This issue delivers on the claim that it would shake up the status quo. The story takes a decided turn away from the previous story arc and creates an all-new starting point that is accessible to new readers and reinvents the series for current readers. Dennis Hopeless finally brings us up to speed on Spider-Woman's backstory and along with the vibrant and energetic art of Javier Rodriguez, superbly sets up the series for what's to come. I can't help but think that this is what the first issue in the series should have been. If the creative team continues to work this well together, I'll definitely be sticking around to see where they take us next. Read Full Review

It was a pleasure to pick up a book about my favorite super-lady in the Marvel Universe and not cringe; it was an absolute treat to read a book that got me so excited about new possibilities for said super-lady. Hopeless and Rodriguez have put their best foot forward with this issue. Hopefully well be treated to more supporting cast members, fancy fight-moves, and self-deprecating Spider-humor as we go forward. Read Full Review

Dennis Hopeless has done the biggest turnaround in recent memory with Spider-Woman #5. This is the real beginning of this series and this looks like it’ll be the Spider-Woman book that we were hoping for. It’s fun, light-hearted and best of all character driven. If you haven’t checked out this book or dropped it during Spider-Verse, I would recommend you come back to check it out, it’s awesome! Read Full Review

Spider-Woman #5, in a lot of ways, is the best and truest indictment of editorial interference in the development of a title - if Hopeless and Rodriguez had produced a comic like this four issues ago, Jessica Drew would be talked about in the same excited tones as Batgirl, She-Hulk, Spider-Gwen and Squirrel Girl. But with this massive turnaround in quality, Spider-Woman has proven to be fashionably late to the party. You'd be forgiven if you were turned off by this book's first arc - but it'd be downright criminal not to give Jessica Drew a second chance. Read Full Review

Spider-Woman #5 marks a new direction for Jessica Drew. With an interesting mystery to solve, fun art, and the inclusion of Ben Urich, this issue establishes the beginning of an exciting, action-packed arc for Spider-Woman. Read Full Review

Yet the most obvious thing that will be taken away from the art is the new costume design for Spider-Woman. Gone is the classic body suit in favor of a much more street-level costume. I could actually see this new costume fitting wonderfully in the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Spider-Woman. I enjoy the new look and the new direction of the book — then again I also happen to be somewhat in love with Spider-Woman so you may have to judge for yourself. Read Full Review

Spider-Woman #1 is what this series should have been from the start. The writing and art are very human and personable, and that's exactly what I want from comics these days. Read Full Review

In short, it's a very likeable book, and part of me wishes that #1-4 were a "Spider-Woman: Spider-Verse" limited, and this were actually the first issue of the book, but I suspect that the sales bump as a crossover may have been a shrewd move on Marvel's part. Spider-Woman #5 is a great-looking book that reads well, features excellent dialogue, intriguing plot points, and a really cool new costume, proving that there's more to the character than her tight costume and hindquarter. Read Full Review

Spider-Woman#5 reads likea cheerierAliaswith more varied panel constructions. Rodriguez'sart can showan intense conversation between Jessicaand Urich usingan old school nine panel grid oranaerial takedown shaped like the symbol on her new costume. This kind of storytelling rangealong with Hopeless' crackling dialogueand the return of Ben Urich make the new era of Spider-Womana bright, if rainy one. Read Full Review

Also great is the line work crafted by new series artist Javier Rodriguez. His kinetic, colorful pages further the feeling of newness to the read, his panels light and well-choreographed. The artist shows a gift for movement in his first issue, utilizing subtle shifts in position and facial cues to convey a number of different emotions both silly and serious. His action beats are also heads and tales above what we've seen before, Spider-Woman's new costume as fun in action as it is functional. All told, Spider-Woman #5 feels like a completely different book. More importantly, its one we want to read. Read Full Review

Jessica Drew wants to change her life. Aided by Hopeless' visible enthusiasm and Marvel editorial's willingness to adapt, it's pretty damned easy to get excited about that. Read Full Review

As much fun as I've had with the series so far, the previous issue and especially this one now really have me feeling like we're seeing Jessica's journey, which is what I really wanted out of this book. I'm feeling very optimistic after this issue to see what's to come next. Read Full Review

What is evident about this issue is that the creative team has the potential to pull this together, and only begs the question why they were not allowed to do that in the first place before all the controversy and all the misdirection (in which case Batgirling would be replaced by Spiderwomaning?) Regardless while this series and this story still has some ground to make up, and despite that some of the previous four issues read well as individual issues, this #5 feels like a #1 and perhaps there is hope yet for Jessica to get some of the attention that is deserved. Read Full Review

"Spider-Women #5" is a solid start for the new Spider-Women as she goes from working with the mightiest group of super heroes ever, to a solo career. She doesn't have the best of luck, but that doesn't stop her from trying again and again. Read Full Review

The tone and the unique little hook in this arc is sure to engage readers new and old. Read Full Review

As far as new starts go, they dont get much better than this. Drews shed a lot of her previous attachments, giving her a real chance at a new beginning freed from a great many of the constraints, both for the character and the stories she could be involved with, of S.H.I.E.L.D. and even the Avengers. Its time for her to re-establish herself and Hopeless and Rodriguez are absolutely on the right track as far as that goes. Read Full Review

Spider-Woman is not a character as old as Spider-Man but she was in need of an upgrade nonetheless. She's more modern, more approachable for a new reader and visually, looks like she belongs in 2015. “Spider-Woman” #5 is a true winner that has won over at least one new fan. Read Full Review

"Spider-Woman" #5 feels like the first issue of the series. Hopeless has reinvigorated the character in 20 pages with a new mission, a new outlook and a new cast. There is a conspiracy afoot involving low-level Marvel characters disappearing in this arc and, the last time Hopeless dealt with these themes in "Avengers Arena," he knocked them out of the park. This is an excellent debut by a stellar creative team and is more than worth the price of admission. Read Full Review

This is definitely better than the first issue and more in line with the way Marvel has been known to treat its female characters lately, but it still has little problems that make it seem almost rushed. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's what I see when I read this issue. Read Full Review

It's obvious to see that the book has taken a leaf, at least artistically and in the shape of a new costume, from Batgirl. Is this a good thing; I don't know, but this issue was interesting enough to remain on my pull list till at least the not so Secret War event. Read Full Review

New costume - new status quo! Comparisons to Batgirl are inevitable, but while Babs’ change was out of the blue, Jessica’s ‘young-life crisis’ comes off natural and honest. Plus she’s far more self-aware and mature (she owns up to her gaffes). Javier Rodriguez handles the art chores and does some first-class work: I love the blue color scheme in that rain soaked opening, as well as the flow of his action scenes - from the tilt of the motorcycle tearing through the streets, to Jess’ acrobatic movements in battle. It all looks positively cinematic.

And I was about to drop it..

It's going to be difficult not to think of Batgirl every time a hero gets a new costume and brings major change to their lives, but I see very little comparison there. Batgirl's change was not necessarily for the best (at first at least) whereas Spider-Woman's is a definitive improvement. This book is taking an exciting new direction, the art is amazing and I can't wait to see where the story takes us.

Marvel got their Batgirl. It works for the character, although there is A LOT of talking in the issue. Hopeless writes a pretty good wit for her voice and the new Hawkeye/She-Hulk look and vibe may be a good time for the character.
The art is fine. All in all, a decent issue.
Other than the costume there does not seem to be a "status-altering" shift, per-say as much as a friend who stops posting all their angst on social media.
Could be a fun enough ride and nothing drastic that can not be undone in an issue or two when they decide it is time to have her return to super-hero trappings and not street brawling.

This is so much better than the utter tripe that was Jess in SpiderVerse. But, for all the hype from the author that this is the story he wanted to write it’s a bit all over the shop, and I am not certain he really knows who Jess is. On the very first page he makes a school boy error about Jess’ past lovers that a quick glance at Wikipedia could have corrected.

Jess comes over as a low rent Spider-Man doling out, not very funny, one liners Including one about that cover which would have been best forgotten entirely, especially considering how sexist the writer himself was in SpiderVerse.

The plot doesn’t do too much, Jessica makes a rookie error because she is too keen, which is disappointing as it makes her look thick really, but the pay off scene in the jail of her being forced to play Charades is pretty funny, as Jess would absolutely hate that.

The new costume is not my cup of tea, if you’re going to be a Private Eye, wearing a really noticeable leather jacket seems like a dull choice to make, it’s a bit too Jessica Jones as well so doesn’t really scream new identity. Speaking of which, if it has wing pits why does Jess need a motorcycle?

And that is my worry. Too much here seems to be done because “it’s cool”, not because it suits Jess.

And the art is the same. One or two images took my breath away, the rest was so inconsistent that at one point Jess was drawn looking 3 foot tall and dumpy,

I was looking forward to this fresh start but am beginning to worry.



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