey accusing Daredevil for being a hypocrite who protects felons. In the end, Daredevil subdues Spider-Man, but feels dirty about himself.
Carter is brought to jail, and the news that a cop was a murderer shocks the city. Spider-Man and Daredevil watch as an angry mob gathers in front of the police station. Then, agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. come in and demand the police to give Carter to them, as Carter has been subject of a covert super drug project, is insane and therefore not responsible for his actions.[2] However, the mob forces itself into the station, threatening to lynch Carter. Daredevil throws himself in between, but is overwhelmed. When Spider-Man turns his back, Daredevil cries "Peter!", pleading him to save Carter. Spidey is so startled about hearing his real name that he obeys and swings both Carter and Daredevil into safety. Daredevil and Spider-Man exchange secret identities and discuss their matters. Matt also offers Peter any help the law can give him to free Aunt May's friend. In the end, the two heroes part in friendship.
[edit] Setting
During the whole arc, Peter David acknowledges he established a grim and gritty atmosphere,[3] in which the innocent and just are punished and the real villains go away unharmed. The muggers Peter rightfully arrests are freed for nothing; the priest who reads the dead judge's eulogy complains of racism and relates to a case where he himself was innocently charged; captions tell that Christmas donations are meagre, because of wariness and mistrust; the powerful SHIELD agents show disdain for the police; Sin-Eater himself escapes any form of punishment; and lastly, a burglar tricks a little girl into giving him her family's TV. This atmosphere reflected contemporary social issues, as New York at that time was notorious for its high crime rate. The side-plot which involves Mr. Popchick shooting teenage muggers in panic is also direct reference to the 1984 events involving the "Subway Vigilante" Bernhard Goetz, which took place only a year before.
Critics have noted[citation needed] that Spider-Man acts a bit out of character in this arc, mostly refraining from his typical in-fight bantering and sporting a strong "law and order" attitude towards crime. However, some have noted[citation needed] that he was highly distraught, as he was attempting to find the murderer of a close friend whom he had not had time to grieve, which would explain his frustration in the story. It's also been pointed out[citation needed] that Spider-Man was wearing his black outfit which appeared to make him more aggressive, but he was not wearing the symbiotic version, but a cloth version
[edit] Reception
The Death of Jean DeWolff is considered as one of the most popular and acclaimed Spider-Man arcs, collected by Wizard Magazine in its "Best of Spider-Man" hardcover edition.[4] This story was the first comic book assignment of Peter David, immediately moving him up into the A-list of comic book authors. However, he recalled mixed emotions about his arc. In a 1990 essay, David stated he was unnerved by the stream of fan mail demanding to bring DeWolff back, and how even editor Jim Owsley stated Jean "was not really dead". David however firmly refused to bring her back, arguing a resurrection in a comic book death-style would weaken the story.[5] David also stated that this story established him as a writer, but he was also pigeonholed as a writer of grim and gritty stories.[6]
[edit] Other versions
The Ultimate Marvel version of Jean DeWolff (Jeanne DeWolfe) died in Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Brooks. She was shot by the Punisher (who has a similar modus operandi to the Sin-Eater, but is usually shown as a protagonist) for being corrupt.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sin-Eater killed his victims, because he made them responsible for "grave sins" of society; The Judge represented the legal system, which let go of felons; the priest represented religion, which in his eyes, protected evil; J. Jonah Jameson represented the press, which hounded vigilantes like him; Jean DeWolff was killed, because Sin-Eater "felt like it". Later, a retcon revealed that Jean had been his ex-lover.
- ^ This was covered in more detail in a sequel storyline in Spectacular Spider-Man #134-136
- ^ Peter David: Operation Angel: Interviews & Features Archive - Comics Bulletin
- ^ Wizard Best of Spider-Man Limited Deluxe Hardcover: Available at Wizard Universe
- ^ PeterDavid.net: BID #2 - DEAD AND RECOVERING NICELY... (Aug. 3,1990)
- ^ Peter David: Operation Angel: Interviews & Features Archive - Comics Bulletin
