Happy 20th anniversary to the neighbourhood-friendly female web-slinger, Spider-girl!
The first time May “Mayday” Parker appeared in What If? Volume 2: #105 on February 1st, 1998. The story didn’t follow the main series storyline, but an off-shoot in an alternate universe. In the Clone Saga, Spider-man’s love, Mary Jane Watson miscarried their child. What if the baby had survived as a healthy, bouncing baby girl and later exhibited her father’s same powers? The issue garnered enough interest to launch her own title. Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz set to work creating the spunky May Parker.
I will fully admit that I did not grow up reading Spider-girl. I discovered her while on a personal quest a few years back. I was part of superhero costume charity group called S.O.S.I. (Society of Secret Identities) in Nashville. The main female superhero costumes (Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, etc.) were already being done by other ladies in the group, so I was curious to see if there was another popular, role model female superhero to inspire the kids I’d be visiting. Spider-man was definitely the most popular character by far at whatever charity event we did. Besides a fun personality, I think that might have been due to the fact that his poses were crouches or squats, so he was at the kids’ eye level and therefore felt more approachable. I wanted to capture some of that, especially with shy little girls, so when I discovered Spider-girl in 2010, I set to work finding out what I could about her.
Via a Facebook superhero costuming group, I found a talented costumer, Kino Karou, in the Philippines who specializes in Spider-verse suits. He made this beautiful suit that was set to arrive me to for Dragoncon 2014. But, the day it arrived, I was at Grady hospital fighting for my life after a near-fatal car accident. It took me another year of physical therapy before I could even try on the suit. But it didn’t stop Michael Rivera and I from planning to shoot when I could!
We finally got that opportunity on a warm evening of which we had exactly ONE HOUR to get me dressed, on a rooftop to shoot at golden hour, and get me out of the suit. AND WE DID IT!
Photography: Foto Mike
Suit: Kino Karou
Webshooters: Red Hand Regalia
This was a great series.
Miss Lamb, you make an amazing Spider-Girl! The photos are very inspirational and heroic. I hope if a Spider-Girl movie is someday made, that you will get the role of May “Mayday” Parker.
Haven’t even looked yet but… SPIDER-MAN!!!! I AM LOVING YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!
YES!!!! Awesome pics and your suit is phenomenal.
You’re also such an amazing person for all that you went through at that time and getting yourself back in actiom for that charity event. They will remember that day forever. Got a lil in awe of you Ms. Briana.
Aww, thank you! I wish I could do more charity events, but my suit keeps breaking. @_@