Trouble
“Trouble” by Mark Millar
Intro:
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has changed the modern blockbuster and changed the summer movie cycle (just ask Deadpool and Wolverine for example). So, everything Marvel related has a bit of a shine on it currently. And to be perfectly honest with you, I was not familiar with this limited run series gathered together into a single graphic novel, “Trouble.” To be clear, this is from legends at Marvel. Written by Mark Millar, who wrote “Kick-Ass,” "Kingsman," "Wanted," "Old Man Logan," "Civil War," "Superman: Red Son," etc.
Art direction from Joe Quesada, former Editor in Chief and Chief Creative Officer at Marvel, with hands in the productions "Daredevil," "Jessica Jones," and "Luke Cage" all within the MCU.
To see these stalwarts involved in something so widely panned by the critics is proof that no-one can bat 1.000. Let’s dive in and try to get ourselves into “Trouble!”
Good Reads Overview
2 Stars
Critical Review:
Mark Millar's *Trouble* (2003) is often regarded as one of Marvel's more bewildering missteps, particularly for its attempt to reframe Aunt May and Uncle Ben from *Spider-Man* in a raunchy teen romance. While Marvel initially intended the series to revitalize the romance genre for a new generation of readers, critics weren’t convinced. The X-Axis was not impressed emphasizing how the book's focus on teen pregnancy and melodramatic love triangles did little to serve either the characters or the audience's expectations【X-Axis Review】.
The reception to *Trouble* was particularly negative, with fans and critics alike wondering why Millar chose to give beloved characters such an awkward backstory. One review on *Movie Poop Shoot* described the series as "misguided" and an "embarrassing misfire," highlighting how the soap-opera-like tone clashed with the intended seriousness of the storyline. The comic's use of real-life models for its covers, resembling cheap teen magazines, only added to the confusion and distaste from readers. In fact, the review referred to the title as a “toxin” warning the reader, “What’s important is that I can warn you about this toxin before it’s too late!”【Movie Poopshoot Trouble Review】.
Despite Terry Dodson's artwork receiving some praise, the narrative overshadowed any visual merit. Critics from *SpiderFan.org* noted that the story felt so out of place in the *Spider-Man* universe that it was difficult to take seriously, calling it one of Marvel's more perplexing editorial decisions. Noting that almost 90% of its readers thought the series was bad. 【SpiderFan.Org Review】. If you're looking for a cautionary tale in comics history, *Trouble* might just top the list of “what not to do” when reinventing familiar characters.
At least that is what the original reviewers had to say. Let’s take a chance to be kind and rewind with some positive things about being in Trouble!
Rewind, Be Kind Positively-Critical Re-Review:
“Trouble” by Mark Millar is a teen romance wrapped into the Marvel universe reimagining the familiar faces of characters from Spiderman. Specifically, “Trouble” reimagines the youthful escapades of May Parker, Ben Parker, Ben’s Brother Richie, and May’s friend Mary during a summer filled with love, betrayal, and unexpected consequences. Set in the 1960s, the plot centers around May and her best friend, Mary, who spend the summer working at a resort. Both girls find themselves entangled in a messy love quadrangle involving Ben and his brother, Richard. May’s carefree attitude leads to an unplanned pregnancy, which sets off a series of events that ultimately reshape their futures. Despite its often-criticized storyline, “Trouble” while initially controversial, has since become a curiosity for fans interested in a bold and unconventional look at iconic characters from the Spider-Man universe.
First off, when you open the graphic novel Trouble by Mark Millar, you see that the artwork is good. Like it is well done. And there are subtle clever little things, like placing the credits for the first issue in the roadside billboards and traffic signs lining the highway as the characters are heading off to their summer jobs at a resort in the Hamptons (think Dirty Dancing).
In the first issue, the resort director refers to the male members of the staff’s “John Thomases” as innuendo for their penises. Here’s the thing, apparently that is widely known. "John Thomas" is a slang term used as innuendo for the penis. (Wicktionary) The term has been used since at least the 1870s, although it is considered somewhat archaic and was often seen as rude. In a more humorous context, it is also used in fields like radiology, referred to as the "John Thomas sign." (Wikipedia). See, we are already learning something knew from Trouble!
So, our beloved Uncle Ben and Aunt May from the Spiderman comics we loved as kids, and the more recent MCU get a chance after a skinny dipping adventure to GET IT ON! And they do. In a Marvel comic book. First off, good on Uncle Ben and Aunt May for being truly into each other from the jump. But, for something positive, after Uncle Ben asked for a smoke because he thinks it seems “like a cool, post-coital thing to do” Aunt May tells him he shouldn’t smoke, and offers him Reese’s Pieces. Folks, that’s the dream, a lovely night with your spouse, and some delicious candy. Come on man! Like Ben says, “that’ll do!”
The gang has a wide variety of jobs at the resort, as we can see from them serving lunch, cooking, scrubbing floors, cleaning rooms, acting as bellhops, and apparently being babysitters for the kids at the resort, which is apparently the best place for the women to discuss the quality of the sex they are having. I’m sure the kids appreciate it. The girl in pigtails seems to enjoy the discussion. **OK NOW IT HAPPENED TWICE!** The kids at this resort are getting a life lesson!
Also, as a side note on that page’s bottom panel, the “Mrs. Palm and her five lovely daughters” masturbation joke! *chef’s kiss*
Another joke I can appreciate is when there is a set up for a fight that Ben is getting in, flying off the handle in a rage, and his brother tells Mary that Ben can’t get in any more fights, or the cops back in New York are going to be PISSED. They bust into the bathroom where the fight is taking place too late, and when the stall door opens, Ben is face down in the toilet because he got his ass kicked! Hahaha Plot TWIST!
There is a strip poker scene. That by itself is pretty funny. But, for some reason in the panel for this scene, a woman is eating a beer bottle?! No explanation, no exposition, no nothing, just what looks to be a person clearly EATING A BEER BOTTLE!
Here’s another little joke that got a chuckle. So, May gets pregnant (maybe because at this point, she’s banging both Ben and his little brother Richie). And she is out at a diner with her sister, and the waitress asks how she would like her eggs, and she says … UNFERTILIZED! Hahahahahahaha.
Once May finally gets up the gumption to tell Ben that she’s pregnant he tells her … HE’S STERILIE!!! PLOT TWIST!!!! Because one time when he got beat up as a kid, he got kicked in the testicles so hard that HE BECAME STERILE! Hahahahahaha
After May leaves the resort and ends up with a scumbag in hiding, she comes back and sees Mary, who knows by now that her best friend is carrying her (ex) boyfriend’s baby. As they are talking, May tries to tell Mary that she made a mistake and slept wth Richie a “few” times. To which Mary responds, “47 TIMES.” Hahahahaha. WHAT!?! How long was this summer?! At the beginning, they say the summer work is for 10 weeks. May leaves a week (or two) early. HOW MUCH SEX WAS HAPPENING IN THE HAMPTONS!?!?! Gives a whole new perspective on Dirty Dancing.
The whole point here is that May gets pregnant with Uncle Ben’s brother’s baby, has it in secret, and gives it to her best friend, who is marrying Uncle Ben’s brother, and they raise the baby as their own. A one little, Peter Parker. So … Aunt May has been Peter Parker’s Mom all along?!?!
Conclusion
Trouble is wild. It shines a whole new light on Aunt May, not necessarily a good one, but an interesting one. Ultimately, we were able to go through the entire thing. Pull out some gems that we can say nice things about. We were able to be kind and rewind on “Trouble.”