That’s not supposed to be Rumi, is it?
Spider-Man: The Manga #3
Marvel Comics (January, 1998)
WRITER/ARTIST: Ryochi Ikegami
TRANSLATION: Mutsumi Masuda & C.B. Cebulski
RETOUCH/PRODUCTION: Dan Natrosis
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
Electro manages to escape, but the man who gave him his powers (we later learn it was after Electro accidentally hit the man’s child and was manipulated to help him rob banks to further his research as Electro) is having second thoughts between all the death and Electro’s growing obsession. At a shopping center Yu takes Rumi to Electro attacks again and Spider-Man fights him once more. The inventor is killed, telling Electro that with him dead nobody can return him to normal and he can never touch anyone again without electrocuting them. Not that it matters because Spider-Man manages to overcharge and kill Electro, who is revealed to be Rumi’s brother. He had taken different jobs in the hopes of paying his debt but ended up being turned into Electro instead. Rumi morns the loss of her brother but doesn’t blame Spider-Man, returning home with the money to help her mother thanks to the reward. In fact everyone thinks Spider-Man is a hero…except for Yu Komori, who IS Spider-Man.
What they got right: I’m sure I’m not the only one who saw the reveal coming but this version of Electro is a lot more interesting that the usual American version. Spidey gets to be celebrated rather than hated but in a reverse it’s Spider-Man who questions if he did good. Yu isn’t Peter and the differences are a curiosity worth exploring.
What they got wrong: So why is the only interesting Electro the one who gets killed off? Don’t expect a lot of repeat villains in this incarnation, folks.
What did I think overall: A good introduction to this take on Spider-Man and we’ll see if the trend continues as the comic goes on.
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