Warning! Spoilers to Spider-Woman #13 below!
Spider-Woman's comic allowed her to finally get revenge for her controversial cover art scandal from 2014. When a sexually suggestive variant cover was published, the wave of negative criticism and backlash was intense enough to have her consider a new wardrobe for a while. While her current series shows her life in disarray due to juggling responsibilities as a superhero and a parent, Jessica Drew finally gets to blow off some steam and get some revenge when someone makes an unwanted comment about her costume and backside.
Ever since a childhood sickness saw her injected with a serum that gave her superpowers, Jessica Drew's life has been nothing but complicated, her history with Hydra conflicting with her later experience with both SHIELD and as a member of the Avengers. Although a Skrull's impersonation of Jessica during the Secret Invasion hurt her reputation, Spider-Woman's original costume was redesigned by artist Kris Anka as Jessica became pregnant, giving birth to her son Gerry.
In Spider-Woman #13 by Karla Pacheco and Pere Perez, Jessica is not in the mood to deal with the criminal Fireball breaking into her apartment after her long-time boyfriend Roger left, having felt neglected by Jessica who had been overwhelmed with the events of her superhero life. Fireball is looking for a disk containing secrets from the High Evolutionary whom Jessica had met to help save her ill niece Rebecca. Having chased Fireball throughout the subway, another criminal, Bruiser, picked up the defeated and bloody Fireball's package. The mercenary with the ability to change his center of mass to any part of his body gives Spider-Woman further pursuit, on foot and over water. Landing in Hoboken, NJ, Jessica pauses to learn Bruiser has hijacked a monster truck, leaving behind a trail of destruction when a faceless, long-haired biker says "Damn girl. That outfit makes your butt look-"
The primary criticism of the cover was how Spider-Woman was positioned, in a crouching position with her posterior angled provocatively up in the air. Although some argued that these kinds of covers have been published and purchased in comics for years, the media and fans were so against this that Marvel gave Jessica a new look that unfortunately did not last long. Although characters adapt and change their appearance in response to popular interest, storylines, or trends, Jessica's original costume eventually made a comeback. In this case, the creators show Jessica during another rough patch in her life, chasing criminals throughout New York and into New Jersey. When she finds she's still behind, some greasy jerk creeps without a shirt comes by and makes a snide comment, the creators' subtle reference to her 2014 controversy by saying that her spandex costume makes her butt stand out.
The comics genre has long been criticized for its unrealistic portrayal and depiction of female superheroes such as the Birds of Prey, Spider-Woman's cover art controversy was a sign that things were changing. While some of those changes appear to be temporary, Jessica Drew gives her opinion on the matter when she's later seen pursuing Bruiser on a motorcycle that she likely commandeered from the rude rider before. Although it would only continue to go downhill for Spider-Woman, one can assume that disgruntled motorcyclist will think twice before opening his mouth to say anything less than flattering to any woman, in or out of costume.
