Ultimate
Spider-Man # 56
Hollywood - Part 3 of 6
Plot: Gwen, being the daughter of a
cop has realised that the Parker house is under surveillance. Just as she
begins to think about why, all of the black vans drive off to aid
Spider-man who was last seen about to confront Doc Ock.
The scene changes to the set of the Spiderman movie where Spider-man
continues to battle Doc Ock. As they fight, Spidey asks why they haven't
chopped up Ock's robotic arms yet, which is a good question. After an
extended fight sequence, in which Doc Ock seems to have the upper hand,
the scene returns to the Parker household where an increasingly paranoid
Gwen is visited by MJ who is estatic that her mother finally kicked out
her father. Eager to share the good news with Peter, she asks Gwen where
he is. She tells him that he is at work so MJ decides to stay and hang out
with Gwen until news of the Spider-man / Doc Ock battle comes on the TV.
Suddenly, MJ makes her excuses and leaves abruptly, leaving Gwen to wonder
why.
Spiderman continues to fight Doc Ock in the lincoln tunnel but is knocked
unconscious. He awakes later tied to a chair in an airplane, heading into
the distance.
Good
- Does Gwen know the secret?
- Where is the Plane going?
- Plenty of mysteries to keep the reader interested
Bad:
- Not much plot
- Why haven't Doc Ocks arms been cut up or removed?
Rating: 4 out of 5 webheads. The Gwen Stacy subplot is far more compelling than the Doc Ock confrontation.
Ultimate
Spider-Man #55
''Hollywood'' Part 2 of 6
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by Mark Bagley
Inked by Art Thibert
Plot:
Dr Octopus is free from Rykers Prison and in a scene reminiscient of
Terminator 3, he takes over a house and says 'I really do like your house'
while his tentacles take care of the present owner. This Doc Ock is much
scarier than the Marvel Universe counterpart recently depicted in
Spectacular.
Kong manages to score a part as an extra in the Spiderman movie and while
he celebrates his triumph in school, Gwen gets mad that Spiderman is being
portrayed as a hero in the movie when she thinks he killed her father.
Peter can't convince her that it was an imposter and despite not being
involved, he still thinks he is responsible.
Doc Ock is sitting at home in his new tudor house and enjoys a freaky
conversation with his tentacles. I'm not sure whether the Marvel Universe
Doc Ock can talk to his arms and this is a nice extension to him being
able to control them and in a world of A.I, its not completely unbelievable.
S.H.I.E.L.D have the Parker residence under surveillance in case Doc Ock
arrives but they aren't very good at the covert-ness since Gwen notices
them on the way home. Maybe she will figure out Spiderman's ID?
The next full page had me convinced that there was a second villain in
this arc. I won't spoil him for anyone who has not read the issue but it
would be cool if he was to become a real villain and his ultimate costume
looks the same as the MU version which is a big plus.
Doc Ock crashes the movie set looking for revenge and Spider-man who has
been staking out the set lands to confront him. Only two issues in and
already a confrontation. This arc is moving on quickly and it makes me
wonder how they will make it last 6 issues.
Likes:
Story moves quickly. I wasn't expecting a Spiderman / Doc Ock
confrontation just yet.
Doc Ock talks to his tentacles - madness or do the tentacles talk to him?
The surprise guest star of an old villain.
Dislikes:
Doc Ock seems to be wearing a new costume - not unlike the movie version.
No letter page
Rating:
5 out of 5. Very good issue and I can't wait for the next issue, which
means Bendis has done a good job.
Ultimate
Spider-Man # 54
Hollywood (Part 1 of 6)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert
PLOT : Aunt May is off to visit
her mom in Florida leaving Gwen and Peter with the house to themselves.
Gwen, quickly of her share of $300 'emergency' money and Peter sees the
benefit of an Aunt May-less house because he can come and go as Spider-man
a lot easier. While he contemplates recent events like MJ's grounding, he
overhears plans for a Spiderman movie and is shocked.
Another character is interested in the Spider-man movie is the enemy cast
to face the movie version of Spider-man - Doctor Octopus. Sitting in a
relative low-security cell, Doctor Octopus is depressed. He begins to
smile and his robotic arms (held in the Triskelion) begin to escape under
his control.
Spider-man visits the movie set and argues with the director and producer
about whether he should be paid for his likeness. They tell him that in
order to be paid, he needs to reveal his ID. Spidey realizes that they are
filming him to save money on CGI effects and quickly swings away more
angry than before.
Meanwhile, Doc Ock's arms have made their way towards their master causing
maximum carnage along the way. The last page shows Doc Ock reunited with
his arms and escaping along with several other convicts.
LIKES :
1) The sequence with Doc's Arms is very spooky especially with the panels
showing Doc's grin.
2) Return of many supporting characters from the High School.
DISLIKES:
1) Surely after the events of Ultimate Six, Shield would have realized
that Doc Ock can control his arms from a distance since he used a similar
trick to escape then.
2) Cher Osborn is Norman Osborn's half sister's name? I didn't feel that
this fit. I know that it was a joke to have Norman's half sister to have a
funny name but Cher just seemed odd and not that funny. Maybe its just me.
RATING: 4 webheads out of 5. A good
start but a fairly standard cliffhanger.
Ultimate
Spider-Man 51
Black Cat (Part 2 of 4) ''Shadow Puppets'
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert
Plot:
The opening sequence of the issue shows the aftermath of the previous
issues robbery and the Kingpins henchman stresses how important the
retrieval of the tablet is. The Kingpin is obivously very interested in
this ancient tablet for reasons other than historical importance. This
scene also shows how much of a thorn in Fisk's side Spidey has become,
when his henchman calls him, 'the most dangerous man on the earth'. This
is a far cry from the first Kingpin arc (#8 - 12) where the Kingpin
dismisses Spidey as a punk kid.
MJ and Peter argue over her father and MJ says, ' You don't have a father.
You don't understand' which she immediately regrets but the damage is
done.
At the Bugle, Peter finds out that the Black Cat has placed an advert in
order to meet Spider-Man again. This intrigues Spidey but he isn't sure
whether it is a trap or not. Meanwhile, Elektra is hired by the museum
manager to retrieve the tablet from the Cat.
Peter sneaks out and goes to meet the Black Cat expecting a trap but
instead she has prepared a little date complete with wine and cheese. Once
he sees Felcia's face (assuming she is the same person as the Marvel
Universe) he decides to stay - only to be interrupted by Elektra and
several shruikens.
Good:
More development and speech from the Black Cat
Elektra is sent to retrieve the Tablet
Nice cliffhanger
Bad:
MJ's comment about Pete's dad.
Not another MJ/Peter break up?
Not sure why this issue is called Shadow Puppets? Any ideas?
Best Page: The final page with Elektra mid-air in an attack pose.
Rating: 4 webheads out of 5
Ultimate
Spider-Man #50
Black Cat (Part 1 of 4) ''Black Cat''
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert
Plot:
This double-sized issue introduces the Black Cat who looks a lot more like
DC's Catwoman with the addition of some goggles. She sneaks in using her
bad luck powers to cause some accidents (e.g a guards hat blows off and a
janitors cart falls over) There is no clear link that these 'accidents'
are linked to the Black Cat but knowing her powers from the Marvel
Universe , it is safe to assume that she has the same 'bad luck'
abilities.
When she eventually breaks into the safe, she finds a stone tablet inscribed
with some symbols. Not the usual kind of thing that people keep in safes!
Using her bad luck powers to set off a sprinkler, she escapes to the
rooftop and to a waiting Spider-Man. After a quick battle, the Black Cat
escapes leaving Spidey intrigued.
Back at home, Peter and MJ discuss whether Peter should give up being
Spider-Man and Peter says he would love to go on a normal date with MJ. It
seems the stresses of being a costumed superhero have gotten to Peter.
Realizing that he is talking about himself too much, he asks MJ about her
dad, who she hates. This is shown when he arrives, with her diary in hand,
which has details of USM 25 (the bridge incident) but luckily omits any
details of the Goblin or Spider-Man. MJ's dad overreacts and promises to
find out the truth. Peter watches the news only to see that Spider-Man has
been implicated in the robbery with Black Cat.
Good:
Character development of MJ and her family
Mystery around the Black Cat
Bad:
Too long to get into - felt stretched to fit into the double size issue
Not clear to anyone unfamiliar with Black Cat that she caused all the
accidents. (A new reader might think that they were unbelievable coincidences.)
Rating: 3.5 webheads out of 5
Ultimate
Spider-Man 49
Return of the Kingpin (Part 3 of 3) ''Hero''
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert
Plot:
On the way home from work, J. Jonah Jameson is approached by the
Enforcers, who strike him speechless with fear as they explain that the
Kingpin doesn't appreciate his change if support for Sam Bullit and that
they are there to make him retract his statement and give him a 'physical
reminder'. This is interrupted by Spider-Man who had also planned on
giving Jameson a piece of his mind. Another fight starts between the
Enforcers and Spidey and I must admit that the fight scenes between
Spider-Man and the Enforcers have always been really good. I am not sure
if its because there is 3 villians or their weapons but they seem to leap
off the page.
Spidey is overpowered by Ox and then Jameson regains his sense of speech
and using the voice memo function of his phone begins an interview with
the Enforcers which buys Spidey enough time to come to and defeat the
Enforcers. Spider-Man gets a thank you from Jameson, which is very unusual
and somewhat fulfilling.
Once Peter comes home, he finds Jonah at his door waiting for him. Jonah
confides that his son, astronaut John Jameson, died on the space shuttle
Orion, which is a huge difference from the John Jameson of the original
universe, who later became the Man-Wolf. Jonah explains he doesn't
consider Spider-Man to be an hero because he wears a mask. Jonah gives
Peter his job back and shows some support and respect for him that has
previously never been shown in the ultimate universe.
Spider-Man shows up at the Kingpins restaurant and they both deliver some
threats to each other and some banter before Spidey leaves with the
Kingpin swearing to find out who he is. It shouldn't take long since
almost every other villian knows. And from reading Ultimate Six, Electro
also knows and since he used to work for Kingpin...well it could happen.
Good:
More development and speech from the Jameson
Return of the Enforcers
Nice banter between Spidey and the Kingpin at the end : 'Young Man, did
you web my feet to the floor?' 'Maybe'
Bad:
John Jameson is dead? That means no Man-Wolf?
Could be the last appearance of the Enforcers for a while since they got
arrested.
Best Page: Spidey giving Ox a wedgie.
Rating: 3 webheads out of 5
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